The narrative technique used in The Remains of the Day. Indeed!

The narrative voice used in the novel is Stevens, (and the story is presented as a diary). It is arguable that Stevens is unreliable as a narrator, and we will develop the idea of him being subjective and brainscattered throughout this post.

Except for the present happenings in the novel, there are three centeral flashbacks. The first one is in 1922, when Stevens father and Miss Kenton arrvies at Darlington Hall. This event has a great impact on the story since it lays the foundation for the rest of the happenings taking place. 1923 is the second of Stevens flashbacks. It is the period in which the great conference takes place as well as the moment when Stevens's father dies. This is the flashback which has the greatest importance for the story. It reveals a lot of Stevens personality, his values in life and his ways of dealing with problems. The flashback of 1936 is were the feelings that Miss Kenton holds for Mr. Stevens becomes obvious to the reader. Miss Kenton tries to evoke a emotional reaction from Mr.Stevens, when she tells him that she is going to marry Mr. Benn. These three eras are used in the novel as a retrospective way of narrating, and the story is incorporated throughout the whole novel.

There are several reasons why Stevens may be considered as unreliable.

• In the beginning of the novel, Stevens claims that the journey has a proffesional purpose as he plans to rehire Miss Kenton. As the story goes on, the reader understands that the actual reason for the journey is an act of Stevens feelings for Miss Kenton.
  
• At p. 50, Stevens makes us belive that one of the letters Miss Kenton sent, says that she is ready to return to Darlington Hall, but by the end of the journey, at p. 189 he realizes that his interpretation of the letter was incorrect.


• Throughout the novel, Stevens shows a lot of loyalty towards Lord Darlington but the reader can read between the lines and understand that Lord Darlington should not only be seen as a man of honour, as Steven suggests, but also as a nazi fascist. But why is Stevens trying to create an incorrect image of his master? According to the Hayes society, the master defines the butler. If Lord Darlington is to be presented as a nazi fascist, Stevens would become a less good butler.
  
• Stevens does in some parts of the novel describe Lord Darlington as a gentleman and as a man of honour, whilst he in other part criticises Lord Darlington and his actions. This has the effect that the reader in some parts of the novel finds Stevens narrating ambigous.

Stevens is also a person who anticipates criticism all the time. Stevens is nearly excusing himself even before the upcoming event and this is because of his public indentity role.

Something which is unclear is who Stevens is talking to in the novel. The possibilties are; Miss Kenton, his father, his mother, the butler at the pier our someone alse of his status.