The Remains of the Day – Kazuo Ishiguro

Plot Overview

The Remains of the Day is told in the first-person narration of an English butler named Stevens. In July 1956, Stevens
decides to take a six- day road trip to the West Country of England—a region to the west of Darlington Hall, the house in
which Stevens resides and has worked as a butler for thirty-four years. Though the house was previously owned by the
now-deceased Lord Darlington, by 1956, it has come under the ownership of Mr. Farraday, an American gentleman.
Stevens likes Mr. Farraday, but fails to interact well with him socially: Stevens is a circumspect, serious person and is not
comfortable joking around in the manner Mr. Farraday prefers. Stevens terms this skill of casual conversation "bantering";
several times throughout the novel Stevens proclaims his desire to improve his bantering skill so that he can better please
his current employer.

The purpose of Stevens’ road trip is to visit Miss Kenton, the former housekeeper of Darlington Hall who left twenty years
earlier to get married. Stevens has received a letter from Miss Kenton, and believes that her letter hints that her marriage is
failing and that she might like to return to her post as housekeeper. Ever since World War II has ended, it has been difficult
to find enough people to staff large manor houses such as Darlington Hall.

Much of the narrative is comprised of Stevens’ memories of his work as a butler during and just after World War II. He
describes the large, elaborate dinner parties and elegant, prominent personages who come to dine and stay at Darlington
Hall in those times. It is gradually revealed—largely through other characters' interactions with Stevens, rather than his
own admissions—that Lord Darlington, due to his mistaken impression of the German agenda prior to World War II,
sympathized with the Nazis. Darlington even arranged and hosted dinner parties between the German and British heads of
state to help both sides come to a peaceful understanding. Stevens always maintains that Lord Darlington was a perfect
gentleman, and that it is a shame his reputation has been soiled simply because he misunderstood the Nazis' true aims.

During the trip Stevens also recounts stories of his contemporaries—butlers in other houses with whom he struck up
friendships. Stevens’ most notable relationship by far, however, is his long-term working relationship with Miss Kenton.
Though Stevens never says so outright, it appears that he harbors repressed romantic feelings for Miss Kenton. Despite
the fact that the two frequently disagree over various household affairs when they work together, the disagreements are
childish in nature and mainly serve to illustrate the fact that the two care for each other. At the end of the novel, Miss
Kenton admits to Stevens that her life may have turned out better if she had married him. After hearing these words,
Stevens is extremely upset. However, he does not tell Miss Kenton—whose married name is Mrs. Benn—how he feels.
Stevens and Miss Kenton part, and Stevens returns to Darlington Hall, his only new resolve being to perfect the art of
bantering to please his new employer.

As Salman Rushdie comments, The Remains of the Day is "a story both beautiful and cruel." It is a story primarily about
regret: throughout his life, Stevens puts his absolute trust and devotion in a man who makes drastic mistakes. In the totality
of his professional commitment, Stevens fails to pursue the one woman with whom he could have had a fulfilling and loving
relationship. His prim mask of formality cuts him off from intimacy, companionship, and understanding.
 Study Pack
– The Remains of the Day

Look closely at the Chronology sheet, detailing the events of the novel in the context of
society at the time.

The following historical events play a significant role in the shaping of the novel.
Research them, finding as much information as you can on each.

1. 1914-1918 - World War I and relations between England, Germany, France,

America.
Put the ‘conference’ in context – how the action in the novel represent or reflect the
period? What was Germany’s position as a result? Look at the character of Herr
Bremann.

2. 1919 - The Treaty of Versailles

Again, make reference to the ‘conference’ and the interaction between the men present.
Is each man representative of a country and are they behaving how their country did at
the time?

3. 1932 – Foundation of the British Union of Fascists – the ‘blackshirts’. Hitler’s

involvement and anti-Semitism
Consider the sacking of the Jewish girls –what was behind it? How did some of the
principal characters react? Significantly, how does Stevens narrate this episode in Lord
Darlington’s leadership history to us?

4. 1956 – The Suez Crisis

This forms the backdrop for Stevens’ ‘motoring trip’ – it was going on at the time. Think
in detail about why Ishiguro chooses o deal with it as he does. It was a key historical
event – does the author highlight it? Does Stevens acknowledge it? Is it in any way
significant as we read the novel? If not, why not?
 Literary Terms

* TASK: Study the list of literary terms below. The definitions have been
completed for you. However, for all of these terms you need you to extract
examples from the text, using note form and quotation as often as possible. The
idea is for you to become more familiar with these terms and the way they might
be incorporated into essay writing to give a more sophisticated style.

