The Remains of the Day
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Prologue: July 1956 Day One: Evening Day Two: Morning Day Two: Afternoon Day Three: Morning Day Three: Evening Day Four: Afternoon Day Six: Evening
Themes
All Themes Dignity and Greatness History, Retrospection and Regret Class Difference and Social Change Politics and Loyalty Authenticity, Performance, and Self-Deception
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Mr. Stevens Miss Kenton (Mrs. Benn) Lord Darlington Mr. John Farraday William Stevens, senior (Stevens’s father) Mr. Graham Sir David Cardinal Mr. Lewis M. Dupont Lisa
Symbols
All Symbols Banter The English Landscape
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The Remains of the Day

by

Kazuo Ishiguro
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Mr. Lewis Character Analysis

An American senator who attends the unofficial international “conference” organized by Lord Darlington and Sir David Cardinal in March 1923 to attempt to ease reparations requirements for Germany. Mr. Lewis ultimately reveals himself to be disdainful of this attempt, diagnosing the gentlemen in attendance as amateurs, while modern politics requires professionals. Although his remarks are not taken seriously at the time, Mr. Reginald Cardinal, many years later, admits that Lewis was right.

Mr. Lewis Quotes in The Remains of the Day

The The Remains of the Day quotes below are all either spoken by Mr. Lewis or refer to Mr. Lewis. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Dignity and Greatness Theme Icon
).
Day Two: Morning Quotes

“He is an amateur and international affairs today are no longer for gentleman amateurs. The sooner you here in Europe realize that the better. All you decent, well-meaning gentlemen, let me ask you, have you any idea what sort of place the world is becoming all around you? The days when you could act out of your noble instincts are over. Except of course, you here in Europe don’t yet seem to know it.”

Related Characters: Mr. Lewis (speaker), Lord Darlington
History, Retrospection and Regret Theme Icon
Class Difference and Social Change Theme Icon
Politics and Loyalty Theme Icon
Page Number: 102
Explanation and Analysis:
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Mr. Lewis Quotes in The Remains of the Day

The The Remains of the Day quotes below are all either spoken by Mr. Lewis or refer to Mr. Lewis. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Dignity and Greatness Theme Icon
).
Day Two: Morning Quotes

“He is an amateur and international affairs today are no longer for gentleman amateurs. The sooner you here in Europe realize that the better. All you decent, well-meaning gentlemen, let me ask you, have you any idea what sort of place the world is becoming all around you? The days when you could act out of your noble instincts are over. Except of course, you here in Europe don’t yet seem to know it.”

Related Characters: Mr. Lewis (speaker), Lord Darlington
History, Retrospection and Regret Theme Icon
Class Difference and Social Change Theme Icon
Politics and Loyalty Theme Icon
Page Number: 102
Explanation and Analysis:
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