Remains of the Day Stevens Dignity and Respect - 2084 Words

In the novel The Remains of the Day there is a recurring theme of dignity and respect. There is the dignity of Stevens and the people that he meets along the way on his journey across the English countryside. He also comes to the realization that his former lord may not have been the man he thought he was. The most profound form of dignity is that of Stevens, in being an English Butler he has been raised to do his job in one way. He is supposed to be the proper gentleman never letting anything faze him or distract him from his work. When he does his job he feels dignified because its all he has ever known how to do. Dignity, according to the Oxford Dictionary, is a composed and serious manner/style, the state of being worthy of honor or†¦show more content†¦He held secret meetings in his manor for the fascist supporters, and Stevens never realized what it was about. It was the memories of the years during the war and immediately after the war that make Stevens really doubt h is lord. As the reader you see that Lord Darlington more than likely fell into shame because of his support for the Nazi cause. Stevens thought that he shined because of his service to his great lord, but if his lord wasnt great then he must take the shame with his lord. Otherwise he must realize that his part as a butler doesnt make any difference to the world at all. In his eyes that means that his life meant nothing at all, his dignity wasnt a big deal to anyone. The way that Mr. Farraday acts towards Stevens is degrading to him because of his staunch English background. His new lord doesnt seem to care about the actions of Stevens the way that he is accustomed by a lord. The treatment of Mr. Farrady towards Stevens makes Stevens think that he is a crude American. The thought of working for this man makes Stevens think that he is degrading himself and losing his respectability he had gained under Lord Darlington. Stevens isnt used to having his lord talk to him as if he were ano ther lord almost. He had never had a lord joke with him or ask him for his thought on a certain matter. That wasnt the way that things had been done, and Stevens doesnt know who to react to