Kazuo Ishiguro was born in 1954 in Nagasaki, Japan, and moved to Great Britain in 1960 where he grew up. The Remains of the Day is his third novel after A Pale View of Hills (1982) and An Artist of the Floating World (1986), for which he won the Booker Prize in 1989. The film with Anthony Hopkins also won an award. The Remains of the Day describes the journey of an old-fashioned British butler named Stevens, who undertakes a motoring trip through Britain in 1956 intending to visit Miss Kenton. He received a letter from her and because of staffing problems at Darlington Hall, where he is still employed, he hopes to gain her back as the housekeeper. During his trip, Stevens not only remembers the time he and Miss Kenton worked together, but also the historical events that took place in Darlington Hall between the wars, when Lord Darlington, its former owner, organized several meetings of intellectuals from different nations to discuss the political situation in Europe.
While Stevens tells his memories, it becomes clear that he completely gave himself up for his intention to be a great butler and to serve the right man, Lord Darlington. But he presents Lord Darlington as an honourable man that he has not always been, and at last Stevens leads an unhappy and unfulfilled life and does not know what to make out of it because he never allowed himself to live his own life. Stevens is one of Ishiguro′s characters that tragically shows how people who have tried to do something good and useful in their lives can suddenly find that they have misplaced their efforts. Not only have they perhaps wasted their talent and their energy, but also they may have contributed, unknowingly, to something that was evil, all the time thinking they were doing something good. (Bigsby 1990: 26)
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Ishiguro's presentation of international conflicts
- The British-American conflict
- The image of the Germans
- The influence of national on personal history
- The protagonist's dealing with personal history
- The narrating voice and its function
- The presentation of the past and its function
- Stevens' interpretation of "dignity"
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper analyzes Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day, exploring the interplay between national and personal history as depicted in the novel. It examines how Ishiguro presents international conflicts, particularly the British-American dynamic and the portrayal of German figures, and their impact on the protagonist's personal journey. The paper also delves into the protagonist's narration, his understanding of the past, and his concept of "dignity."
- The relationship between national and personal history
- Ishiguro's portrayal of international relations during the interwar period
- The impact of societal expectations on individual choices
- The themes of regret and missed opportunities
- The complexities of identity and self-perception
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This chapter introduces Kazuo Ishiguro, the author, and his novel, The Remains of the Day, setting the scene for the subsequent analysis. It summarizes the plot, focusing on Stevens, the aging butler, his journey, and his reflections on his past service to Lord Darlington. It highlights the themes of missed opportunities and the tragic consequences of prioritizing duty over personal fulfillment, foreshadowing the deeper exploration of these themes in later chapters.
Ishiguro's presentation of international conflicts: This section analyzes Ishiguro's depiction of international conflicts within the novel, focusing primarily on the British-American dynamic and the portrayal of German characters. It contrasts the British and American approaches to life and politics, highlighting the Victorian values of formality and repression versus American individualism and freedom. The contrasting characters of Senator Lewis and Farraday (who are the same in the film adaptation) exemplify this difference. The chapter also analyzes the portrayal of German figures like Bremann and Ribbentrop, exploring how their representations contribute to a broader commentary on the complexities of international relations and the dangers of political naiveté.
The influence of national on personal history: This section will delve into the complex interplay between national events and the shaping of the protagonist's life. The chapter will explore how the political climate and international tensions of the time directly impacted the personal decisions and experiences of Stevens, and influenced the choices that shaped his life. It will discuss how the larger historical context informs Stevens's internal struggles and personal relationships.
The protagonist's dealing with personal history: This section focuses on Stevens's narration and how it shapes the reader's understanding of his past. It explores the function of his narrating voice, his presentation of the past, and his understanding of "dignity." The chapter will analyze how Stevens's selective memory and self-deception contribute to his overall character arc, and how his flawed perspective shapes his interpretation of historical events and his own life experiences. His rigid adherence to notions of duty and service will be examined as a crucial element of his character, and the consequences of this perspective.
Keywords
National history, personal history, Kazuo Ishiguro, The Remains of the Day, British-American relations, German portrayal, interwar period, dignity, regret, missed opportunities, duty, self-deception, narration, memory.
Frequently Asked Questions: Kazuo Ishiguro's *The Remains of the Day*
What is the purpose of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive preview of an academic paper analyzing Kazuo Ishiguro's novel, *The Remains of the Day*. It includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. The content is intended for academic use, focusing on the interplay between national and personal history in the novel.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The paper explores the relationship between national and personal history, Ishiguro's portrayal of international relations during the interwar period, the impact of societal expectations on individual choices, themes of regret and missed opportunities, and the complexities of identity and self-perception. Specifically, it focuses on the British-American dynamic and the portrayal of German characters in the novel.
What aspects of Ishiguro's *The Remains of the Day* does the paper analyze?
The analysis focuses on several key aspects: Ishiguro's presentation of international conflicts (particularly the British-American conflict and the portrayal of Germans), the influence of national events on the protagonist's personal history, and the protagonist's (Stevens') dealing with his personal history (including his narration, his understanding of the past, and his concept of "dignity").
How does the paper analyze the protagonist's perspective?
The paper examines Stevens's narration, his selective memory, and his self-deception to understand how these elements shape his character arc and his interpretation of both historical events and his personal experiences. His rigid adherence to duty and service, and the consequences of this perspective, are also explored.
What is the role of the British-American conflict in the analysis?
The paper contrasts the British and American approaches to life and politics as depicted in the novel, highlighting the Victorian values of formality and repression versus American individualism and freedom. Specific characters are used to exemplify this difference, examining how these contrasting perspectives contribute to the overall themes of the novel.
What is the significance of the portrayal of German characters?
The analysis explores how Ishiguro's portrayal of German figures contributes to a broader commentary on the complexities of international relations and the dangers of political naiveté during the interwar period.
What are the chapter summaries provided in the document?
The document provides summaries for each chapter of the analysis. These summaries briefly outline the content and focus of each section, including the introduction, the analysis of international conflicts, the influence of national history on the protagonist, and the analysis of the protagonist's dealing with his personal history.
What keywords are associated with this academic paper?
The keywords include: National history, personal history, Kazuo Ishiguro, *The Remains of the Day*, British-American relations, German portrayal, interwar period, dignity, regret, missed opportunities, duty, self-deception, narration, memory.
- Quote paper
- Marion Schenkelberg (Author), 2002, National and personal history in Kazuo Ishiguro´s "The Remains of the Day", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/16507
