In Kazuo Ishiguro´s The Remains of the Day the first person narrator Stevens, a butler on the verge of retirement, undertakes a journey to meet – for what is likely the last time in their lives – his former coworker and love interest Miss Kenton. At the same time, he tries to come to terms with his past by reexamining his memories of his life at Darlington Hall, the choices he made and the values he had. Throughout his account it becomes increasingly obvious that Stevens´s narration cannot be trusted completely. His comments on, and interpretation of, past events in his life and his portrayal of himself and others in his tale expose him as an unreliable narrator. However, his attempts to deceive himself and others are possibly the most interesting and telltale aspect of the narrative. After all, “the use of an unreliable narrator draws attention to a character´s psychology.” Paradoxically, the narrator reveals most about himself and his life when he is trying to obscure the truth.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Detecting Unreliable Narration in The Remains of the Day
- Stevens's "Language of Self-Deception"
- "Greatness"
- "Dignity"
- "Professionalism"
- Steven's Portrayal of other Characters and his Relationships to Them
- Stevens's Father
- Lord Darlington
- Miss Kenton
- Stevens's Portrayal of Himself
Objectives and Key Themes
This analysis aims to examine the unreliable narration in Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day, focusing on how Stevens, the first-person narrator, presents himself, his values, and other characters. The goal is to explore how the reader can discern the truth in Stevens's account and understand his motivations.
- Unreliable Narration
- Self-Deception and the Manipulation of Language
- Stevens's Distorted Values ("Greatness," "Dignity," "Professionalism")
- Stevens's Relationships and their Impact on his Narrative
- The Exploration of Memory and the Past
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the analysis of unreliable narration in Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day. It introduces Stevens, the aging butler embarking on a journey of self-reflection, and highlights the central theme of his untrustworthy narration. The chapter establishes that while Stevens's narration appears straightforward, it is ultimately unreliable, serving to conceal as much as it reveals about the butler's past and character. The author emphasizes the paradox of how this unreliability allows the reader to glean insights into Stevens's motivations and psychology. This introductory chapter explicitly states the objective of examining Stevens's self-presentation, his values, and his portrayal of others, emphasizing how these elements contribute to revealing the truth behind his narrative.
2. Detecting Unreliable Narration in The Remains of the Day: This chapter delves into the methods used to identify Stevens's unreliability as a narrator. It discusses textual inconsistencies and internal contradictions within his account. The chapter provides specific examples from the novel where Stevens's actions contradict his words, illustrating his attempts to misrepresent the truth. His inconsistent accounts of his relationship with Lord Darlington and his explanation for reading a sentimental book highlight his deceptive tendencies. The chapter further emphasizes the unusual and manipulated meanings Stevens assigns to common words, contributing to his overall unreliability, laying the groundwork for a deeper examination of the specific values he espouses in later chapters.
3. Stevens's "Language of Self-Deception": This chapter focuses on Ishiguro's concept of "the language of self-deception" as it applies to Stevens. It examines how Stevens uses language to conceal and suppress the truth, deceiving both himself and the reader. The chapter analyzes Stevens's definitions of key terms such as "greatness," "dignity," and "professionalism," showing how these are twisted from their conventional meanings to justify his actions and choices. This manipulation of language provides the reader with insights into Stevens's deeply ingrained self-deception and the mechanisms by which he constructs a false narrative.
3.1 "Greatness": This section explores Stevens's skewed perception of "greatness," illustrated by his interpretation of the English landscape and its connection to his professional aspirations. His interpretation contradicts the typical meaning, representing restraint rather than spectacle. This reframing is crucial in understanding Stevens's peculiar self-image, laying the foundation for his subsequent definition of "dignity" which similarly diverges from the conventional meaning.
3.2 “Dignity”: This section deeply investigates Stevens's distorted interpretation of "dignity," a central theme in the novel. It contrasts his view with the common definition, revealing his association of dignity with emotional repression rather than with inherent worth or honor. This chapter highlights his contradictory behaviors demonstrating the profound disconnect between Stevens's professed values and his actions. His justification for complying with Lord Darlington's dismissal of Jewish staff exemplifies his warped understanding of dignity and his ability to rationalize morally questionable choices.
4. Steven's Portrayal of other Characters and his Relationships to Them: This chapter analyzes Stevens's portrayal of significant figures in his life—his father, Lord Darlington, and Miss Kenton—illustrating how his presentation of these relationships reveals his biased and unreliable perspective. The analysis would demonstrate how his relationships shape his narrative and contribute to the overall understanding of his character and motivations. The selective and subjective nature of his recounting reveals his inherent biases and his need to maintain a specific self-image.
5. Stevens's Portrayal of Himself: This chapter focuses on Stevens's self-presentation throughout the novel. It explores the discrepancies between his self-perception and the reader's perception of him, based on the details revealed within his narration. This section would analyze how Stevens consciously or unconsciously constructs an idealized version of himself in order to suppress his true feelings and past regrets, further demonstrating his unreliability.
Keywords
Unreliable narration, self-deception, language, memory, repression, dignity, professionalism, greatness, Kazuo Ishiguro, The Remains of the Day, butler, Lord Darlington, Miss Kenton.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Unreliable Narration in Kazuo Ishiguro's *The Remains of the Day*
What is the purpose of this analysis?
This analysis examines the unreliable narration in Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day. It focuses on how the first-person narrator, Stevens, presents himself, his values, and other characters. The goal is to understand how the reader can discern the truth in Stevens's account and explore his motivations.
What are the key themes explored in this analysis?
Key themes include unreliable narration, self-deception and the manipulation of language, Stevens's distorted values (greatness, dignity, professionalism), Stevens's relationships and their impact on his narrative, and the exploration of memory and the past.
How does the analysis approach the unreliable narration in the novel?
The analysis identifies Stevens's unreliability by examining textual inconsistencies and internal contradictions in his account. Specific examples from the novel are used to show where Stevens's actions contradict his words, highlighting his attempts to misrepresent the truth. The analysis also focuses on the unusual and manipulated meanings Stevens assigns to common words.
What is the significance of Stevens's "language of self-deception"?
The analysis explores how Stevens uses language to conceal and suppress the truth, deceiving both himself and the reader. It examines how he distorts the meanings of "greatness," "dignity," and "professionalism" to justify his actions and choices, revealing his deeply ingrained self-deception.
How does Stevens portray himself and other characters?
The analysis examines Stevens's portrayal of significant figures in his life (his father, Lord Darlington, and Miss Kenton). It shows how his presentation of these relationships reveals his biased and unreliable perspective and how his relationships shape his narrative. The analysis also focuses on the discrepancies between Stevens's self-perception and the reader's perception, based on the details revealed in his narration.
What are the chapter summaries provided in the analysis?
The analysis provides summaries for each chapter, outlining the key points and arguments presented in each section. These summaries cover the introduction, the detection of unreliable narration, Stevens's language of self-deception (including specific sections on "greatness" and "dignity"), his portrayal of other characters, and his portrayal of himself.
What are the keywords associated with this analysis?
Keywords include: Unreliable narration, self-deception, language, memory, repression, dignity, professionalism, greatness, Kazuo Ishiguro, The Remains of the Day, butler, Lord Darlington, Miss Kenton.
What is the overall structure of the analysis?
The analysis follows a structured format, including a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. This allows for a comprehensive and organized examination of the chosen themes.
- Quote paper
- Lynn Bay (Author), 2009, "A great butler": the unreliable narrator in Kazuo Ishiguro's "The Remains of the Day", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/196781
