Discourse of Dignity in The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

Abstract

This paper discusses dignity discourse in the Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro, and the way that the notion of dignity influences the identity, the vision of the world, and the choices of the main character Stevens. Dignity, a professional ideal that is based on discipline, emotional control, and unswerving devotion to an employer is introduced in the novel as a professional ideal. Stevens, an English butler, who is old, understands dignity as the capacity to lock his personal emotions and express unwavering composure in the execution of his job in Darlington Hall. The use of first-person narration and later retrospective reflection, through Stevens, shows how this strictness of definition of dignity results in emotional suppression, inaction, in the severing of significant personal relationships, in her case, with Miss Kenton. Another feature, which is pointed out in the research, is that the loyalty to Lord Darlington leads Stevens to ethical blindness as, despite the political sympathies of his employer being doubtful, he still remains loyal. This research shows how Ishiguro criticizes strict class divisions and socially defined principles of professionalism by examining the definitions, models, implications, and eventual reversal of the concept of dignity in the novel.