Theme of Dignity in The Remains of the Day

Kazuo Ishiguro is one of the British contemporary Novelists. He

was born in Nagasaki in 1954, he moved to England with his
family and still there.(wiki) Ishiguro views his background as
bicultural; he is both English and Japanese. As Essaka Joshua
states in A Study guide to The Remains of the Day Ishiguro
suggests that he belongs to neither culture; he says: I had no
clear role, no society, or country to spend for or write about
.Nobody history seemed to be my history (Study, p14). So
Ishiguro identifies himself as an international writer who belongs
to nowhere.
Ishiguro writes many novels like a Pale View of Hills (1982),
The Remains of the Day (1989), An Artist of the Floating World
(1986), The Unconsoled (1995), When We Were orphans
(2000) and his latest novel Never Let Me Go (2005).His novels
tackle the issue of the past and its memories. Also He celebrates
in his novels broad themes that can mark any human beings like
dignity, duty and many other themes. What really an important
matter in Ishiguros novels is their ends. Reading them closely,
one can sees that Ishiguros novels often end without any sense
of resolution. (Wiki) His character cant find stability in his life
and if he finds it, it will turn over into delusions.
The Remains of the Day revolves around Stevens, an English
butler , physical and spiritual journey in which he discovers the
real meaning of dignity .He achieves this realization through
examining special situations and memories between his past and
present. Concerning the themes, The Remains of the Day
celebrates
different
inseparable
themes
of
social
constraints(wiki), memory and perspective expect that dignity is
considered the central theme in the novel as David Medalie
describes the novel It offers an investigation of the concept of
dignity and some of the ways it represented in the twentieth
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century(Medalie,p1). It has been highly appreciated and has

won the Booker prize in 1989.
This paper aims at showing Stevens dignity as a central theme
and a notion that he acquires throughout different resources, and
how he coins his own definition. It also explores to what extent his
illusions affect him in shaping his identity as a dignified butler. At
the end it will present how Stevens will deceive himself as one of
Ishiguro character. Even the characters are described as they
evaluate their lives and deceive themselves in the
process.(Study,p8)
The word Dignity has different meaning within different
historical context. Michael Rosen in his book Dignity: Its History
and Meaning examines the way the word has been used via
different historical era. Starting from the Roman Era, Cicero has
used the word as honors and respectful treatment according to
people of high social rank.(Dignity,p13) So the Roman connects
the meaning of dignity with social status and according to them it
is only for upper class. Examining the Renaissance dignity is the
conception of worth or value applicable to everything created by
God .Human, animals , and plants alike.(Dignity,p22) In this
era ,the meaning moves to wider horizon as it becomes
connected to divine authority and includes every single item in
life. Immanuel Kant disconnects dignity from any authority ,for
him :
what is to be recognized as a worthy of respect is not the
position that the individuals occupies within a particular
society or even the generalized status of human as citizens of
the world ;but the lawgiving function of morality something
that human being carry in alien within themselves.

So from Kantian point of view, the word is connected to the

rational choices we use in giving value on things.

