Response paper on academic subject matter

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, not of Farraday's estate, but of his own creation.

Like a carefully bound book, Stevens keeps his emotions contained within himself. 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 Miss Kenton.

It is his relationship with Miss Kenton that really sends Stevens on his journey down memory lane, not Mr. Farraday's invitation to take the car. True, without the car, Stevens would not be able to get out of the house and journey to the West Country. But his mind and heart are already journeying that way. The real invitation to journey has come by means of a letter from Miss Kenton. Had the letter not come it is unlikely that Stevens takes Mr. Farraday up on his offer. It is Miss Kenton who really holds the key to Stevens' heart. And she is not "within these very walls" -- but, on the contrary, she is outside them. Stevens has been separated from her for quite some time and by quite some distance.

She is to Stevens a reminder of something human from which he separated himself a long time ago. As a butler, he knew that total commitment was expected of him towards his master. Love for a woman could only lead to marriage, and marriage to the separation of Stevens from his employment under Darlington. In a sense, when he chose not to pursue his love of Miss Kenton, he chose the walls of the library. In fact, he chose these walls well before -- when his father died and he managed to conceal his emotion and perform his duties as butler as though nothing were wrong.

Stevens has always taken pride in his ability to serve. But, as the novel opens, he regrets that he is slipping. He is not as sharp as he once was -- and Farraday seems to notice, which is one reason he invites him to "get away" for a while. The idea of "getting away," of getting outside the walls of Stevens' own creation, is an invitation to return to humanity. Indeed, the novel begins with Stevens' thoughts of Miss Kenton and these thoughts lead him to share his very human feelings over the years.