This retrospection gradually reveals Stevens' peculiar character. Accordingly,The Remains of the Dayis a novel about the central figure's character and the change it undergoes in the course of the years. Characterisation plays a very important role in it. The use of diary-like entries for certain stops on Stevens' journey suggest the explicit characterisation of the figure through the first-person narrator. However, the reader is confronted with an unreliable narration that combines homodiegetic and extradiegetic features in regular intervals. Thus the reader cannot fully rely on the statements of the narrator in order to get a picture of his character. What is much more telling is the butler's way of hiding and overlooking things, his not-telling, which characterises him far better and more objectively than his own notion of himself does. Due to the narrative perspective and Stevens' few relations in life4there are not many subsidiary figures who can serve as an additional source describing the butler's traits of character. Nevertheless, there is one figure in the novel which can give information about the former stateandchange of Stevens' character. This figure is Miss Kenton, who has been the housekeeper at Darlington Hall for many years and who developed a relationship to Stevens that can be called the most emotional he had ever had. It is the purpose of this paper to analyse her role in the characterisation of Stevens. However, I want to stress that this paper is not supposed to be a full and exhausting characterisation of the figure of the butler. It is rather intended to deal with the different aspects the figure of Miss Kenton contributes to the characterisation and change of character Stevens undergoes in the course of the novel. This will be done by focussing the following aspects: 1. Miss Kenton's direct statements about Stevens. 2. The relationship between Stevens and the housekeeper and what it tells about Stevens' emotional life. 3. The interaction between the two figures. This aspect will briefly deal with their dialogues and will be combined with the comparison of Stevens' and Miss Kenton's highly contrary natures and what they mean with regard to the revelation of Stevens' character traits. According to these aspects, my analysis will mostly remain on the story-level only. The discourse level might be touched as far as the narrative situation is concerned, since most of the information about Stevens is conveyed through his own narration.
Table of Contents
Introduction
1. The explicit characterisation of Stevens through direct statements made by Miss Kenton
2. The relationship between Stevens and Miss Kenton and what it reveals regarding the butler's character and emotional life
2.1 The relationshipof Stevens and Miss Kenton during their working together at Darlington Hall
2.2 Their relation after Miss Kenton's departure from Darlington Hall
3. The comparison of the contrary natures of Stevens and Miss Kenton and their function in the characterisation of the butler
Conclusion
Objectives and Thematic Focus
This paper aims to analyze the role of Miss Kenton in the characterization of Stevens, the central protagonist of Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day. By examining their professional and personal dynamics, the research explores how Miss Kenton acts as a catalyst for revealing Stevens' repressed emotions, his rigid sense of professional duty, and his eventual confrontation with his own past illusions.
- The influence of Miss Kenton’s direct criticisms on Stevens' self-perception.
- The psychological impact of Stevens’ emotional restraint on his interpersonal relationships.
- The use of linguistic patterns and defensive strategies in Stevens' narration.
- The function of contrasting personality traits in character development.
- The significance of the journey to the West-country as a catalyst for self-realization.
Excerpt from the Book
1. The explicit characterisation of Stevens through direct statements made by Miss Kenton
As I already pointed out, few direct statements made by subsidiary figures can be found in Ishiguro's novel, since Steven's consonant first-person narration does not leave much room for any other figures in the book to impart their opinions. Miss Kenton, however, gets close enough to Stevens to criticise him. She is the only figure perceptive enough to realise the butler's blind trust in Lord Darlington's decisions and faces him with harsh words when he - without a second thought - complies with Lord Darlington's wish to dismiss two well-working maids from the staff because of their Jewish origin.
The argument which follows reveals Miss Kenton's criticism of the butler's blind obedience and his own queer notion of it. Stevens dismisses Miss Kenton's objections by simply stating his own definition of obedience:
"I have just this moment explained the situation to you fully. His lordship has made his decision and there is nothing for you and I to debate over. (...) If his lordship wishes these particular contracts to be discontinued, then there is little more to be said. (...) Surely I don't have to remind you that our professional duty is not to our own foibles and sentiments, but to the wishes of our employer." (RD <157>).
Thus Miss Kenton's reproaches, which are brought forward in a direct manner and refer to his irrational and pitiless behaviour, lead to the revelation of Stevens' own concept of a good butler: one that is always loyal to his master without asking any questions. A butler who trusts "in his lordship's wisdom" (RD <256>). This concept is an important part of Stevens' self-definition since "It is only through his master that Stevens can establish his own worth." In Lord Darlington he has - to his mind - found a master of such greatness that he is worth being served without second thought.
Chapter Summaries
1. The explicit characterisation of Stevens through direct statements made by Miss Kenton: This chapter highlights how Miss Kenton's direct confrontation of Stevens' behavior reveals his underlying rigid ideology and blind obedience to his employer.
2. The relationship between Stevens and Miss Kenton and what it reveals regarding the butler's character and emotional life: This section explores the dynamic nature of their connection and how Stevens' emotional suppression manifests during their time at Darlington Hall and beyond.
2.1 The relationshipof Stevens and Miss Kenton during their working together at Darlington Hall: This sub-chapter examines how their professional collaboration was marked by underlying tension and Stevens' inability to recognize his own personal feelings.
2.2 Their relation after Miss Kenton's departure from Darlington Hall: This sub-chapter discusses the shift in their relationship after Miss Kenton leaves and the impact this has on Stevens' retrospection and his eventual journey.
3. The comparison of the contrary natures of Stevens and Miss Kenton and their function in the characterisation of the butler: This chapter analyzes how their opposing personalities serve as a narrative tool to define Stevens' traits through contrast.
Keywords
Kazuo Ishiguro, The Remains of the Day, Stevens, Miss Kenton, Characterisation, Emotional restraint, Unreliable narration, Professionalism, Lord Darlington, Memory, Identity, Subservience, Interiority, Conflict, Self-deception.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper examines how the character of Miss Kenton serves as a mirror and catalyst for the character development of the protagonist, Stevens, in Ishiguro's novel.
What are the primary themes discussed in the text?
The text focuses on themes of emotional repression, professional duty versus personal desire, narrative unreliability, and the struggle between individual identity and servitude.
What is the primary research goal of this work?
The goal is to analyze how Miss Kenton’s interactions and statements help the reader uncover Stevens' true character, which he consistently tries to hide behind a mask of professional dignity.
Which scientific methodology is applied in this analysis?
The author uses a literary analysis approach, focusing on character interaction, narrative perspective, and thematic exploration within the primary text.
What does the main body of the paper cover?
The main body is divided into three parts: an analysis of Miss Kenton's direct criticisms, an investigation of their interpersonal relationship, and a comparison of their contrasting personalities.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include emotional restraint, narrative unreliability, self-deception, character development, and the tension between public duty and private feeling.
How does Stevens use language to distance himself from his emotions?
Stevens often employs a rigid, professional vocabulary and frequently projects his own repressed feelings onto others to avoid confronting his personal vulnerability.
In what way does the "incident with the book" demonstrate Stevens' character?
When Miss Kenton catches him reading a romance novel, Stevens’ defensive reaction and his attempt to justify the act through "professional interest" reveal his deep fear of appearing un-butler-like and his inability to express private emotions.
- Quote paper
- M.A. Isabel Blumenroth (Author), 2002, The Role of Miss Kenton in the Characterisation of Stevens (in Kazuo Ishiguro's novel The Remains of the Day), Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/60193
