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Literary Devices
Definition of Allusion
In literature, an allusion is an unexplained reference to someone or something outside of the text. Writers commonly allude to other literary works, famous individuals, historical events, or philosophical ideas... read full definition
In literature, an allusion is an unexplained reference to someone or something outside of the text. Writers commonly allude to other literary works, famous individuals... read full definition
In literature, an allusion is an unexplained reference to someone or something outside of the text. Writers commonly allude to... read full definition
Key Examples in The Remains of the Day
Day One: Evening
Explanation and Analysis—The Hayes Society:
In Day One: Evening, Stevens recalls a controversy over the secret membership requirements for the highly influential Hayes Society, which "claimed to admit butlers of 'only the very first rank.'" While defending their membership qualifications, the Society makes an (arguably hyperbolic) allusion that many of its detractors found distasteful:
In response to further letters in A Quarterly, the Society justified its stance by saying that while it accepted some correspondents’ views that certain butlers of excellent quality were to be found in the houses of businessmen, ‘the assumption had to be that the houses of true ladies and gentlemen would not refrain long from acquiring the services of any such persons’. One had to be guided by the judgement of ‘the true ladies and gentlemen’, argued the Society, or else ‘we may as well adopt the proprieties of Bolshevik Russia’.
Related Themes:
Day Two: Morning
Explanation and Analysis—The Treaty of Versailles:
Lord Darlington alludes to the Treaty of Versailles in Day Two: Morning, during a conversation with Stevens.
Unlock with LitCharts A+Last time I was in Berlin, Stevens, Baron Overath, old friend of my father, came up and said: “Why do you do this to us? Don’t you see we can’t go on like this?” I was jolly well tempted to tell him it’s those wretched Frenchmen. It’s not the English way of carrying on, I wanted to say. But I suppose one can’t do things like that. Mustn’t speak ill of our dear allies.
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Day Three: Morning
Explanation and Analysis—Shaw, Astor, Halifax:
In Day Three: Morning, Stevens illustrates the importance of polishing silver with several allusions to famous Britons who admired Darlington's silverware during their visits to the household. For instance:
Unlock with LitCharts A+I recall also watching Mr George Bernard Shaw, the renowned playwright, at dinner one evening, examining closely the dessert spoon before him, holding it up to the light and comparing its surface to that of a nearby platter, quite oblivious to the company around him.
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Day Three: Evening
Explanation and Analysis—Bold Steps:
In Day Three: Evening, Stevens reminisces about a 1935 conversation he and Lord Darlington had about politics. In it, Darlington alludes to a few of the powerful governments of the 1930s:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Ordinary, decent working people are suffering terribly. Germany and Italy have set their houses in order by acting. And so have the wretched Bolsheviks in their own way, one supposes. Even President Roosevelt, look at him, he’s not afraid to take a few bold steps on behalf of his people. But look at us here, Stevens. Year after year goes by, and nothing gets better. All we do is argue and debate and procrastinate.
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