Narrative Technique in "The Remains of the Day" - [LOO]

Stevens is the narrative voice in The Remains of the Day. It is unclear through what medium we get to take part of his thoughts and reflectations. It may be written as a diary, a fact that is strengthened by the way the chapters are labeled: "Day one - evening; Salisbury" etc. The other possibility is that he is organizing his thoughts, but only in his mind, as it is never actually mentioned that he is writing a diary.

The novel is narrated through the use of flashbacks, triggered by the change of perspective that Stevens is encountered with throughout his journey. This can be seen when Stevens meets a man who helps him with his car and gets into a discussion about his former employer: "'You mean you actually used to work for that Lord Darlington?' [...] 'Oh no, I am employed by Mr John Farraday, the american gentleman who bought the house from the Darlington family'" (126). This event allows Stevens to reflect on a similar event in the past and see it in a different light. Previously overlooked as an isolated incident, he begins to spot a pattern of denial concerning his employment for Lord Darlington: "'But tell me, Stevens, what was this Lord Darlington like? Presumably you must have worked for him?' 'I didn't madam, no.'" This is evidence for the unrelibility in Stevens narration, since he makes no mention of the reason behind the couriosity of the characters he meets. This also applies to himself in his denial of Lord Darlington's infamous reputation.

The unreliablilty of Stevens narration can be explained by several factors. The most significant reason for this is his isolated lifestyle. He stands beside the normal society and the outside world, as a result of the profession he has chosen. It is the trip he undertakes which makes him see his own person, to a certain extent, and the surrounding world he has been isolated from. His own definition of being a great butler involves "to serve gentemen who were, so to speak, furthering the progress of humanity." [120] During a large portion of the novel, it is unknown that Lord Darlington is closely affiliated with the Nazis and Fascists. Stevens tries to hide this, as if his employer's flaws are shown; if Lord Darlington is not a great man, Stevens cannot be a great butler.

There is no direct mention as to whom Stevens is writing for. The only indication we get is that he adresses another servant, as he speaks about "the likes of you and me" and those who "employ our services."[257] Therefore it is possible that the person he is writing to is his father, as some kind of excuse, or to the retired butler he meets on the peir towards the end of his journey.