Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day, appears, at first glance, to be a simple novel about the life and service of a proper, one-dimensional English butler. Upon closer inspection, the text gives us insight regarding class, individuality, and the interaction between leaders and followers by way of an individual’s reflection on life and reaction to change. Ishiguro employs Stevens, a rather proper, pedantic, and unreliable narrator, to tell the story of his life, and illustrate his role as a dedicated butler. Stevens is initially comfortable with what he does and who he is as he sees his duties, however minute, as influential in political affairs. He has come to find his niche in an aristocratic England that he understands and takes great pride in. For much of the novel, everything seems in order to Stevens. He blindly trusts and feels comfort in leaving the responsibility of major decision making (i.e. politics) in the hands of the seemingly virtuous gentleman Darlington. The novels core lies in Stevens’ inability to be self-reliant when his trusted assumptions and the circumstances of his environment begin to change. His sense of security in his profession and his identity as a person are vastly altered as his profession becomes less important to a changing culture. Ishiguro uses the once rigid class structure of aristocratic England to define Stevens’ almost subconscious role as an ineffective follower as well as his complete confidence in his leader. However sheltered, the structured society in which Stevens lived limited his potential, made him complacent as a “lesser,” and resulted in his regret for not having actually lived as an independent, active person.

Section I: Stevens initially as an effective follower.

Ishiguro complicates the character of Stevens by illustrating him as what some might consider the perfect follower at first glance. By making Stevens seemingly content with his life and by showing the respect he has earned as a butler or follower, Ishiguro tricks us into thinking nothing is amiss. When scratching the surface of Stevens’ character, we understand that he is satisfied because he performs with excellence, and as a result he positively influences those “masters” whom he accepts as being superior in both power and status. Lord Darlington makes Stevens feel appreciated and important by trusting him and recognizing the quality of his service. When Darlington began to host the clandestine meetings with European leaders, he trusted only Stevens in knowing the identities of the men who came to the conferences. Stevens, feeling rather valued and respected, said that “Lord Darlington never made any efforts to conceal things from my own eyes and ears… [He would] say ‘Oh that’s all right. You can say anything in front of Stevens, I can assure you’” (74). Stevens similarly thought that his superior job polishing silver had “made a small, but significant contribution towards the easing of relations…that evening” (136).

Although the story is told by Stevens, and it is possible he has exaggerated the meaningfulness of his contributions, it is still important to note that followers do still contribute and play a part in making any leader’s objectives possible. Here, Stevens makes a willing and dedicated contribution commensurate to the power resources he has at his command to influence other people (Rost, 191). Admittedly so, Stevens can be seen, on the surface, as a more than adequate follower—at least before it becomes clear that he cannot think critically and act independently of his masters.

Section II: Rigid class structure and elitist ideology limits and manipulates Stevens sense of self

Stevens interactions with Darlington and his elitist guests make it clear that they are unwilling to consider Stevens—a butler—independent and equal to them in status, intelligence and ability.  Mr. Spencer believes Stevens cannot possibly participate in democracy because he has no real knowledge of political affairs.  Democracy, a system of government that represents political and social equality, is vilified by both Darlington and Mr. Spencer because they believe anyone below them is incapable of making responsible and informed decisions. The domain of the superiors must be kept as selective as possible in order to keep the power structure (i.e. who is the leader and follower) well defined and maintained. The superiors define the present structure of power and influence as right and good, and they trick the subordinates into thinking that they are contributing to a larger purpose. As with Stevens, he thought all along that he was helping bring peace to international relations by his service. His reluctance to question Darlington resulted in his belated realization that he was serving Nazi sympathizers. When Darlington requested the Jewish housemaids be dismissed, Stevens knew it was wrong deep down. He said:

“I may as well say this since the Jewish issue has become so sensitive of late—my every instinct opposed the idea of their dismissal. Nevertheless, my duty in this instance was quite clear, and as I saw it, there was nothing to be gained at all in irresponsibly displaying such personal doubts.” (148)

This unhealthy relationship in which ideas of inferiority are perpetually infused into Stevens’ self identity results in Stevens’ passivity, submissiveness, and further complacency as a “lesser”.

Section III: Evidence for his Stevens inability to step outside of his professionalism and role as a “lesser”

Throughout Stevens’ life as a butler, all of his energies were conditioned to be directed for the sole purpose of pleasing his masters by way of perfecting his professional duties. The rigidity of his character and his unwillingness to chase after something for himself leaves him unable to successfully be affectionate with Miss Kenton—the only person for whom he had any kind of “human warmth.” Stevens comments that he has no regard for people who “have no genuine commitment to their profession and who are essentially going from post to post looking for romance” (51). Even his one-on-one conversations with Miss Kenton in private were dominated by workplace conversation and formality because he was made to think that doing anything but serve his superiors was not his place. In one scene, Miss Kenton tries to flirt with Stevens, and he obliviously changes the tone of the conversation by berating her for referring to “Mr. Stevens Senior” as William. After some debate regarding Miss Kenton’s observational skills and sense of propriety, Stevens says:

“Miss Kenton, if you are under the impression you have already at your age perfected yourself, you will never rise to the heights you are no doubt capable of. I might point out, for instance, you are still often unsure of what goes where and which item is which.” (54)

            A different interpretation of Stevens words can yield the idea that Miss Kenton she has yet to be put in her proper place as a subordinate, as he says “you are still unsure of what goes where and which item is which.” Stevens does, however, believe that he belongs below the superiors. Stevens convinces himself that this is a “matter of dignity.”

