Even small anecdotes show this – like when Stevens fires two Jewish maids because Lord Darlington told him too even though it wasn’t in line with what Stevens wanted. Looking back on this moment, Stevens has pride in himself for being able to focus on work even though he wishes that he could have been with his father during those final moments. Ultimately he decided that it was more important to attend to the guests and missed his father’s passing. In this passage, he describes what makes a butler great by referencing the Hayes Society that defines a great butler as someone who maintains their professionalism no matter what happens.įor instance, at a 1923 convention, Stevens had to manage his dying father as well as the guests. He’s reflecting on his life and trying to figure out what he wants in the future. The book is about Stevens’ trip to visit Miss Kenton. Farraday’s blessing and permission to visit Miss Kenton in West England after twenty years since she left her job as maid at Darlington Hall because she got married which was not what Stevens wanted her to do back then as he had feelings for her even though they were just friends (he thought). Stevens believes that taking such a trip would be beneficial for him and so he agrees to go on vacation with Mr. Farraday, an American gentleman who believes Stevens needs a break from his duties. At the start of the novel, he is encouraged to take a vacation by his employer, Mr.

It tells the story of Stevens, an English butler working at Darlington Hall. The Remains of the Day is a novel by Kazuo Ishiguro. 1-Page Summary of The Remains of the Day Overview

The remains of the day pages