Remains of the Day The Best of England within These Walls

The "wall" imagery helps to make a particular point early on in The Remains of the Day. Stevens is up against a wall in a literal and in a figurative way: he is dusting the books (more of which his new employer the American Mr. Farraday has come to give him). Books themselves are symbols of memory that are caught between two walls, or covers. That Stevens should be dusting them just as he is about to embark on a journey down "memory lane" is indicative of the overall mood of the novel: it is a thoughtful look backward, a sad yet thankful recounting of life limited by the bounds of duty. As a butler, an office of servitude, Stevens has "seen" more than his fair share of "great" persons. But there is one person in particular whom he thinks of now -- Miss Kenton. She represents a missed opportunity for Stevens, an opportunity to do something more than dust books and wait on others. But bound by pride in his office, Stevens has remained "chained," if you will, to the wall lined now with books. What might have been a romance of married life with Miss Kenton haunts him -- not terribly -- but enough to give his mind something to reflect upon in what remains of his days. This paper will examine Stevens' early admission to Mr. Farraday that he has seen "the best of England…within these very walls," and show how Stevens is alluding to the walls,...

He does not let them show but reserves them in the name of modesty. It is this very point that stops him from confessing to Mr. Farraday what he means when he says that he has seen the best of England within these very walls. He does not want to be "presumptuous." Therefore he hides his reasoning, even though Farraday is inviting him, literally, to open up: "I'm serious, Stevens. I really think you should take a break. I'll foot the bill for the gas. You fellows, you're always locked up in these big houses helping out, how do you ever get to see around this beautiful country of yours?" asks Farraday.
Thus, Stevens is prompted to say, "It has been my privilege to see the best of England over the years, sir, within these very walls."

Stevens admits several things here. First, he admits that he is in a privileged position, even though he is just a servant. Second, he admits that he has witnessed much more than Farraday gives him credit for. Third, as an "insider" who is yet "outside" the circles of rank, whom he serves, Stevens is able to view England's "finest" with an objectivity that someone who is too involved in the circles might lack. Fourth, Stevens alludes to a secret privilege…which he now tells to the reader -- his friendship with…