"The Remains of the Day" Characters Analysis

List of Characters

Role Identification

Character Descriptions

Stevens

Stevens is the central protagonist and narrator. He serves as the long-time butler of Darlington Hall. Deeply committed to professionalism, Stevens defines himself through service and dignity. He is emotionally restrained and dedicated to maintaining the highest standards in his work. Stevens’s narrative is introspective, revealing his internal conflicts and sense of loss as he reflects on his past decisions.

Miss Kenton (Mrs. Benn)

Miss Kenton is the housekeeper at Darlington Hall during Stevens’s tenure. She is assertive, warm, and compassionate, qualities that contrast with Stevens’s emotional reserve. Her interactions with Stevens reveal underlying tensions and the potential for a closer relationship, which remains unfulfilled. Later, she marries Mr. Benn and leaves service, representing a path not taken for Stevens.

Lord Darlington

Lord Darlington is Stevens’s employer and a member of the British aristocracy. He is well-meaning and idealistic but naive in political matters. His involvement in appeasement policies before World War II and connections with controversial figures lead to his downfall and disgrace. Lord Darlington’s story mirrors the decline of the British upper class.

Mr. Farraday

Mr. Farraday is the American who purchases Darlington Hall after Lord Darlington’s death. He is friendly, informal, and curious, often joking with Stevens, who finds the American’s casual style disconcerting. Farraday’s presence highlights the cultural shift in post-war Britain and prompts Stevens to reflect on his life and choices.

Mr. Benn

Mr. Benn is Miss Kenton’s husband, an ordinary man outside the world of grand service. He represents stability and domestic life, contrasting with the emotional and professional world of Darlington Hall. His presence underscores the choices Miss Kenton and, by extension, Stevens have made.

Stevens’s Father

Stevens’s father is a senior butler in his own right, embodying pride and stoicism. His decline in health while serving at Darlington Hall becomes a significant emotional event for Stevens, revealing the personal costs of their devotion to duty.

Cardinal

A political guest at Darlington Hall, Cardinal influences Lord Darlington’s political views. He is portrayed as an influential figure in shaping the ideological climate of the pre-war period.

Sir Geoffrey Wren

A guest and political figure at Darlington Hall, Wren is nationalistic and critical of foreign influence. He represents the prejudices and insular attitudes of certain segments of British society at the time.

Mr. Lewis

An American politician who attends Lord Darlington’s conference, Mr. Lewis is blunt and critical of British naivety. He exposes the limitations of Lord Darlington’s worldview and serves as a foil to British idealism.

Mrs. Clements

A housemaid at Darlington Hall, Mrs. Clements is diligent and supportive, helping to maintain the smooth running of the household. She represents the unseen labor and loyalty of the lower servants.

Character Traits

Character Background

Stevens

Born into a family of butlers, Stevens inherits a deep sense of duty. His father’s career sets a high standard, and Stevens strives to emulate this professionalism. He spends much of his life in service at Darlington Hall, sacrificing personal relationships for his work. Stevens’s life is marked by a lack of intimacy, shaped by a culture that prizes restraint.

Miss Kenton (Mrs. Benn)

Miss Kenton comes from a modest background. She enters service at Darlington Hall as a young woman, quickly establishing herself as an efficient and caring housekeeper. Her personal warmth and willingness to challenge Stevens mark her as unique among the staff. Eventually, Miss Kenton leaves service to marry Mr. Benn and leads a quieter life.

Lord Darlington

A member of the British aristocracy, Lord Darlington is driven by a desire to do good and restore Britain’s prestige. He hosts international conferences and becomes involved in appeasement efforts before World War II. His misguided idealism leads to his social and moral downfall.

Mr. Farraday

Mr. Farraday is an American businessman who buys Darlington Hall after the war. He represents the new class of property owners and the changing nature of British society. His relaxed demeanor and curiosity about Stevens's past highlight the contrast between old and new.

Mr. Benn

Mr. Benn is an outsider to the world of grand English houses. He marries Miss Kenton and offers her a conventional, domestic life. His presence contrasts with the emotional complexity of Darlington Hall.

Stevens’s Father

A renowned butler, Stevens’s father instills in his son the values of duty and professionalism. His declining health and eventual death at Darlington Hall serve as a pivotal moment in the novel, highlighting the personal costs of service.

Character Arcs

Relationships

Stevens and Miss Kenton

Stevens and Miss Kenton share a complex relationship marked by mutual respect and emotional undercurrents. Miss Kenton's warmth challenges Stevens's reserve, prompting moments of vulnerability. However, Stevens’s inability to express his feelings leads to a lifelong regret over their missed connection. Their relationship is the emotional core of the novel, exploring themes of repression and lost opportunities.

Stevens and Lord Darlington

Stevens is fiercely loyal to Lord Darlington, seeing him as a paragon of nobility. He suppresses his misgivings about his employer's political choices, prioritizing duty over morality. This blind loyalty is later a source of deep regret when Lord Darlington's reputation is ruined. The dynamic illustrates the dangers of unquestioning service.

Stevens and His Father

Stevens’s relationship with his father is defined by respect and a shared commitment to service. When his father’s health declines, Stevens maintains professional composure, even as he grapples with personal loss. This relationship underscores the cost of emotional restraint and dedication to duty.

