Remains of the Day - Day Two-Day Three

[Alana]

Discuss the second part of The Remains of the Day

[Pallavi]

When i started this book, i thought it was a story about journey. Journey of a butler on the road. But i was wrong but not completely, its a journey but journey of a butler through his life.
This talks about being a good, great butler. A butler's responsibility on his master, or house. I am not much impressed with the storyline, even though the narration is great.

[Kressel]

Pallavi wrote: "I am not much impressed with the storyline, even though the narration is great."

The book is all about the narration, not the plot - how much we can learn about Stevens who steadfastly tries to conceal himself.

[Pallavi]

Well, @Kressel: I never looked in that point of view. I was trying to find a story, a story of a butler which tells about his thoughts. I felt the hole book was on his thoughts, but not all thoughts were shared. They were limited. That bothered me. Narration, i agree was really good. I didn't like the parts where Mr.Stevens thinks about "dignity" or "great butlers". I felt those parts dragging.
And matter of knowing Mr.Stevens, i still don't understand him. I know he doesn't show his emotions, but what are his real emotions i still can't figure out.

[Kressel]

Stevens doesn't know either. He doesn't even know that he has emotions. That's the point of the book. Innovative, no?

[Alana]

I'm only partway through chapter 2 (well, Day 2?) at this point, and it's interesting to me that despite it's being a series of stories and Stevens' thoughts on the "butlering" world, it's still holding my attention. I don't know if it's because the "voice" is witty and engaging or because the narrator of the audio captures the humor well, but so far I'm still enjoying it, if a bit confused sometimes. (Although, realizing the audio loaded onto my device out of order and listening to a large section at the END of the book right after the beginning did a lot to add to that confusion. I think I have it figured out now, lol)

[Alana]

Almost done with Day Three. I found the parts where he's veering into contemplating why he sometimes denies that he worked for Lord Darlington to be very telling. Isn't it so very human of him? He plays out very well our very human propensity to judge others, including ourselves, based on associations with other people. We judge not by character, but by association, even when the person in question was truly trying to do good work. But he is forever remembered and judged for supposedly being in cahoots with Hitler's Germany. And Stevens' distancing himself, even subconsciously, is very understandable, if not the most admirable.

[Alana]

I found the deterioration of the relationship between Mr. Stevens and Miss Kenton to be heartbreaking but also such an interesting study in human relationships in general. He was so heartless when telling her that she was being lax in her duties after (view spoiler)[learning that her aunt, who was basically a mother to her, had just died. (hide spoiler)], but I can't help but feel that he simply didn't know what else to say or how to respond. He did care, that much is obvious, but he's so trained not to reveal emotions of any kind that he doesn't even know how to show sympathy. And he can't even recognize when he's losing someone he cares about more than he's willing to admit. I can't help but wonder if this was simply the culture of the big manor house and staff and what was to be expected of him, or simply his personality? Or was his personality the reason he was so suited to that culture?

[Josh]

Alana wrote: "I found the deterioration of the relationship between Mr. Stevens and Miss Kenton to be heartbreaking but also such an interesting study in human relationships in general. He was so heartless when ..."

Perhaps it was a combination of the environment, and his personality, mostly due to being raised in those conditions as well? I think there is a strong focus on the human psyche, and how it coalesces one's personality, morality, and the environment one is a product of.

His reflections on Miss Kenton are amiable and proper, with a slight hint of regret that he didn't act upon his feelings earlier. He obviously had a very strong rapport with her, but was either oblivious to his feelings (like a certain someone I know), or he just did not know how to react in accordance to his heart. His reflection about possibly reading too much into her letter certainly gives us the idea that he still cares for her, strongly.