Remains of the Day - Butlers and dignity

Butlers and dignity are two related themes in the novel, which might play a part in Stevens’ unhappiness. These two themes are present throughout the whole novel.





Stevens' father is described as a role model for the main character in his career. For Stevens, dignity is the most important factor in becoming a 'Great butler', and to Stevens, his father had reached a great degree of dignity. Stevens admires this achievement and aspires to follow in his father's footsteps. The reason for his admiring his father's professionalism might be the lack of an emotional relationship between the two of them. His father is devoting his whole life to his profession and does not make time for Stevens. He never steps out of his role as a butler and that is one thing that Stevens considers to contribute to his father's dignity. An anecdote that Stevens uses as a proof of his father's professionalism is the 'Tiger Under the Table Story' which is first introduced to us at page 36.





' 'I'm very sorry, sir, but there appears to be a tiger in the dining room. Perhaps you will permit the twelve-bores to be used?'


And according to legend, a few minutes later, the employer and his guests heard three gun shots. When the butler reappeared in the drawing room some time afterwards to refresh the teapots, the employer had inquired if all was well.


'Perfectly fine, thank you, sir,' had come the reply. 'Dinner will be served at the usual time and I am pleased to say there will be no discernible traces left of the recent occurence by that time.'





When his father lays dying, Stevens tries to maintain his dignity and calm by continuing his work as if nothing was happening. His father tries to tell him that he regrets not being there for him, but Stevens refuses to listen to him and says that: 'I'm afraid we're extremely busy now, but we can talk again in the morning.' Stevens carries on with his work believing he is being dignified, and in the morning his father is dead. Stevens shows no real regret of the event and his everyday life continues as usual.



It seems as though Stevens always reacts in this way whenever he goes through something that stirs his emotions. Another example is when one of Lord Darlington's other employees, Miss Kenton, reveals her plans of marriage. Stevens, who is secretly in love with her, acts as if he is not upset, and loses his last chance of having a relationship with another person.





These two events prove Stevens' ability of emotional restraint, which he attributes to him being English. He says that: "It is sometimes said that butlers only truly exist in England. Other countries, whatever title is actually used, have only manservants. I tend to believe this is true. Continentals are unable to be butlers because they are as a breed incapable of the emotional restraint which only the English race is capable of."



So, to Stevens it seems as though only the English have the ability of being dignified. As an example of this, Stevens uses the Hayes society, which is an extravagant English organisation for 'true butlers'. The most important criteria for becoming a member of the society is possessing a certain degree of dignity. According to Stevens both he and his father are in possession of this, and yet neither of them was allowed in the society. Stevens' father's employer was not considered distinguished, because they were 'newly rich'.