This paper examines the narrator's reliability of Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day. The author of this paper aims to do this while casting a critical eye on aspects that may hint at Steven being an unreliable narrator. Therefore, this paper also takes into account aspects that could lead to the conclusion of Steven being a reliable narrator.
Firstly, the crucial term unreliable narrator is going to be defined. Then, two long accepted theoretical approaches are going to be presented, namely, Frany Stanzel’s concept of Narrative Situation and Gérard Genette’s Structuralist Theory.
Indeed, being aware of these narratological concepts is of vital importance for the reader. That is, it enables the latter to better keep track of how to analyze the narrative Structure in "The Remains of the Day" properly.
The next step is applying these concepts to, the concrete example of, the narrator in The Remains of the Day.
Secondly, several respective clues which backup the hypothesis of Unreliable Narration will be presented. More precisley, passages of the here discussed novel that specifically meet the criteria of inconsistency, incoherence and lack of correspondence will be pointed out. The approach to the subject will be a theory and analytical method based, close reading of "The Remains of the Day". All in all, it is going to be argued that, since the narrator of The Remains of the Day meets the criteria of inconsistency, incoherence and lack of correspondence, he should be considered unreliable.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Unreliable Narrator and Narrative Situation in General Terms
2.1 Definition of unreliable narration / What is an unreliable narrator?
2.2 Franz Stanzel’s Concept of Narrative Situation(s)
2.3 The Structuralist Theory of Gérard Genette
3. Detecting Unreliable Narration in The Remains of the Day
3.1 Narrative Situation, Voice and Focalization in The Remains of the Day
3.2 Criterion of inconsistency
3.3 Criterion of incoherence
3.4 Lack of correspondence
4. Restated thesis statement / Summary of main points
Research Objectives and Core Themes
The primary objective of this paper is to explore the phenomenon of unreliable narration and to demonstrate that the narrator Stevens, in Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel The Remains of the Day, serves as an exemplary case of this narrative strategy. The paper aims to bridge the gap between abstract narratological theory and concrete textual analysis by applying a synthesized model of criteria—inconsistency, incoherence, and lack of correspondence—to the novel.
- Theoretical examination of unreliable narration and narrator classification.
- Application of narratological concepts by Stanzel and Genette to the character Stevens.
- Critical analysis of textual signals that reveal the narrator's subjective bias and memory manipulation.
- Examination of contextual frames, including historical context and moral standards, in assessing reliability.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2 Criterion of inconsistency
It should be emphasized that The Remains of the Day provides a truly useful example for unreliable narration since ”[t]he issue of unreliability […] satures both form and content, making this novel an ideal vehicle for exploring […] how narrative unreliability is communicated and what devices the author has at his disposal […]” (Wall 23).
First of all, the subsequent passages, which meet the said criteria, mainly deal with Stevens’s notion of dignity, and his attitude towards his father resp. Miss Kenton. To begin with, there is an obvious conflict between Stevens’s commentary and the evidence presented in the scene he comments upon. That is, the conflict between the narrator’s preoccupation with choosing the appropriate clothes in order to represent Darlington Hall and the presentation of his actual behavior. “Although [Stevens] claims to be prepared to represent his house with dignity because ‘one never knows when one might be obliged to give out that one is from Darlington Hall, and it is important that one be attired at such times in a manner worthy of one’s position’ (Ishiguro 11), he describes three occasions on which he denies having worked for Lord Darlington […] : when a chaffeur whom he meets asks him directly, when Mr. Faraday’s guest inquires and when he pretends to be a gentleman among villangers” (Fonioková 92-93). In addition, the reader can observe another instance of clash between Stevens’s presentation of scenes and his questionable commentary on those: “After Miss Kenton receives notice from her aunt’s death, Stevens recognizes that he has not ‘offered her my condolences’ [Ishiguro 185-186]. [However,] [w]hat follows in scenic presentation […] sharply contradicts Stevens’s stated intentions. Instead of offering his condolences, Stevens upbraids Miss Kenton about the quality of work done by the young women in her charge, and for her failure to supervise them properly” (Wall 26).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the research topic and defines the scope of the study, justifying the selection of Kazuo Ishiguro's novel as a subject for examining unreliable narration.
2. Unreliable Narrator and Narrative Situation in General Terms: This section provides a theoretical foundation by defining unreliable narration, discussing the works of Booth, Nünning, and Meyer, and comparing the narratological models of Stanzel and Genette.
3. Detecting Unreliable Narration in The Remains of the Day: The core analytical chapter applies the discussed theoretical framework to the novel, systematically breaking down the narrator's inconsistencies, incoherence, and lack of correspondence with reality.
4. Restated thesis statement / Summary of main points: This concluding section synthesizes the findings, reiterating the argument that Stevens’s narrative unreliability is grounded in both internal textual contradictions and external contextual frameworks.
Keywords
Unreliable narration, Kazuo Ishiguro, The Remains of the Day, Stevens, narratology, narrative situation, textual signals, contextual frames, inconsistency, incoherence, lack of correspondence, implied author, dignity, memory, focalization.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the phenomenon of the "unreliable narrator" and applies this concept to the character Stevens in Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel The Remains of the Day.
What are the primary themes addressed in the analysis?
Central themes include the nature of narrative reliability, the distinction between textual and contextual clues, and the impact of the narrator's subjective memory on the truthfulness of the story.
What is the central research question?
The paper investigates whether Stevens qualifies as an unreliable narrator by evaluating his discourse against specific criteria of inconsistency, incoherence, and lack of correspondence.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The author employs a cognitive-narratological approach, synthesizing theories from Ansgar Nünning, Michael Meyer, Frany Stanzel, and Gérard Genette to perform a close reading of the novel.
What is analyzed in the main body of the work?
The main body focuses on identifying "textual signals" and "contextual frames" within the novel, such as Stevens’s contradictory statements, his manipulative use of memory, and his failure to recognize historical events like the rise of Nazism.
Which terms best characterize this academic paper?
Key terms include Unreliable Narration, Narrative Situation, Focalization, textual vs. contextual clues, and the concept of Dignity within the context of the butler's profession.
How does Stevens's perception of "dignity" contribute to his unreliability?
Stevens uses a twisted version of dignity to justify his actions and suppress his true feelings, which creates a noticeable discrepancy between his self-portrayal and his actual behavior as observed by other characters.
Why does the author argue that extratextual knowledge is important?
The author argues that reliance purely on textual features is insufficient; readers must also use extratextual knowledge, such as historical context, to identify when a narrator is omitting or misinterpreting significant facts.
What is the significance of Stevens's "selective memory" in the novel?
His memory is shown to be self-serving, as it systematically erases past instances that conflict with the desirable image he maintains of himself and his late employer, Lord Darlington.
- Citation du texte
- Claudia Mollin (Auteur), 2020, Unreliable narration in Kazuo Ishiguro's "The Remains of the Day". A theoretical approach, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/950167
