This essay aims to compare Kazuo Ishiguro's book 'The Remains of the Day' (1989) and Julian Barnes' book 'England, England' (1998) with regard to the manner in which they construct and deconstruct England as a nation and ideal. The relationship between individual and national identity, the selective nature of national history as well as the role of myth and nostalgia within the 'imagined political community' of England will be discussed.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Defining the Nation
- Narrative and Nation-Building
- National History, Individual Memory, Myth, and Nostalgia
- The Remains of the Day: A Case Study
- England, England: A Counterpoint
Objectives and Key Themes
This essay compares Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day and Julian Barnes' England, England, analyzing how they construct and deconstruct English national identity. It explores the role of narrative, memory, myth, and nostalgia in shaping national identity and considers the potential for these elements to both unite and divide.
- The construction and deconstruction of English national identity in literature
- The role of narrative in nation-building
- The interplay between national history, individual memory, and myth
- The significance of nostalgia in shaping perceptions of national identity
- The potential for national narratives to be both inclusive and exclusive
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introductory section lays the groundwork for the essay by introducing the two novels, The Remains of the Day and England, England, and their central themes. It highlights the artificiality in constructing individual and national identities, setting the stage for a comparative analysis of how both texts represent England as a nation. The concept of a nation is introduced, paving the way for subsequent discussions of narrative, national history, memory, and myth.
Defining the Nation: This section defines the concept of a nation, drawing upon the theories of Ernest Renan and Benedict Anderson. Renan emphasizes the nation as a "soul, a spiritual principle" united by a shared past and a will to share a future. Anderson expands on this, describing the nation as an "imagined political community," highlighting the role of shared memory and imagination in its construction. This section establishes a theoretical framework for understanding how nations are formed and sustained.
Narrative and Nation-Building: This section examines the crucial role of narrative in the formation of national identity. It argues that nations are "held together by the stories it generates about itself," employing a mix of historical, mythical, and fictional narratives. Myths, in particular, are highlighted for their ability to bridge history and fiction, shaping a nation's self-perception and collective memory. The section emphasizes how these narratives can be adjusted in response to changing circumstances, as exemplified by the shift in narratives about Englishness after World War II.
National History, Individual Memory, Myth, and Nostalgia: This chapter delves into the complex interplay between national history, individual memory, myth, and nostalgia in shaping national identity. It introduces the concept of "forgetting" or historical error as a crucial factor in nation-building, suggesting that selective memory plays a key role in constructing a cohesive national narrative. The chapter sets the stage for analyzing how these elements manifest in the two novels under examination.
The Remains of the Day: A Case Study: This section analyzes Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day, focusing on the unreliable memories of the protagonist, Mr. Stevens, and how they reflect the complexities of English national identity. The chapter examines Stevens' romanticized view of the past and his tendency to overlook Lord Darlington's Nazi sympathies and the broader context of England's imperial decline. The analysis highlights how Stevens' selective memory mirrors the processes involved in the construction of national history, often involving the "forgetting" of unfavorable events. The role of nostalgia and the idyllic English landscape in reinforcing national identity is also discussed. It also explores the "myth" of the perfect English butler as a symbol of national identity.
England, England: A Counterpoint: This section analyzes Barnes' England, England, which satirizes the commercialization of English national heritage and the construction of a new English nation based on selective history and popular narratives. The chapter discusses how the novel's characters selectively construct and reconstruct the past to suit their purposes, mirroring the manipulation of national history. The absence of multiculturalism in the novel is discussed, and the novel is positioned as a critique of the idealized and often exclusionary vision of Englishness.
Keywords
English national identity, narrative, memory, myth, nostalgia, The Remains of the Day, England, England, nation-building, imperialism, post-colonialism, selective memory, identity formation, historical revisionism.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comparative Analysis of English National Identity in Ishiguro's *The Remains of the Day* and Barnes' *England, England*
What is the main topic of this essay?
This essay compares Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day and Julian Barnes' England, England, analyzing how they construct and deconstruct English national identity. It explores the role of narrative, memory, myth, and nostalgia in shaping national identity and considers the potential for these elements to both unite and divide.
What are the key themes explored in the essay?
The key themes include the construction and deconstruction of English national identity in literature; the role of narrative in nation-building; the interplay between national history, individual memory, and myth; the significance of nostalgia in shaping perceptions of national identity; and the potential for national narratives to be both inclusive and exclusive.
What is the essay's methodology?
The essay utilizes a comparative analysis of two novels, The Remains of the Day and England, England, to examine how English national identity is presented and challenged. It draws upon theoretical frameworks of nationhood from scholars like Ernest Renan and Benedict Anderson.
What are the key concepts discussed regarding national identity?
Key concepts include the definition of a nation (as a "soul" or "imagined community"), the role of narrative and myth in shaping national identity, the importance of memory (both collective and individual), the influence of nostalgia, and the processes of historical revisionism and selective memory in constructing national narratives.
How does the essay analyze *The Remains of the Day*?
The essay analyzes Ishiguro's novel by focusing on Mr. Stevens' unreliable memories and how they reflect the complexities of English national identity. It examines his romanticized view of the past and his overlooking of Lord Darlington's Nazi sympathies. The analysis highlights how Stevens' selective memory mirrors the construction of national history, often involving the "forgetting" of unfavorable events. The role of nostalgia and the idyllic English landscape in reinforcing national identity is also discussed.
How does the essay analyze *England, England*?
The essay analyzes Barnes' novel as a satire of the commercialization of English national heritage and the construction of a new English nation based on selective history and popular narratives. It discusses how characters selectively construct and reconstruct the past, mirroring the manipulation of national history. The absence of multiculturalism in the novel is discussed, positioning it as a critique of an idealized and often exclusionary vision of Englishness.
What are the key chapters of the essay?
The essay is structured with an introduction, chapters defining the nation, exploring narrative and nation-building, analyzing the interplay of national history, individual memory, myth, and nostalgia, and then providing case studies of The Remains of the Day and England, England. It concludes with a summary of key words.
What are the key words associated with this essay?
Key words include English national identity, narrative, memory, myth, nostalgia, The Remains of the Day, England, England, nation-building, imperialism, post-colonialism, selective memory, identity formation, and historical revisionism.
- Quote paper
- Silvia Schilling (Author), 2018, The Politics of Englishness in Kazuo Ishiguro's "The Remains of the Day" and Julian Barnes' "England, England", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/963327
