Questions About The Remains of the Day

by Kazuo Ishiguro (Goodreads Author)

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Answered Questions (18)

What is the significance of the country doctor who gives Stevens a ride back to his out-of-gas Ford after an unplanned overnight stay in an out-of-the-way town? Before they part, this doctor questions Stevens if he might be a "man servant", which should be considered an insult to Stevens (butlers do not think of themselves as servants).

Janet Landman I found it significant in a number of ways. Most obviously, it showed Stevens suffering from the British class distinctions. We hadn't seen that befor…moreI found it significant in a number of ways. Most obviously, it showed Stevens suffering from the British class distinctions. We hadn't seen that before, because he seemed to take such pride in trying to be the best possible member of his "profession." The Dr's question showed that he saw through what the villagers appeared not to--that Stevens wasn't of the aristocratic class. And although Stevens says he was made extremely uncomfortable by the villagers' misunderstanding his social status, I think he secretly enjoyed being thought a very important person--someone who had met Churchill and Eden and Halifax. It's no accident that after that evening's festivities, he recalls that horrible incident when Darlington and his cronies made a mockery of Stevens to his face. Second, it shows Stevens being exposed to 2 new perspectives on "dignity," neither of which entails the extreme emotional constriction central to Stevens's view of it. I think these new perspectives on dignity might have made a bit of a dent in Stevens's, which is going to be very important in the end. Third, Harry Smith's view of dignity, in conjunction with these experiences and memories regarding class, contributes, I think, to Stevens's finally confronting the fact that Lord Darlington's life and work were "at best, a sad waste." Janet(less)

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So, after finishing the book, there is no doubt that Miss Kenton loved Stevens. My question is why? Stevens doesn't really show traits that I would find lovable, so I was curious as to what Miss Kenton saw in him. I have my own theories, but I would love to hear other viewpoints from the Goodreads Community!

Michiel I asked myself this same question during reading. Although Miss Kenton was definitely one to appreciate the professionalism and quality with which Mr.…moreI asked myself this same question during reading. Although Miss Kenton was definitely one to appreciate the professionalism and quality with which Mr. Stevens conducted his work, that in itself does not seem enough to fall in love with him. Especially considering the inconsiderate and sometimes unpleasant way in which Mr. Stevens treated her.

However, I also believe that Mr. Stevens does not give a good portrayal of their relationship. Mr. Stevens' recollections mainly focus on their disagreements and how they grew apart. We are never shown the amiable nature or pleasant convsersation the two may have had during their daily parlor meetings. I am convinced that Miss Kenton and Mr. Stevens actually shared some connection during these meetings (even though Mr. Stevens will undoubtedly have remained very professional during them). Miss Kenton could probably see the man behind the butler in those instances, allowing her to fall in love with him. However, since Mr. Stevens does not consider such social interaction between them to bear any significance or relevance, he does not tell us anything about it.

Also, Mr. Stevens is a reasonable accurate narrator when it comes to describing what words were being said during a conversation. However, he is rather bad at conveying what emotions he himself showed during such conversations. There are a few instances in the novel where the people around Mr. Stevens explicitly comment on the emotional way in which he is behaving (such as the tears in his eyes when his father died or the way he storms through the halls when he hears Miss Kenton is leaving), while Mr. Stevens himself does not mention a word of such emotions. This leads me to believe that his attitude towards Miss Kenton would often be a lot more positive than what we can construe from his words.

Not until the very last chapter, we know Mr. Stevens actually cares for or even has feelings for Miss Kenton. When Miss Kenton mentions that she could imagine a different outcome with them being together, he shortly mentions to us readers that his heart broke at that instance.

So to come back to your question. I don't exactly know why Miss Kenton fell in love with Mr. Stevens. But I also believe that Mr. Stevens would not describe any such traits or any chemistry between the two in his memoirs, considering such information irrelevant.(less)

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Why do people think that the life of stevens was a waste ? Yes he does indeed have some regret but that does not mean he wpuld have been happy if he changed something in the past ,like for eg if he left the job or if he stopped miss keaton that evening and married her later.He might have had an uneventful life and would have had other regrets.Suppose ,what if lord darligton was not chastised but acclaimed universally.