Moving to the nineteenth century, dignity is defined as the value

something has in virtue of occupying its proper place within divine
orders. (33) This proper place is defined within social, religious
and political norms. Rosen clarifies that all members of society
have dignity but their dignity consists of their playing the role that
is appropriate to their situation within a hierarchical social
order .One in which is noble than others.
Ending his argument with the modern concept of the word, dignity
becomes the fundamental human right and meant to be treated
with respect.
In this novel Stevens sets a number of examples that shape his
concept of ones dignity .His first source about dignity refers to
different situations and memories that are related to the his
profession as a butler . From the very beginning of the novel he
raises the question what is a great butler? .He answers the
question in light of the Hayes Society, which is a fictional elite
society of butlers in 1920s and 1930s. This organization defines
the great butler as that the great butler is the one who acquires
dignity.(Remains,33) As Stevenss hopes to part and a
membership of this organization, the definition leads him to look
for what is dignity and how to be a dignified butler. Through his
search he finds that dignity is something one can meaningfully
strives for throughout ones career.(33)
Even this answer makes him curious for models of great butlers.
He finds three people who are representative of this profession If
one looks at Mr Marshall or Mr Lane, it does seem to me that the
factor which distinguishes them iscaptured by this word
dignity. (33)
Despite the fact that he considers them great ,Stevens
emphasizes that his father is greater as he describes him my
father was indeed the embodiment of dignity.(34) He asserts
his view point throughout recalling three significant stories ,that
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his father was fond of repeating them over and over. The first
story is about a butler ,who moves to India with his employer and
one day he finds a tiger under the dining table . He is very careful
about the comfort of his employer s gust so as great butler he
attracts attention with a cough telling him I am very sorry sir
,there appears to be a tiger perhaps you will permit the twelve
bores to be used .(36)Also he comforts his employer that
everything will be as its planned for. According to Stevens father
any dignified butler is brave and able to solve any problems
without distractions. Stevens doesnt only memorize the story but
he applies it in his daily life .In Darlington Hall he is very keen to
see all the guests happy and satisfy in their hosting whatever
happens, like calling the doctor for one of the gust even thou his
father is about to die. And when Miss Kenton asks him about this
he elaborates on this stating that My father will do the same.
Stevens cites another important story about his fathers dignity
that he knows about from Mr Charles. It has happened when his
father serves at Mr Johns Silvers house, as his employer asks him
to take his guest in a trip around the local villages he drives
calmly and behaves well although the two drunk gentle men
insult him. However, he stops the car and asks them silently to
leave the car when they start fluttering about Mr Silver Mr Charles
describes Stevens Father dark severe presence(39)when the
two gentle men apologies for what they say . I suppose we were
talking a little out of turn there. It will not happen again.(40) As
one can sense it clearly that Stevens father relates his dignity to
his employer, he doesnt accept anyone to make fun of Mr Silver
although he accepts that for himself . Stevens also follows his
father footsteps and go further than him, he doesnt accept any
one to insult Mr. Darlington even thou he doesnt work for him any
more as he has been his previous employer and his dignity is
connected to him. Through out the novel, he is very concerned
about Mr Darlingtons reputation and to protect it he always
denies that he has been working there .
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The third story happens between his father and an army general.
In Mr Silvers house his father meets a general who kills Stevens
brother due to the general poor leadership , who comes as a
guest .Despite all the sufferings and the pain his father does his
job perfectly and he doesnt show any clue of his hatred toward
the general. As it is obvious that dignity doesnt have any
connotation with the butler feelings or desire it revolves around
other, the employers and the guest, and how do they should
always be happy and satisfied. He assists his fathers action
through these two stories and describes him my father not
only manifests ,but comes close to being the personification itself
of what the Hayes Society terms dignity in keeping with his
position(42)
As his father become the spiritual guide for dignified butler he
coins his own term about dignity from this resource profession-he
says commenting on the previous argument: Let me now posit
this dignity has to do with a butlers ability not to abandon the
professional being he inhabits .they will not be shaken out by
external events however alarming or vexing. (44)
Moving to Stevens application for his coining term, reading his
action closely one can claims that according to his definition he
has dignity in his blood to the utmost point. He does his job in all
his twenty years In Darlington Hall without any acceptance to any
distraction or weakness. He dehumanizes himself to reach the
point of being great dignified butler through denying his
emotions and desire as he considers them a destructive phases of
greatness. Ishiguro sets many example exploring this point like
his attitude in the death of his father. Darlington holds a
conference and Stevens moves up and down to make sure that
everything is set properly till Miss Kenton tells him that his father
is very ill and when Stevens doesnt seem to do anything she
completes Mr Steven, he really is in a poor state. You had better
come and see him. (103) He continues his work and try to make
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himself feeling very well; even thou Mr Darlington says as

though you re crying(105) Stevens refers to the strains of the
day as the main reason . Furthermore he knows about his fathers
death when Miss Kenton ask him to come and see him he says
Im very busy right know perhaps in a little while. He justifies
his action to miss Kenton who is astonished by his action, he says:
To do otherwise, I feel, would be to let him down.(106)In
addition to this Ishiguro ends this part by visualizing Stevens
felling whenever he recalls that evening with a large sense of
triumph.(110)
As Stevens suppresses his feeling likewise he abandons his desire
for love and marriage as he considers them threats for dignified
butler. He criticizes two of his staff who fall in love and decides to
marry as being unprofessional due to his belief that a great butler
doesnt allow any space for feeling to imprison him and cut him
off his career. Not only that but also he accuses them as not
having genuine commitment to their profession (51) and as
going from post to post looking for romance.(51)Furthermore he
applies his point of view on himself when he faces his true feeling
of love for Miss Kenton. One day Miss Kenton comes to his pantry
and finds him reading sentimental love story when she tries to
have a look at the book he feels offended and shows her out of
his pantry pretending that its his spare time and he doesnt want
anyone to disturb him. It is quite impossible that you should
persist in pursuing me like this during the few moments of spare
time I have to myself. (167)In addition to this he connects this
love story to his profession and how he is only using it to be more
dignified. He clarifies that it is his duty to read this book to
maintain and develop his command of the English language as
too much stress has been placed on good accent. He says: It has
never been my position that good accent and commands of
language are not attractive attribute and I always consider it my
duty to develop them as best as I could.(168) This incident
makes him decided that he will re-establish their professional
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relationship on proper bases as he concerns about his full and

