The Remains Of The Day is a novel that can be seen with from many perspectives such as with a Marxist and Feminist point of view. It is a novel like many that has a vast amount of hidden ideologies and layers of meanings behind the texts; an example of this would be a Marxist perspective where one of their ideologies is that the super structure is determined by the economy. There are a numerous of ideologies, where one type of people overshadows the other. For Marxist critics it would be the bourgeoisie that are significant within society, while the proletarians are portrayed as less important.
From a Marxist perspective, Stevens will be seen as a largely, marginalised protagonist. This can be seen from his personality and what he displays for the reader to know; an example of this would be his loyalty to Darlington Hall and his employer, both Lord Darlington and Mr Faraday. Steven’s have had a mindset and idea of to be a “great butler” from the start of the book, which he had pulled together many situations and definitions to define it. He always believed that a dignified butler is to never let go of his facade, in other words; never let go of his professionalism no matter the circumstances.
This marginalisation is also shown within his relationship with Miss Kenton, who was also a staff at Darlington Hall. Throughout the duration of the novel, the two kept their relationship extremely formal, from when they were upset with each other, right up to the end when they no longer worked together. An example of this would be in Day Two – Morning, where Miss Kenton said “In fact, Mr Stevens, I would ask you from now on not to speak to me directly at all” – Even though she is upset with Stevens to an extent she no longer wishes to interact with him directly, she still keeps the conversation formal including stating his name before her expressing her wish. Even so, for the reader, this can be seen as an excuse to talk to each other but due to the mass alienation of Steven’s true nature of social life and work life he does not know how to separate work from anything, whereas Miss Kenton does. Although this can be read as a tremendous way to show how desperate Miss Kenton is for attention, yet Stevens is still unable to fulfil Miss Kenton’s true intentions.
The reader is able to figure out that Stevens is deeply in love with Miss Kenton, even though he does not and in his mindset, cannot express it. One scene within the novel where this can be seen is their cocoa sessions where Stevens’ is willing to spend some time in the evening with Miss Kenton to talk about “work” – However one day Miss Kenton does not give her full attention and says she is tired. Stevens’ then suggests they should stop doing this cocoa sessions and talk within day time or through written messages instead. This can be seen as Stevens’ scared of entering the non-professional territory as he has no experience within it, yet clearly realises it. This also applies to when Stevens’ walks in on Miss Kenton crying; as he has no experience within comforting others outside work facilities, he avoids it altogether. One of the reasons could be due to his belief of falling in love with someone that is below him within the staff plan, would be improper. Moreover, because he believes that love would be a distraction to his performance and goal to be a “great butler”.
Stevens is so alienated because of his work life that human qualities such as “banter” or to joke/tell jokes is absent within his personality. He is therefore unable to communicate efficiently with his new employer, Mr Faraday. An example of this would be when Stevens’ shared with the readers; “Embarrassing as these moments were for me…. I am sure, merely enjoying the sort of bantering which in the States, no doubt, a sign of a good, friendly is understanding……. I remain rather unsure as to how I should respond”. This may also reflect on how he is unable to communicate efficiently with people in general, as he always has the worry to say certain things. Reasons to this could be due to his willingness to pursue the “great butler” status which leads him to deny his feelings and “human” emotions; this can be seen as Steven’s taking the concepts to an extreme or how alienated from his true nature he is.
Throughout the duration of the book, Stevens’ never tells anyone what he is truly feeling by re-quotes or lives by what his employer feels. This is something Miss Kenton also notices other than the reader as she says; “Why, Mr.Stevens, why, why, why do you always have to pretend?” – At this point even Stevens’ is unable to answer. When Lord Darlington wanted to get rid of the two Jewish Maids; at that time Stevens’ did not express his concern for the two girls and just took out the orders. A year later after Stevens’ had dismissed the Jewish maids, Lord Darlington wanted to find them again, Stevens’ also mentioned to Miss Kenton that he had felt the same way. Another human quality that Stevens is limited with is judgement; the most oblivious one to Stevens, although opaque to the reader would be his judgement about Lord Darlington. Despite Lord Darlington coming across as an important and pleasant man, he makes some very poor choices which affect his life drastically.
