The Remains of the Day
Introduction
The book The Remains of the Day Kazuo by Kazuo Ishiguro is a character study of Mr Stevens, an old butler who has worked for many years of service at Darlington Hall. The butler in the book considers his past and sacrifices that he has made. The purpose of this essay is to discuss the plot of the book The Remains of the Day.
The plot in the Remains of the Day
In this book, The Remains of The Day, Mr Stevens is the protagonist and the narrator. He narrates his account of affairs in a first-person point of view. Mr Steven is a dependable butler at Darlington Hall for so many years. He serves under the rich American Mr Farraday. Mr Stevens receives a letter from Miss Kenton, a former housekeeper at Darlington Hall, saying that she is not happy in her marriage, Mr Stevens decides to visit her. The story unfolds when Mr Stevens begins his trip, he re-reads the letter over and over again while his memories from his past flashback which causes him to asses and review the choices in his life.
Moreover, it makes him think about a topic like loyalty, dignity, bantering, being a great butler and greatness. As the story continues, it becomes obvious that Mr Stevens and Miss Kenton had developed a close relationship after many years of working together. However, it also comes out clear that neither Mr Stevens nor Miss Kenton has admitted any feeling towards the other party. Now married Mrs Benn currently, Miss Kenton has a child and has been in a marriage for more than twenty years. Mr Stevens reflects on his lost opportunities, but in the end shifts changes focus on his life as a butler for Mr Farraday after he realises that there is no possible future with Mrs Benn.
The story unfolds through the eyes of Mr Stevens. The novel begins in the present time as Mr Stevens’ current employer, Mr Farraday an American citizen, puts forward that he should take the motorcar to explore more of England while he is on a five-week stay in the United States. Mr Stevens declines at first but changes mind after the arrival of Miss Kenton’s letter, the first one in almost seven years. The message gives Mr Stevens with the idea that Miss Kenton might be the solution of his current problems. According to Mr Stevens, these problems include small errors that are a consequence of being understaffed. The former staff left for other jobs when Mr Farraday entered Darlington Hall. Mr Stevens thinks that Miss Kenton may be the solution to his problems as he hears of her crumbling marriage with Mr Benn, her husband from the letter. Mr Stevens starts a journey to the West Country, planning a meeting with Miss Kenton in Cornwall, where she resides. In the trip he travels through small English villages, where he spends nights at local bed and breakfast hotels.
On his way, he recalls the days serving Lord Darlington, especially the time he served together with Miss Kenton. It becomes a journey of memories, just like keepsakes from the past that is extensive, even though he concedes that he has become a bit too occupied with them. An example in the story, the narration that Mr Stevens’ father used to say; “There was a certain story my father was fond of repeating over the years. I recall listening to him tell it to visitors when I was a child, and then later when I was starting as a footman under his supervision”.
As the story continues, it becomes clear to the reader that Mr Stevens’ expedition has not only become that of the present thoughts and experiences but majorly those of his past. He progresses to flashback his old days, like the big gatherings at the Darlington Hall. Such collections were filled with very prominent guests from all around the world and in which talks and discussions took place. Most of these meetings occurred after the First World War. An example is the narration of the 1923 conference which had been planned for a very long time, and shortly after the Great War the visit by Herr Bremann. Lord Darlington is open to Mr Stevens, telling him that he found the trip to Berlin Germany at the end of 1920 disturbing and is very upset by the treatment of a defeated foe.
He recounts working with his father, Mr Steven Senior and Miss Kenton, like in one instance where Miss Kenton and Mr Steven encounters regarding his father. Miss Kenton explains to Mr Stevens that his father’s duties are far too much beyond his age. As shown to the reader, it is evident that Miss Kenton and Mr Stevens had a close working friendship which continued to deepen and grow even further.
Mr Stevens finally reaches Cornwall where he meets with Miss Kenton for tea. They talk about their past, and their current lives and Mr Stevens within no time finds out that Miss Kenton did not wholly mean what she had written in the letter, where she was complaining about her present situation. It becomes evident that Miss Kenton will not be willing to take up employment at Darlington Hall as she is informed of her daughter Catherine expecting a baby. They exchanged words about their past and in the end, they part their ways. The novels finish as Mr Stevens looks onwards, where he thinks of his days serving Mr Farraday.