Karabük University

English Language and Literature (II OG)

“The Remains of the Day” by Kazuo Ishiguro

In 1989, the famous half-Japanese and half-British writer Kazuo Ishiguro wrote a novel
called "The Remains of the Day". In this novel, Mr. Stevens plays the main role and tells about
his life story. This novel refers to the post-colonial period, when many people entered into a
situation of self-identity. This essay will focus on the brief content of the novel, on
multiculturalism, on racial relations, and on finding self-identity.
Starting with a summary of the novel, the novel opens on Stevens and his past as a butler
in England, in one of the stately homes. After many years of work, Stevens decides to return to
his homeland, where he begins to remember the past.
All his life, he worked for the upper class. Despite the fact that he always worked under
someone else, he always did his job according to the rules and always respected his employers.
The last employer was Mr. John Farraday, who was not doing very well in the economy. He asks
Stevens to lend him a car for a while. That reason was that Mr. John Farraday wanted Stevens to
drive towards Darlington Hall to meet Miss Kenton so that she could come to his house and
manage the house's economy. Having agreed, he goes on a journey and, in parallel, begins to
write a diary about his past memories.
The first memory was of his former master, Lord Darlington, who was a former
politician. Further, he recalls how his father taught him how to be a butler. Stevens was so
engrossed in his work that he did not visit his father, who was dying in bed, thinking that his
father was proud of him. The last memory he wrote about was of Miss Kenton, where he was
headed. He did not consider himself worthy of her. He decided to step back from confessing his
feelings, but after a while he greatly regretted it.
Arriving at the house of Miss Kenton, who was already married and had a daughter,
Stevens tried to strike up a sweet and nasty conversation with her. He hopes that perhaps she will
change her mind about him after such a long time. She refuses to tell him this, explaining to him
that she is very happy with her current husband. Afterwards, Stevens regrets this and returns to
his employer, Mr. John Farraday, to inform him of the denial of Ms. Kenton's help with
managing the house's economy. Returning from the trip, Stevens is still trying to accept his
condition and begins to move forward. Trying to laugh and joke, to do what he did not have the
opportunity or time to do.
 About the multiculturalism of this novel, it should be noted that during the period of post-
colonialism, the study of different languages and their cultures increased. Writer Kazuo Ishiguro
describes Stevens' character as having two cultures. He has both a Japanese and an English line.
As an Englishman, he is presented as a hardworking and devoted character, while as a Japanese,
he is presented as a philosopher.
Next, the topic is race relations in the novel "The Remains of the Day". These
relationships can be considered on two occasions in the novel. In the first case, Stevens, although
a butler and faithful servant of his employers, is still below their class.
The next incident occurred when Stevens could not bring himself to confess his feelings
for Miss Kenton at a time when Miss Kenton, being a free and young woman waiting for a
confession from Stevens, could not bring himself to confess to her. The main reason for this act
was his lack of self-confidence and low class compared to Miss Kenton.
The last analysis of this novel will be on the topic of self-identity. There were scenes in
the novel about how difficult it was for Stevens to figure out who he really was. Citing the
example of Stevenson with other servants When other servants could leave work after it was
completed and live their own lives, Stevens did not know what to do and understood that after
processing, you could relax or become yourself like all the other workers.
Stevens thinks he has to be that butler even when he can be himself. One of those
examples is when he didn't go to see his dying father, William Stevens. Stevens does not know
how to have different personalities with different people or how to communicate with them in a
different way, not like a butler. Another example of how he and Miss Kenton liked each other.
Due to the loss of identity, Stevens is unable to decide on a relationship with Miss Kent.
Building relationships isn't easy for Stevens. He continues to be a professional butler in
his job. There was also a moment where Stevens referred to his diary as "You", mistaking him
for a serious person. Seeing his entire life before his eyes, Stevens realizes that he has never been
himself. After he accepted and understood this, it became much easier for him. He began to
devote more time to himself and self-development, or, in other words, finding his true identity.
In the upshot, the above was told about the novel "The Remains of the Day" which was
written by Kazuo Ishiguro. This novel has been analyzed from a post-colonial perspective. These
perspectives were multiculturalism, where the main character had two nationalities; racial
attitudes, where Stevens does not see himself in the upper class; and finally, on the identity side,
where he can't get out of his work persona and become who he really is.