Stevens’ is thoroughly influenced by his father. Within the book Stevens’ mother or a mother figure is not mentioned therefore the reader assumes that father had brought him up by himself. Stevens’ father can be seen as a typical father figure to him, since he constantly speaks of his father’s greatness and what he would expect out of Stevens’ performance. With this, it is clear that Stevens’ wishes to be like his father. Even the stories Stevens’ father has told him, he re-calls it carefully to the reader too, example of this would be when the staff are gathered for a meal and his father tells a story about a butler handling a tiger. Steven’s inheritance of his father’s formal interactions with other people ends up limiting Stevens’ personal growth and relationships, including his own relationship with his father. Within Stevens’ and his father interactions, there is no sign of any familiar warmth but always stay formal and professional (regarding work life) no matter the situation; example of this would be when Stevens’ father was on his death bed as Stevens’ maintains his “duty” and “profession”. There is also no re-call of any personal memories such as his childhood or growing up as a young boy, only professional memories. This questions his communication skills with others in general. Since he and his father seem so distant when they speak, it is therefore easy to come to a conclusion of how difficult it is for him to break away from the repressed formality that he has grown up with.
As this novel was set in 1950s in Britain, a period where patriarchy was solidly at work although women’s rights were slowly rising with women teachers and civil servants paid the same salary as men. Miss Kenton can be seen as the only female Stevens’ allows into his life, although it is all part of the staff plan within Darlington Hall, she is the one female that he mentions most consistently throughout the novel. In Remains Of The Day, the roles and characteristics that women have can be seen traditional and typical; an example of this would be taking orders from the male, working in the kitchen and finally, as Miss Kenton demonstrates perfectly and boldly, is leaving her career to get married.
Miss Kenton can be seen as equal to Stevens when looking at their ability to run Darlington Hall, and their intelligence to do so, but Miss Kenton has a warmth and personality that can be seen more familiar to reality, whereas Stevens’ never shows that.
Miss Kenton and Stevens’ are figuratively equal within this novel, yet in a Marxist perspective they can be read as representing the class differences; Miss Kenton as the bourgeoisie with her warm personality and familiarity with reality and Stevens’ as the naive proletariat who never shows his familiarity with reality. In this novel, for Miss Kenton to be one of the few to have those characteristics while in the Lord Darlington household, she can be seen quiet peculiar. The first example of this would be when Miss Kenton brings flowers into Stevens’ room, Stevens strongly rejects them even though she insists to leave them in his room; Miss Kenton and Stevens’ disagreements can be seen as the highlight to their affection for each other. Throughout the novel, there are several times when she tries to get Stevens to see or admit something that are important both for her and for him, however she gets ignored. As a Marxist, this can be read as Miss Kenton trying to get Stevens’ to develop his own conscious rather than being condition from people like Lord Darlington or his father.
As the years progress, Miss Kenton grows increasingly tired of Stevens’ behaviour towards her and his unwillingness to show “human quality” (displaying emotions). Despite this is the only way Stevens’ knows how to communicate with her, but since it is such an unusual attitude to have towards work and women, Miss Kenton moves on with her life. Miss Kenton finally decides to leave Darlington Hall to get married. Unlike Stevens, Miss Kenton is able to make decisions based on her own thoughts and beliefs. In this sense, she displays more real dignity and personal integrity than Stevens’ ever does By the end of the book, Stevens’ feels regret and remorse for all the wrong doings and chances missed as they reminisce old times making Miss Kenton spell out the relationship they had and the feeling she had for him. Even though he never admits to it, e finally shows some personal emotion as the man he sits with offers him his handkerchief towards the end of the book. In a Marxist perspective, this may have been a shock to him also as he apologizes to the man and adds how he is “over-tired”. In addition shows emotion when recalling the last conversation he had with Miss Kenton as he said “My heart was breaking”. This can be seen as a moment when Miss Kenton could be a figure that Stevens deep down wishes he could become.
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