The Remains of the Day
Echoes of Grandeur and Heartache Resonate Through a Stately Home
HISTORY
by Kazuo Ishiguro
5/14/20247 min read
Welcome to the book summary “The Remains of the Day - Echoes of Grandeur and Heartache Resonate Through a Stately Home” by Kazuo Ishiguro, written and narrated by Janky Mind.
Introduction
Let’s dive into a tale that’s stood the test of time! Meet Stevens, the butler with a memory like an elephant. He’s taking us on a journey back to the golden days of Darlington Hall, right before the world turned upside down with World War 2.
Imagine zipping through England’s green and pleasant lands, with Stevens at the wheel. He’s not just driving; he’s taking a trip down memory lane, sharing secrets of the grand old house where he served for years. It’s a behind-the-scenes peek at the hush-hush politics of the time, all from a butler’s point of view.
But hold on, there’s more. As Stevens spills the beans on his life of loyalty, we uncover the heart-tugging choices he made, all for the love of duty. Are you ready to unwrap this modern masterpiece? Let’s go!
Chapter 1: A Fresh View
Picture this: It’s the 1950s, and we’re zooming in on Stevens, a super neat butler and our guide through this story. He’s up a ladder in Darlington Hall’s library, somewhere in the lush South of England, giving a good dust-off to Viscount Wetherby’s portrait.
Suddenly, his boss, Mr. Farraday, pops in with news of a trip to the States for five weeks and nudges Stevens to take a break too. Now, Stevens is a bit old-school and thinks borrowing the boss’s car for a holiday is not quite cricket. But then, a letter from Miss Kenton, the ex-housekeeper, arrives, inviting him over to Cornwall, and just like that, Stevens starts cooking up a travel plan.
Back in the day, Darlington Hall was buzzing with servants. These days? It’s just Stevens and three others, making it tough to keep up the posh standards. With a map and some travel books, Stevens charts a course through Devon and Cornwall, aiming for Weymouth to meet Miss Kenton and maybe convince her to come back as housekeeper.
Off he goes in Farraday’s car, a tad nervous at first to leave his comfort zone. But the stunning views soon have him all pumped up. He muses over the quiet majesty of the English countryside and his life spent serving others. He even remembers a wild story from his dad about a butler, a tiger, and a delayed dinner in India – talk about keeping your cool!
Through Stevens’ eyes, we see a man pondering over his years of service and the changing times. He believes a top-notch butler’s got to be English, just like the subtle beauty of England’s landscapes. For Stevens, dignity is everything, and it’s what makes a butler, and England, truly great.
Chapter 2: The Butler’s Dilemma
So, Stevens has just had a peaceful night in Salisbury, a city famous for its grand cathedral. Come morning, he’s pondering over a letter from Miss Kenton, who’s now Mrs. Benn. But old habits die hard – Stevens still calls her Miss Kenton.
Miss Kenton joined the Darlington Hall crew when Stevens’s dad was the under-butler. She was a bit too chummy for Stevens’s taste, even bringing him flowers once, which he thought was a bit much. She also worried that his dad, who was getting on in years, couldn’t handle the workload. Stevens wouldn’t hear of it, though – his dad was a pro.
Flashback to a big meeting at the Hall in 1923, all about the Treaty of Versailles. Lord Darlington thought it was too harsh on Germany and wanted to change it, even inviting some pretty controversial figures to chat about it. Stevens knew about Darlington’s iffy politics but kept mum – a butler’s gotta be discreet, right?
Meanwhile, Stevens’s dad got really sick during the conference. Stevens only went to see him after finishing his work for the day. When Miss Kenton broke the news that his dad had passed, Stevens was busy with a guest. He said he’d visit his dad’s room later, insisting that’s what his father would’ve wanted.
Miss Kenton was different from Stevens. She was good at her job but also kind-hearted, which really showed when Stevens’s dad died. Stevens chose work over family, showing just how much he put his job first. Even when the Hall was hosting folks with dodgy ideas, Stevens stuck to his professional guns, maybe even at the cost of his own principles.
Chapter 3: The Butler’s Burden
Next stop for Stevens is Taunton, a quaint market town where he spends the night. Over a morning cup of tea, he spots a sign for Mursden and is hit by a flood of memories. Mursden was home to Giffen and Co., the silver polish wizards of the 1920s, sparking a craze for shiny silver across England’s grand homes. Stevens recalls the sparkle of Darlington House’s silver that wowed guests like Lord Halifax and Herr Ribbentrop, who later joined Hitler’s cabinet.