            He says that a “decent gentleman” will not be “shaken by external events,” but instead, will always be a “decent gentleman” and “wear his suit” continuously in public (43). His inability to stray from professionalism is further illustrated by Stevens’ reluctance to “banter”—or casually talk—to a less proper master Mr. Farraday, who frequently engaged in the Americanized “affectionate sport.”  It is not until the end of the novel that the audience begins to see that even Stevens has realized he is missing out on two fundamental necessities of life; namely, love and happiness.

Section IV: Why is Ishiguro telling us about this tragic life?

Through Stevens, we are made to understand how a sense of self chronically committed to professional work as an inferior severely sacrifices one’s personal aspirations. But so what? Stevens made a mistake in trusting Darlington as a virtuous man.

Ishiguro’s method is effective in making the reader understand his point because he touches the audience’s pathos by making us feel bad for Stevens. He seems to expect that we understand just how much Stevens is missing in life, making his message pretty clear and moving.

This deprived identity makes Stevens’ vantage point towards life provincial, making him uninterested in the possibility of there being something more to life. His acquiescent demeanor eventually becomes a bit more challenging, even though he never expresses his opinions, however strong. He has come to the realization that his life is beyond redemption as he has failed to live, to love, and to be happy too late in the “day”. In the same way that Stevens’ position as a butler is seemingly unchangeable because of his superiors’ resistance to a “leveling” of positions, Stevens’life has become inflexible. 

Although Steven is fundamentally the perfect follower and servant, he fails to encompass the characteristics that make him an insightful and candid individual, who can think critically, act independently, and courageously. Most basically, an effective follower can manage himself well, be independent, be committed, build competence, and be intelligent, self-reliant and motivated. Stevens lacks the ability to be courageous, independent and a critical, open-minded thinker. He cannot find the “moral and psychological balance to pursue personal and corporate goals at no cost to either” (Wren, 198). The scale tips almost completely towards Stevens’ professional goals, but he does acknowledge that the older generation of butlers (himself included) was principally concerned with the moral character of those who were to be served. When he realizes that Lord Darlington—his highly venerated and noble master—has sympathized with Nazi Germany after WWI, he feels tricked and a bit foolish. He has failed to either loyally stand behind Lord Darlington or admit that he himself made a mistake by being naïve. Instead of acting on either of the aforementioned options, he puts the reality of the situation outside of his circumscribed bubble by dismissing the fact that he even worked for Lord Darlington. This spineless reaction to adversity indicates a feeble follower and disloyal acquaintance.

Moreover, this moral and psychological imbalance may be due to the nature of his job—the automatic subordination intrinsic to the butler profession—that essentially brain washes him into thinking he is inherently less valuable as an individual than the masters for whom he serves. Alternatively, Stevens’ upbringing as the son of an equally formal and stringent man may have influenced him enough to be eternally conditioned to an emotionless, business-like way of life. His father, described as having a “dark, severe presence” (39) was put on a pedestal by Stevens. When Miss Kenton once notified Stevens that the elder Stevens had left a dustpan in public view, Stevens cannot even admit that his dignified father could have made a mistake, and as a result, relocates his frustration to the housemaid, Miss Kenton, for “attempting to create such unwarranted fuss over the incident” (56). It is well known that Stevens’ character is outdated and not malleable to the conditions of his environment. Perhaps his upbringing as the son of a butler has conditioned him to believe that virtues such as dignity should be the primary goal in life, and can only be achieved by way of excellence in whatever it is that one does.

            Accordingly, it is not until the end of the novel that we learn that Stevens is not as satisfied with the hollowness in his life as we originally assumed. His wistful tone throughout the novel transitions to one of regret, sadness and emptiness as he “reflectively” looks at his life. But concurrently, he explains that he feels a “sense of triumph” for “preserving a dignity in keeping with his position” during the “trying evening” he had just endured (227). We do not know for sure if Stevens wishes to change his ways with “the remains of the day.” He dismisses the affectionate “pleasantries” that Miss Kenton divulged because he claims he has not “taken anything [she] said to heart” (226). Even after recognizing that Miss Kenton was likely upset after his apathetic denial of feelings for her, he refused to see if she was okay because a delay of his service would have been “unduly” (227). The only hint that suggests a possible reform is that he wants to become better at “bantering,” but it is possible that he only wants that to continue to perfect his duties as a butler.

Here, Stevens may have engaged in a mild form of critical thinking—which does, in fact, frequently result from this type of trauma or tragedy—at this final stage of the novel and of his life. He begins to question his “previously trusted assumptions” as to what we are to do in life. Do we serve others, or serve ourselves? What comes first, and which is more important? The following process can further illustrate Stevens’ situation. “Energy alternates with apathy as we first scramble to deny or forget the changes forced upon us, and then become aware of their overwhelming reality” (Wren, 385). At this realization is where Stevens is the most “teachable” or reformable.  The changes are tiring and debilitating, and he may feel that there is no time left to reform and find affection in someone else (Wren, 385).

The “remains of the day” leave Stevens feeling exhausted and it is likely that he does not have the courage, as an effective follower would, to recognize folly and start over (Wren, 385). The only thing he can do is “preserve a sense of dignity, some sort of self-respect” by deceiving himself into believing that his previously trusted assumptions (pursuit of dignity) can be achieved by continued dutiful service as nothing more than an ineffective follower (Graver).

Works Cited: Gardner, John W, et al. “#29, 30, 31, 47, 49.” The Leaders Companion. By J
     Thomas Wren. Ed. J Thomas Wren. New York: The Free Press, 1995.

Graver, Lawrence. “What the Butler Saw.” Rev. of The Remains of the Day. New
     York Times 8 Oct. 1989. 25 Mar. 2007 <http://query.nytimes.com/gst/
     fullpage.html?res=950DE2DF163BF93BA35753C1A96F948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all>. Ishiguro, Kazuo. The Remains of the Day. New York : Random House, 1988.