Stevens and Mr. Farraday

Mr. Farraday’s relaxed and informal style contrasts with Stevens’s formality. Farraday encourages Stevens to open up and adapt to new ways, serving as a symbol of changing times. Their interactions highlight the cultural and generational shifts in post-war England.

In-Depth Character Analyses

Stevens

Professional Identity

Stevens sees himself primarily as a butler, deriving his sense of worth from service and dignity. He believes that true greatness comes from subordinating personal feelings to professional duty. This belief system is both his strength and downfall, enabling him to excel in service but costing him personal fulfillment.

Emotional Repression

Stevens’s emotional restraint is evident in his interactions with others. He avoids intimacy, fearing it might compromise his professionalism. His inability to express affection for Miss Kenton and his detachment during his father’s illness are poignant examples.

Regret and Self-Reflection

The narrative structure of the novel—Stevens’s road trip and memories—frames his gradual confrontation with regret. He recognizes the limitations of his choices and struggles to find meaning in what remains of his life. The journey is both literal and metaphorical, charting his movement from denial to a painful acceptance of loss.

Dignity

Dignity is central to Stevens’s self-concept. He associates it with emotional restraint and unwavering loyalty. However, the novel questions whether this dignity is truly noble or merely an excuse for emotional avoidance. Stevens’s eventual realization that he served a flawed master complicates his understanding of dignity.

Miss Kenton (Mrs. Benn)

Warmth and Assertiveness

Miss Kenton brings warmth and humanity to Darlington Hall. She is not afraid to challenge Stevens, urging him to acknowledge his emotions. Her assertiveness contrasts sharply with Stevens’s reticence and highlights what is missing in his life.

Emotional Vulnerability

Miss Kenton’s vulnerability is evident in her longing for connection. She seeks affirmation from Stevens but is repeatedly rebuffed. Her eventual marriage to Mr. Benn is both a retreat and a pragmatic choice, motivated by a desire for companionship.

Regret

Miss Kenton, like Stevens, experiences regret. She wonders if her life would have been happier had she and Stevens acknowledged their feelings. Her letters and their eventual reunion underscore the enduring impact of choices made and paths not taken.

Lord Darlington

Idealism and Naivety

Lord Darlington is driven by a belief in the power of the British aristocracy to shape world events. His idealism leads him to make grave political errors, particularly in his support for appeasement and association with Nazi sympathizers.

Tragic Downfall

Darlington’s naivety and susceptibility to manipulation result in his disgrace. His story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of good intentions without critical judgment. Stevens’s loyalty to Darlington becomes a source of personal crisis.

Mr. Farraday

Cultural Contrast

Mr. Farraday represents the new, more egalitarian values of post-war Britain. His joking and informal approach unsettle Stevens, who is used to strict boundaries. Farraday’s presence signals the end of an era and the need for adaptation.

Catalyst for Reflection

By encouraging Stevens to take a trip and reflect on his past, Mr. Farraday becomes an inadvertent catalyst for the novel’s central journey. He is not deeply developed but serves an important narrative function.

Stevens’s Father

Embodiment of Traditional Values

Stevens’s father exemplifies the old-school butler, prioritizing duty above all else. His decline and death are symbolic of the passing of a way of life and the personal costs of such devotion.

Influence on Stevens

The father’s legacy shapes Stevens’s worldview and aspirations. The emotional distance between father and son mirrors Stevens’s own struggles with intimacy.

Thematic Resonances in Character Dynamics

Duty vs. Emotion

The central conflict in "The Remains of the Day" is between duty and emotion, embodied in Stevens’s character. The relationships between Stevens, Miss Kenton, and his father all revolve around the tension between professional obligations and personal feelings.

The Decline of the British Aristocracy

Lord Darlington’s story and the sale of Darlington Hall to Mr. Farraday reflect the broader decline of the British upper class. The changing social order forces characters like Stevens to confront their place in a new world.

Regret and the Passage of Time

Both Stevens and Miss Kenton are haunted by regret. The novel explores how time magnifies missed opportunities and the consequences of emotional repression.

Character Arcs in Detail

Stevens’s Journey

Stevens’s arc is a movement from certainty to doubt. He begins the story convinced of the nobility of service. As he reflects on his past, he comes to question the value of his sacrifices. The journey is quietly tragic, culminating in his acceptance of lost opportunities and the limitations of his chosen path.

Miss Kenton’s Path

Miss Kenton seeks emotional fulfillment, first through her work and then through marriage. She is willing to leave service for a more conventional life, but her interactions with Stevens reveal lingering attachments. Her arc is marked by resilience and adaptability, but also by a sense of what might have been.

Lord Darlington’s Fall

Lord Darlington’s arc is one of decline. He moves from influence to disgrace, undone by his own idealism and poor judgment. His fate serves as a warning to others and casts a long shadow over Stevens’s life.

Conclusion

"The Remains of the Day" is a masterful exploration of character and regret. Each character serves to illuminate the central themes of duty, dignity, and the costs of emotional repression. Through Stevens’s journey, the novel interrogates the value of a life lived in service to others at the expense of personal happiness. The supporting characters—especially Miss Kenton and Lord Darlington—offer alternative perspectives and challenge Stevens to confront the meaning of his choices. The relationships and interactions among the characters create a rich, layered narrative that resonates long after the story ends.