Back in the day, Ribbentrop was a respected figure at Darlington Hall. Now, he’s seen as a deceiver, and Stevens is irked by those who act like they always knew it. He’s also bothered by the negative chatter about his old boss, Lord Darlington, who rubbed elbows with Nazis and fascists. Stevens defends him, arguing that Darlington couldn’t have foreseen the Nazis’ true colors.
But Stevens can’t shake off one dark episode. Influenced by a die-hard fascist, Lord Darlington fired two Jewish maids, a move Stevens found deeply troubling. Yet, he stayed silent, loyal to his employer’s authority.
That evening, Stevens confides in Miss Kenton, the former housekeeper, about the firings. He disagreed with the decision but felt it wasn’t his place to challenge it. Miss Kenton, appalled, threatens to quit in protest, but she stays, later admitting it was fear of unemployment, not loyalty, that held her back.
A twist comes when Stevens reveals that Darlington regrets the dismissals and wants the maids rehired. Stevens is relieved, but Miss Kenton is upset, not by the news, but by Stevens’s past pretense. She confronts him about his facade, leaving Stevens speechless and without an excuse.
Chapter 4: The Heart Behind the Formality
In our final snapshot, Stevens is caught in a rare moment of downtime, engrossed in a romance novel. Miss Kenton stumbles upon this scene and can’t help but poke fun at his choice. But Stevens, ever the stickler for formality, doesn’t play along and instead, asks her to give him space.
After this little episode, Miss Kenton starts to live it up on her days off. She even reconnects with an old colleague, a butler from her past. Stevens can’t help but wonder, with a hint of regret, if his stiff-upper-lip attitude might have cost him a chance at something more with Miss Kenton.
This part of the tale really shines a light on Stevens’s unwavering devotion to Lord Darlington. Despite whispers and evidence to the contrary, Stevens is adamant that Darlington had no ties to the rising fascist tide in England or any clue about Hitler’s sinister plans. He keeps his doubts about the firing of the Jewish maids to himself, while Miss Kenton is outspoken in her disapproval, even considering quitting over it.
Stevens’s dedication to his professional mask has its price, especially in his personal life. He never says it out loud, but it’s clear from his reflections that he harbors deep feelings for Miss Kenton, feelings that perhaps never had the chance to bloom because of his relentless commitment to decorum.
Chapter 5: The Unspoken Words
Fast forward to the '50s, and we find Stevens waiting in The Rose Garden’s dining hall in Cornwall, way ahead of time for his rendezvous with Miss Kenton. He’s lost in thoughts of the past, particularly the moment Miss Kenton shared her engagement news. Stevens, ever the gentleman, congratulated her and then slipped away to the library. There, he stumbled upon Reginald Cardinal, who was worried about Lord Darlington’s ties with Nazi Germany.
Stevens’ night is filled with moments of what-ifs. Outside Miss Kenton’s door, he hears her tears but chooses duty over comfort. Later, he stands outside the drawing room, feeling part of something historic.
The meeting with Miss Kenton is bittersweet. She’s content with her life, yet she hints at a life that could have been with Stevens. These words hit Stevens hard, awakening him to the love he’s always held for her, and the personal joys he sacrificed for his work.
After their meeting, Stevens finds himself on the pier, sharing his heart with a stranger. The man’s simple act of offering a handkerchief acknowledges Stevens’ silent tears. The stranger’s words remind Stevens that there’s still time to make things right, starting with his service to Mr. Farraday.
In this chapter, Stevens confronts the truth he’s long ignored: his feelings for Miss Kenton and the cost of his unwavering dedication to duty. He starts to see his past in a new light, filled with nostalgia and a touch of regret, especially regarding his choices with Lord Darlington and Miss Kenton. It’s a moment of reflection and resolve, as Stevens decides to embrace the remains of his day.
Final Summary
Hop on board for a quick recap of a butler’s tale that’s as polished as the silver he cares for. Stevens, our man of the hour, has poured his life into being the best butler across the British Isles. His road trip through the scenic English countryside isn’t just about the views; it’s a journey of the heart and a peek into a life of unwavering service.
About the Author
Kazuo Ishiguro, a master of words and a weaver of deep thoughts, is the genius behind this tale. His knack for capturing the essence of the human spirit earned him the prestigious Booker Prize for “The Remains of the Day” and the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2017. His pen paints stories that linger long after the last page is turned.