proper role as a dignified butler.
The second source for his understanding of dignity is the
distribution of power in his society. Stevens has to follow Mr
Darlington orders and wishes even if he feels uncomfortable. Like
when Lord Darlington asks him to teach Reginald Cardinal the
facts of life sex- as long as it isnt appropriate for a gentle man to
talk about and discuss such topics. Although he feels
uncomfortable to talk about such topic his duty as its assign for
him he has to do it.
The second incidence related to the political norms. Stevens
believes that it is important for a dignified butler to focus on his
service without interfering in political issues that beyond his
understanding. a butlers duty is to provide good service. It is not
to meddle in the great affairs of the nation .The fact that such
great affairs will always be beyond the understanding of those
such as you and I.(199)
Although it seems that Stevens believes strongly of dignity in the
concept mention before .we find that the first time he confronts
himself and others with a new concept of dignity he questions and
evaluates all the previous assumptions. The first confront
happens when he has lunch in Mr Taylors house as Mr Smith
defines it dignity is something gentle men have. dignity is
something every man and woman in this country is strive for and
get .(186)and he continues with this is what we fought Hitler for
. If Hitler had things his way, we would just be slave now.
Even when Mr Smith faces him with the truth that he cant
express dignity as long as he is a slave of his employer due to the
fact that ,servitude has nothing to do with ones dignity as it is
part of him as human being . Nowadays it is a privilege of being
born English, as it is no matter who you are, you can express your
opinion freely and vote in the parliament and that is what dignity
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is about. So for him There is no dignity to be had in being a

slave (186) But Stevens insists that Mr Smith words reminds him
of misguided idealism which beset significant part of his
generation.(199)
The second confront happens within himself when he realizes the
true feeling he embodies for Miss Kenton .He loves her and
sacrifices her for the sake of false dignity why should I not admit
it ? at the moment my heart was breaking.(239) His illusions
follow him even with Miss Kenton, he thinks that her heart is
broken, being mistreated and getting divorce. Unexpectedly, he
finds her satisfied with what she has and very enthusiastic about
being a grandmother soon.
The third confront takes place when he parallels himself with Lord
Darlington. As Darlington has been misguided by the surrounding
and accused of traitor of his country ,Stevens has been misguided
by the imposed resources over him he choose a certain path in
life ,it proved to be misguided one, but there he chose it he can
say that at last(243) so Stevens start understanding that what
dignity is when one can hold his thoughts and action with freedom
and courage in facing the result of the action.
After all these confronts Stevens feels that he gives the best and
now he doesnt have great deal left to give ,he is very depressed
and he spends all his life doing something not worthwhile.
Ishiguro provides Stevens with new concept of dignity which is to
enjoy himself and keep looking forward You have got to enjoy
yourself .This evening is the best part of the day .You have done
your days work
In conclusion, as Ishiguro ends his novel without a sense of
resolution ,Stevens gives the reader an opportunity to share with
him the best part of the day which is evening .Also he shares
his intention and future plan to make the best of what remains of
his day, metaphorically speaking his life. Stevens evaluates his
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life, build up his future plan but as one of Ishiguros character he

deceives himself when he devotes himself for bantering to amuse
Mr Farraday. I have of course already devoted much time to
developing my bantering skills by the time of my employers
return I shall be in a position pleasantly to surprise him(245)
.And he starts to coin the concept of bantering as the key to
human warmth.(245)

Works Cited
1- Ishiguro,kazoo.The Remains of the Day. (New York : Vintage International),1993.
2- Joshua, Essaka. A Study guide to The Remains of the Day.( Cambridge:
Cambridge
University Press),2004.
3- Medalie, David. "What Dignity is There in That?": The Crisis of Dignity in
Selected
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Late- Twentieth-Century Novels. Journal Of Literary Studies, 20(1/2), 48-61.

(2004).
4- Rosen ,Michael. Dignity :Its History and Meaning . (Cambridge: Harvard
University
Press:) ,2012.
5- www .wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Remains_of_the_Day.

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