Anti-hero
A character in a work of literature who is unheroic or a failure, particularly one who is unable to
perform deeds of bravery or generosity.
 Notes:

Colloquialism
The use of the kinds of expression and grammar associated with ordinary, everyday speech rather
than formal language.
 Notes:

Diction
A general term used to describe the kind of vocabulary used in a work of literature.
 Notes:

Dramatic irony
A feature of a play whereby the development of the plot allows the audience more information about
what is happening then some of the characters themselves; the term can also be used to describe a
similar situation in a novel.
 Notes:
Empathy
To empathize is to mentally identify with the character in a story, to the point of fully understanding his
or her thoughts, feelings and actions.
 Notes:

Flashback
A sudden jump backwards in time to an earlier episode or incident. Stevens narrative chronicles his
drive from Darlington Hall to Cornwall in 1956; he breaks off from his account of the expedition in a
series of flashbacks to refer to and describe various memories of his from 1923 to 1936.
 Notes:

Idiom
A phrase or way of expressing something special to a language. Often the meaning of an idiomatic
phrase, such as Mr. Taylor’s ‘Hard to put your finger on it’ (p. 194), cannot be predicted from the
meanings of the words which make up the expression.
 Notes:

Imagery
In its narrowest sense an image is a picture in words – a description of some visible scene or object.
More commonly, however, imagery refers to the figurative language in a wok of literature such as
metaphors and similes, or all the words which refer to objects and qualities which appeal to the senses
and feelings.
 Notes:
Irony
A use of language, widespread in all kinds of literature and everyday speech, which is characterized
by saying or writing one thing while another is meant. The term ‘irony’ can also be used to describe
incongruity between what might be expected and what actually happened.
 Notes:

Metaphor
Derived from the Greek meaning ‘carrying over’, the term metaphor describes a departure from literal
writing which goes further than a comparison (or simile) between two different things or ideas by
fusing them together: one thing is described as being another thing, thus ‘carrying over’ all its
associations.
 Notes:

Motif
A literary device, such as a theme, image or symbol, which recurs frequently and hides a deeper
meaning.
 Notes:

Narrative
A story, tale or recital of a specific selection of events constructed so as to suggest some relationship
between them.
 Notes:
Narrator
The person who tells the story. The narrator must be distinguished from the author of a work.
 Notes:

Parody
A literary work that broadly mimics or imitates the characteristics of another work or style and holds it
up to ridicule.
 Notes:

Pathetic fallacy
A term coined by John Ruskin to refer to the attribution of human feelings to inanimate objects by
making them worse (a form of personification). Today the term is used, descriptively rather than
negatively, to refer to the identification of a character’s feelings with the properties of the external
world: often this means equating mood and emotion to the weather and setting. Rain, for example,
mirrors Stevens’ heartbreak and the tragic tone of the conversation at the bus stop, just as fog
connects to the lack of communication and understanding in the summer house.
 Notes:
Pathos
A strong feeling of pity or sorrow. Throughout the novel, the sense of pathos is heightened by Stevens’
sense of restraint and self control within the narrative.
 Notes:

Register
A level of language associated with, and deemed appropriated to, a particular situation.
 Notes:

Satire
Literature which exhibits or examines vice and folly and makes them appear ridiculous or shameful.
Satire is directed against a person or a type, and is usually morally critical, using laughter as a means
of attack rather than merely for the purpose of pleasure or amusement.
 Notes:

Symbol
Something which represents something else by an analogy or association – a writer may use
conventional symbols, which form part of a literary or cultural tradition, as well as creating a new one.
 Notes:
Trope
A word or phrase used in a sense not proper to it. In The Remains of the Day, the story of the tiger
under the table is a trope: this example is not literal, but expresses a time when dignity is put to the
test
 Notes:
 The Remains of the Day - CLOSE ANALYSIS OF TWO KEY EXTRACTS

Moment of high
Sacking of the Jewish girls tension/romance in the
p. 153 – 163 pantry
p. 173 - 178

Developments in Stevens’
character

Developments in Miss
Kenton’s character

Language

Themes

Stevens’ narration

Context

Use of specific literary

terms

Reference to other novels

Sample Test – Extended Essay Questions

You will also be assessed on the ‘quality of written communication’ – style, organization, specialist vocabulary,
spelling, punctuation and legibility.

Questions:
1) ‘I was interested in how people lie to themselves to make things palatable, to dignify their failures.’ Discuss
this comment by Ishiguro in the light of The Remains of the Day.

2) Ishiguro ‘is more of a novelist of the inner character than of the outer world.’ Discuss this statement in
response to your reading of The Remains of the Day.

3) Ishiguro, in The Remains of the Day, allows the reader ‘to see the world that shapes its characters much
more clearly than they can.’ How far do you agree with this statement?

4) Ishiguro’s inclusion of comic interchanges within the novel succeeds, if only for a short while, in lightening the
often tragic mood of Stevens’ reflections. Discuss this statement in response to your reading of The Remains of
the Day.

