Narrative Technique

This essay is brought to you by Ida and Tina.

Through a narrative voice, Stevens retells his memories of the glories of Darlington Hall, while undertaking a roadtrip.

Bad memory, blind devotion and the uncertain purpose of Stevens' writing are the main factors for Stevens' unreliability as a narrator. This text is going to give you a deeper insight to Stevens as a narrator.

To read between the lines is neccseasary to fully understand the novel. For example, in the beginning we get the impression that the journey Stevens is going to undertake is to improve his staff plan by re-recruiting Miss Kenton to Darlington Hall. Towards the end of the novel the true reason for the journey has become clear for the reader but not for Stevens himself. That is to say that he has feelings for Miss Kenton. This we could see through his continious denial of Miss Kentons married name, Mrs Benn. In the novel, Stevens excuses himself for referring to Mrs Benn as Miss Kenton but justifies it by arguing that he has always known her as the Miss Kenton that left to get married twenty years ago. Throughout, Stevens constantly excuses himself for small incidents which he does not want to be interpreted in the wrong way. As the butler he is, he cannot allow failures to occur nor does he want to be questioned, therefore, the excuses. For example, when Miss Kenton finds out that Stevens is reading a romantic novel he immedeately excuses his reading and gives the reason that he wants to improve the language he uses as a butler by reading the novel. It is hard to see whether he denies his personal likes or actually uses it to improve.

Another interesting aspect of the novel which contributes to the doubtfulness of Stevens as a narrator is the mystery of whom it addresses as a reader. On some occassions in the novel, Stevens gives us reason to think that his writing is addressed to a certain person. We have reason to believe that it is someone of the same status as Stevens. For example, on page 257, Stevens writes: "The hard reality is, surely, that for the likes of you and me, there is little choice other than to leave our faith, ultimately of the hands of those great gentlemen at the hub of this world who employ our services." We would like to underline the use of the word "our" in this quote, which enforces our thoughts that the person Stevens addresses is a butler. This conclusion can be made by the quote: " [...] great gentlemen at the hub of this world who employ our services."

The insecurity in Stevens' narration which comes from his blindness, blind devotion, bad memory, excuses, unreliability and purpose gives the novel its unreliable character which wants us to read between the lines.