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Dialect
Key Examples in The Remains of the Day
Flashbacks
Explanation and Analysis:
The Remains of the Day is set in England, over the span of a few days in the late 1950s. However, the novel also contains lengthy flashbacks that occur in a single English manor, Darlington Hall, during the interwar period. This era between the two world wars was a fascinating one: it saw not only continued breakneck scientific and political innovation, but also the rise of Nazism and other kinds of European fascism.
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Day Two: Morning
Explanation and Analysis—A Precious Jewel:
In her letter to Stevens, Miss Kenton references what seems to be a small event—Stevens's father pacing outside while looking at the ground—but is, in fact, as Stevens explains afterwards, the tip of an iceberg. An excerpt from Miss Kenton's letter in Day Two: Morning briefly mentions the pacing:
Unlock with LitCharts A+If this is a painful memory, forgive me. But I will never forget that time we both watched your father walking back and forth in front of the summerhouse, looking down at the ground as though he hoped to find some precious jewel he had dropped there.
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Explanation and Analysis—Sunlight and Shadows:
In Day Two: Morning, as a result of Miss Kenton's letter, Stevens reflects on the memory of his father's illness and demotion. He brings the reader vividly into the flashback with visual imagery that especially focuses on sunlight and shadows.
Unlock with LitCharts A+I can recall distinctly climbing to the second landing and seeing before me a series of orange shafts from the sunset breaking the gloom of the corridor where each bedroom door stood ajar. And as I made my way past those bedrooms, I had seen through a doorway Miss Kenton’s figure, silhouetted against a window, turn and call softly: ‘Mr Stevens, if you have a moment.’ As I entered, Miss Kenton had turned back to the window. Down below, the shadows of the poplars were falling across the lawn.
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Explanation and Analysis—Waiting on Two:
In Day Two: Morning, Stevens describes one of his memories of serving dinner to Lord Darlington and another guest. The flashback is described with mildly ominous visual and sonic imagery:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Much of the room was in darkness, and the two gentlemen were sitting side by side midway down the table – it being much too broad to allow them to sit facing one another – within the pool of light cast by the candles on the table and the crackling hearth opposite. I decided to minimize my presence by standing in the shadows much further away […] Of course, this strategy had a distinct disadvantage in that each time I moved towards the light to serve the gentlemen, my advancing footsteps would echo long and loud before I reached the table […]
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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Day Four: Afternoon
Explanation and Analysis—Deep Waters:
Stevens recalls an uncomfortable conversation he had with the younger Mr. Cardinal, who was Darlington's godson but disagreed strongly with his political decisions. While Darlington facilitates a meeting between the German ambassador and English heads of state in the other room, Cardinal describes how he sees Darlington's situation with a metaphor.
Unlock with LitCharts A+His lordship is in deep waters. I’ve watched him swimming further and further out and let me tell you, I’m getting very anxious. He’s out of his depth, you see, Stevens.
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