5) Stevens’ recollections of the past only lead him to the realization that his life, similar to that of Lord
Darlington, has been nothing more than a ‘sad waste’. Explore this statement in light of your reading of The
Remains of the Day.

6) Stevens’ literal and metaphorical journey forces him to confront life’s missed opportunities. Explore this idea
in relation to your interpretations of The Remains of the Day.

7) Stevens is adamant that ‘a butler of any quality must be seen to inhabit his role, utterly and fully’ as, to him it
is much more than a ‘pantomime costume’ (p. 178). Discuss Stevens’ belief and how it is satirized by Ishiguro
through the course of the novel.

8) Stevens professes that he is ‘nothing but proud and grateful to have been given such a privilege’ (p. 133) as
to work for Lord Darlington. Discuss how the theme of blindness permeates their relationship in The Remains of
the Day.

9) ‘Emotional restraint’ (p. 44) proves to be Stevens’ downfall. Discuss in terms of your reading of the novel.

10) How effective and reliable is Stevens as a narrator? Discuss this question in relation to your reading of the
novel, paying particular attention to Ishiguro’s role in crafting his character.
11) During his conversation with Stevens over the matter of ‘dignity’ (pp. 193-199), Mr. Harry Smith is adamant
that ‘there is no dignity to be had in being a slave’ (p. 196). Discuss the irony of this statement in light of the
novel as a whole.

Sample Test – Extract Analysis

You will also be assessed on the ‘quality of written communication’ – style, organization, specialist vocabulary,
spelling, punctuation and legibility.

Questions:

1) Look at the episode on pages 67-70 beginning ‘I rarely had reason to enter my father’s room…’ and ending
‘…some precious jewel he had dropped there.’ What does this passage reveal about Ishiguro’s narrative
technique and how important is the episode to your understanding of Stevens?

2) Look at the section on pages 80-85 beginning ‘As this date grew ever nearer…’ and ending ‘…Indeed, Sir.’ In
what ways does this extract illustrate Ishiguro’s techniques and concerns in the novel as a whole?

3) Look at pp. 123-128, beginning ‘Having enjoyed a good morning’s motoring…’ and ending ‘…such useful
assistance’. What does this passage reveal about the narrator and the way in which he is characterized by the
author?

4) Look at pp. 137-140, ending ‘…town of Taunton.’ How does Ishiguro use techniques to show his concerns in
the novel as a whole?

5) What light does the episode beginning ‘I am glad to be able…’ (p. 143) to the end of this section throw upon
Lord Darlington and his politics?

6) Read the passage beginning ‘I trust I need…’ (p. 203) to ‘…own account’ (p. 211). In what ways does this
extract illustrate Ishiguro’s concerns and techniques in the novel as a whole?

7) Explore the episode with the Jewish refugee servant-girls, (pp. 153 to ‘…summerhouse produced curious
results’ p. 160) looking at Ishiguro’s concerns and techniques within the novel.

8) How far, and how effectively does the ending of the novel beginning on p. 252 ‘The pier lights…’ seem to
bring the novel to a close?

9) Explore the author’s treatment of the interaction between Mr. Stevens and Mrs. Benn in the final section of
the novel – ‘Day Six, Evening’ (from p. 243 to p. 252 ‘…it was a great pleasure to see you again, Mrs. Benn’)
discussing its effect and significance.

Note-making on symbolic themes and motifs

 in The Remains of the Day.

1. A dominant, yet subtle theme that is played out in the novel is the concept of ‘seeing
and blindness’, both literally and metaphorically. Together with this is the contrast of light
and darkness. Make bullet point notes on as many instances as you can find within the
text.

2. Symbiosis (an interdependent relationship that is mutually advantageous to both

the individuals involved) is exemplified in the interactions between Stevens and
Lord Darlington.
 How does Stevens’ admiration for Lord Darlington verge on religious ‘worshipping’?
 Is it fair to say that Lord Darlington’s dismissal of Ruth and Sarah may be seen as the
ironic catalyst for Stevens’ loss of Miss Kenton?

3. Make a few notes on Ishiguro’s characterization of Stevens through the use of

the ‘laugh’.

Note-making on symbolic themes and motifs

in The Remains of the Day.

1. A dominant, yet subtle theme that is played out in the novel is the concept of ‘seeing
and blindness’, both literally and metaphorically. Together with this is the contrast of light
and darkness. Make bullet point notes on as many instances as you can find within the
text.

2. Symbiosis (an interdependent relationship that is mutually advantageous to both

the individuals involved) is exemplified in the interactions between Stevens and
Lord Darlington.
 How does Stevens’ admiration for Lord Darlington verge on religious ‘worshipping’?
 Is it fair to say that Lord Darlington’s dismissal of Ruth and Sarah may be seen as the
ironic catalyst for Stevens’ loss of Miss Kenton?

3. Make a few notes on Ishiguro’s characterization of Stevens through the use of

the ‘laugh’.