Shaz That's an interesting question.
Readers feel that his life was a waste because we have the benefit of hindsight.
Steven did not have this, and he made …moreThat's an interesting question.
Readers feel that his life was a waste because we have the benefit of hindsight.
Steven did not have this, and he made decisions which he felt was right at that moment in time.
The book shows us the futility of looking back and wondering how things could have been if one would have made different choices. The point being that had he left his job or stopped Miss Kenton - he could still be looking back and wondering if he would have been one of the great butlers, had he not left the job.
The idea is that we should look back in the past for self-reflection - to inform our choices in the future - not to lament our decisions. And if we are honest and reflect properly, we might be able to make the most out of what remains of the day.(less)

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Did Mr Stevens ever talk to Mr Cardinal about sex? Did Mr Cardinal eventually get married? What was the significance of this incident, other than to show us how absorbed Mr Cardinal was in his studies and how difficult it was for Mr Stevens to describe the young man the act of love making?

Fenrir It foreshadows Stevens inability ever to become a man (his own man) and to abandon his self as a servant even temporarily. It also shows us that he wi…moreIt foreshadows Stevens inability ever to become a man (his own man) and to abandon his self as a servant even temporarily. It also shows us that he will never be able to realize a relationship with Miss Kenton or any other woman for that matter.

To give the sex talk is a service a parent performs for his child. Especially at that time, the talk is given when the young gentleman marries. As such, it is a rite of passage of sorts that needs to happen before the young man can take on his role as a full adult male in society. This duty is passed on to Stevens who now inhabits the role of the “father”.

You might remember that it is the same sequence of scenes in which Stevens talks most about his father who serves, at that time, at Darlington Hall as under-butler but has fallen ill. Stevens cannot, in any meaningful way, talk to his father. He addresses him in the third person and only talks to him as far as professional matters are concerned.
It turns out, he is equally unable to talk to the younger generation, Mr. Cardinal, in an appropriate way and thus fails to help the young man in his transition to a man. And this is already predicted by Stevens’ father. When Stevens Sr. is lying in bed dying he says to Stevens:

“I’m proud of you. A good son. I hope I’ve been a good father to you. I suppose I haven’t.”

Stevens is a good son, after all he is a good butler and that’s what his father taught him to be. At the same time, his father acknowledges that he has not been a good father to Stevens because he has not taught him to be a man. He has never truly managed to give Stevens his rite of passage (I’m talking about more than just the sex talk here) and thus Stevens will also never be able to become a man. It is already clear to the father that he has failed his son in this respect. Not having had his rite of passage, not having become a man in his own right, it is completely logical that Stevens would be unable to give the rite of passage to Mr. Cardinal. In that sense, we already know that Stevens will never be able to emancipate himself from the role of servant because he doesn’t know how to be a man. This failure corresponds directly to his inability to see his own emotions for what they are because if he cannot be a man, how could he be the man in Miss Kenton’s life? The fact that on the same evening Stevens keeps on serving the gentlemen, despite the tears running down his face due to his father’s death, is just the sad, but natural conclusion to the sorry state that is Mr. Stevens.

*Just my humble opinion*(less)

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I'm currently listening to this and I am not sure if it was mentioned?. He talks about his father but I don't remember hearing about his mother and wonder what his relationship was like. He seems very efficient but he comes across as a man who is not able to express his feelings especially around MIss Kenton.

Thomas Jr. That's a great observation, Ayla. Stevens's mother is conspicuous by her absence. Vanita is right about his father playing a key role in his life in l…moreThat's a great observation, Ayla. Stevens's mother is conspicuous by her absence. Vanita is right about his father playing a key role in his life in lots of ways. I find it especially interesting how Stevens claims to respect his father a great deal (and lights into Miss Kenton for referring to him by his first name) but, at the same time, resents the older man's continuing assertiveness with him and also seems to pity his aging and decline. Stevens seems MUCH more comfortable standing up to his father than he ever does to his employers. But you're right. Mom's never there (except in the equally wonderful film version, where the father tells Stevens that she had an extramarital affair.) I think the fact Ishiguro never has his main character mention her 1) makes a general point about Steven's caring far more abut the powerful men in his life than about any women and 2) makes it very clear why he does such an awful job relating to Miss Kenton. "The birds and the bees" (part of a very funny but somewhat unlikely scene in the novel) may drive his interest in Miss Kenton, but, at base, he can't effectively give women the time of day. His mother was a cipher in his life and, sadly, he makes Miss Kenton the same, despite our knowing he really loves her.(less)

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