Eng426 20th century english literature

Themes and Techniques in The Remains Of The Day

Themes

Professionalism: The major theme in The Remains of the Day is that of professionalism. Stevens is obsessed with his work and he is only interested in reaching the standard of the traditional butlers who serve their masters without the hindrance of emotional or family attachments. In the narrative of Stevens it is clear that he loves Miss Kenton who he refused to call by her married name. He loves her but because he is against employee relationships or marriage, he allows her to marry a man she is clearly not in love with.
This sense of duty makes him neglect his father who is an old Butler at his deathbed in order to attend to Lord Darlington’s visitor. Stevens is against bantering but because it seems it is a requirement for him so he decides to learn the art of bantering. His quest for professional success leads to emotional and psychological repression and aloneness.
Dignity: The issue of dignity is also pertinent in the novel. Stevens is concerned about the dignity of his boss, Lord Darlington and that of his own as a Butler. His decisions and interactions in the story are shaped by his opinion of what dignity is to him. When he is asked about the issue of dignity during his travels, Stevens’ reply shows that he takes dignity as a very important virtue in his profession but after he leaves these people, he ponders more about it.
Unrequited Love: From the stories that Stevens tells, it is clear that Miss Kenton loved him when they were co-workers in Darlington Hall. However, because Stevens believes that it is unprofessional to get romantically involved with a co-worker, he never reciprocated. Unfortunately for him, when he is ready to show his love to her, she is at the point of returning to her former husband. At the end, the love they would have shared never materialises.