Concetti Chiave
- The novel is set in 1956, against the backdrop of the Suez Crisis and the decline of the British Empire.
- Stevens, a devoted English butler, embarks on a six-day journey to Cornwall, reflecting on his past.
- Throughout his travels, Stevens recalls events at Darlington Hall, revealing more to readers than to himself.
- The narrative highlights Stevens' unspoken love for Miss Kenton and his blind loyalty to Lord Darlington.
- The story concludes with Stevens confronting the futility of reclaiming lost time and recognizing his own loneliness.
The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
The novel is set in 1956, the year the Suez crisis marked the complete end of the British Empire. After the death of his master, Stevens - the protagonist-narrator - begins a solitary six-day motor trip to Cornwall. A model English
butler in his sixties, he has devoted his whole life to serving Lord Darlington, the former owner of a large stately home, Darlington Hall, now let to a rich American businessman.
himself. He firmly believes that he is making the trip for professional reasons, to try to persuade Miss Kenton, a former housekeeper, to go back to Darlington Hall and work for its new tenant. However, the reader soon realizes the true reason is instead personal, as Stevens had been in love with Miss Kenton but had been unable to reveal his feelings and let her marry another man. The narrative develops mainly through long flashbacks , whose central theme is the relation between Stevens and his master. Far from the great man Stevens believed , Lord Darlington had been a political pawn of the Nazis and supported the German policy against the Jews. Stevens fights with himself to accept what is clear to the reader from the very beginning, and slowly it becomes evident that he has been deceiving himself all his life.
In the end, Stevens understands that making up for time is impossible and that he cannot correct his past mistakes. Miss Kenton refuses his offer and decides to go on with her life. After meeting her, he finally realizes both of them have missed the opportunity of being happy together. The source of his pride - his being a "perfect" butler- in the end turns out to be the cause of his failure , of his emotionally empty life and repressed love. The last image of the novel, the ageing butler sitting alone at sunset by the seashore, reveals that what remains of Steven's day is only loneliness, since and self-
deceit.
Domande da interrogazione
- ¿Cuál es el motivo real del viaje de Stevens a Cornwall?
- ¿Cómo se desarrolla la narrativa de la novela?
- ¿Qué revela la última imagen de la novela sobre Stevens?
Aunque Stevens cree que su viaje es por razones profesionales, para convencer a Miss Kenton de regresar a trabajar a Darlington Hall, el verdadero motivo es personal, ya que estaba enamorado de ella pero nunca pudo expresar sus sentimientos.
La narrativa se desarrolla principalmente a través de largos flashbacks que exploran la relación entre Stevens y su maestro, Lord Darlington, revelando cómo Stevens se ha engañado a sí mismo sobre la verdadera naturaleza de su vida y su trabajo.
La última imagen del mayordomo envejecido sentado solo al atardecer junto al mar revela que lo que queda del día de Stevens es solo soledad, ya que su orgullo por ser un "perfecto" mayordomo resultó ser la causa de su fracaso y vida emocionalmente vacía.
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