The incompatibility of self and service as presented in Kazuo Ishiguro's 'The Remains of the Day'

Seminar paper from the year 2003 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1,3 (A), , language: English, abstract: Next, as we-re Servants, Masters at our Hands
Expect Obedience to all just Commands;
[-] Purchas-d by annual Wages, Cloaths and Meat,
Theirs is our Time, our Hands, our Head, our Feet:
We think, design and act at their Command,
And, as their Pleasure varies, walk or stand [-].-1
This stanza of the poem -Servitude-, written by footman Robert Dodsley in 1728 incorporates the common image of the ideal servant at that time - and this may seem rather shocking to a reader at the beginning of the 21st century. Nowadays, handing over such a large part of an individual-s personal freedom to a -master- seems very problematic or even unthinkable. Especially to let one-s -Head- be -purchas-d- and to think at another person-s -Command-, that is to give up one-s freedom of thought, contradicts basic human rights, which are highly valued in today-s society. It becomes clear that servitude implies more than just dusting portraits, polishing silver and setting tables - namely restrictions of individual rights, of personal life and consequently of the servant-s sense of self. This topic has recently not only been discussed within historical and sociological research but also treated in film and literature, examples being Robert Altman-s Gosford Park, Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood, Marianne Frederiksson-s Hannah-s Daughter and Margaret Foster-s Lady-s Maid.
The butler Stevens is the protagonist in Kazuo Ishigurös novel The Remains of the Day. He tells about his service in a distinguished English manor, Darlington Hall, during the first half of the 20th century. Stevens-s life in servitude is characterised by the complete lack of a personal realm. By examining the character Stevens, I want to determine which effects this incompatibility of self and service has on the individual. To begin with, I will briefly sketch the image of the ideal servant, as described by Stevens. By explaining the core values he is expected to incorporate I aim at determining where this incompatibility stems from in the first place. Following, the consequences this concept of domestic service has on the servant-s social relationships (both to his fellow servants, family, friends and to his master) will be analysed. Finally, I want to establish what impact it has on the servant himself, his sense of self and his personal identity.