A Webquest Created by D.M. F., Marie B., and Lindsey F.

TASK:

Stevens’ lack of emotion helps define his character. However, we are aware that he does have feelings. But he does repress it. For example, he denies seeing his father before his death yet cries while he stays at the party. Also, he is caught reading a love story by Miss Kenton. Lastly, he shows jealousy or denial when Miss Kenton takes her Thursdays off to "visit" with a former acquaintance. In order to help the reader understand the way Mr. Stevens’ represses his emotions, read and rewrite the following passage:

"At these sorts of levels, Miss Kenton, the profession isn’t for everybody. It is easy enough to have lofty ambitions, but without certain qualities, a butler will simply not progress beyond a certain point."

Miss Kenton seemed to ponder this for a moment then said:

"It occurs to me you must be a well-contented man, Mr. Stevens. Here you are, after all, at the top of your profession, every aspect of your domain well under control. I really cannot imagine what more you might wish for in life."

I could think of no immediate response to this. In the slightly awkward silence that ensued, Miss Kenton turned her gaze down into the depths of her cocoa cup as if she had become engrossed by something she had noticed there. In the end, after some consideration, I said:

"As far as I am concerned, Miss Kenton, my vocation will not be fulfilled until I have done all I can to see his lordship through the great tasks he has set himself. The day his lordship’s work is complete, is the day he is able to rest on his laurels, content in the knowledge that he has done all anyone could ever reasonably ask of him, only on that day, Miss Kenton, will I be able to call myself, as you put it, a well-contented man."

She may have been a little puzzled by my words; or perhaps it was that they had for some reason displeased her. In any case, her mood seemed to change at that point, and our conversation rapidly lost the rather personal tone it had begun to adopt.

It was not so long afterwards that these meetings over cocoa in her parlour came to an end. In fact, I recall quite clearly the very last time we met like that; I was wishing to discuss with Miss Kenton a forthcoming event-a weekend gathering of distinguished persons from Scotland. It is true the event was still a month or so away, but then it had always been our habit to talk over such events from an early stage. On this particular evening, I had been discussing various aspects of it for a little while when I realized Miss Kenton was contributing very little; indeed, after a time, it became perfectly obvious her thoughts were somewhere else altogether. I did on a few occasions say things like: "Are you with me, Miss Kenton?" particularly if I had been making a lengthy point, and though whenever I did so she would become a little more alert, within seconds I could see her attention drifting again. After several minutes of my talking and her contributing only statements such as, "Of course, Mr. Stevens," or "I quite agree Mr. Stevens," I finally said to her:

"I am sorry, Miss Kenton, but I see little point in our continuing. You simply do not seem to appreciate the importance of this discussion."

"I’m sorry, Mr. Stevens," she said, sitting up a little. "It’s simply that I’m rather this evening."

"You are increasingly tired now, Miss Kenton. It used not to be an excuse you needed to resort to."

To my astonishment, Miss Kenton responded to this in a sudden burst:

"Mr. Stevens, I have had a very busy week. I am very tired. In fact, I have been wishing for my bed for the last three or four hours. I am very, very tired, Mr. Stevens, can you not appreciate that?"

It is not as though I had expected an apology from her, but the stridency of this reply did, I must say, take me aback a little. However, I decided not to get drawn into an unseemly argument with her and made sure to pause for a telling moment or two before saying quite calmly:

"If that is how you feel about it, Miss Kenton, there is no need at all for us to continue with these evening meetings. I am sorry that all this time I had no idea of the extent to which they were inconveniencing you."

"Mr. Stevens, I merely said that I was tired tonight…"

"No, no, Miss Kenton, it’s perfectly understandable. You have a busy life, and these meetings are a quite unnecessary addition to your burden. There are many alternative options for achieving the level of professional communication necessary without our meeting on this basis."

"Mr. Stevens, this is quite unnecessary. I merely said…"

"I mean it, Miss Kenton. In fact, I had been wondering for some time if we should not discontinue these meetings, given how they prolong our already very busy days. The fact that we have met here now for years is no reason in itself why we should not seek a more convenient arrangement from her on."

"Mr. Stevens, please, I believe these meetings are very useful…"

"But they are inconvenient for you, Miss Kenton. They tire you out. May I suggest from now on, we simply make a special point of communicating important information during the course of the normal working day. Should we not be able to find each other readily, I suggest we leave written messages at one another’s doors. That seems to me a perfectly fine solution. Now, Miss Kenton, I apologize for keeping you up so long. Thank you very kindly for the cocoa."
 
 
 
 

When your revision is finished, explain how this would effect the novel as a whole. Even Stevens reconsidered his hasty termination of the meetings and its effect on his life…
 
 

RESOURCES:

The Rejection of Women in "In Custody," "The Remains of the Day,"
and "Once Were Warriors."

The Remains of the Day (1989), Kazuo Ishiguro
 
 

PROCESS:

1. Read the passage.
2. List several different ways the conversation could have went.
3. Choose one of them and type it out.
4. Analyze its effect on the rest of the novel.
5. Explain how it would change the ending or impact the characters.

 

 
 
 
 

EVALUATION:

In order to receive a:

5) The reader must fully understand the first person narration Stevens uses and utilize it in his revision. Also, the changes must be within the dialect of the characters. Stevens reevaluates himself shortly after this conversation. Therefore, the reader must also show this in his changes and analysis. Then, the effects must be realistic and well thought out.
 
 

4) The reader must have a firm grasp on the narration technique. The revision must consist of exchanges between Stevens and Miss Kenton. Next, the analysis must be consistent with the changes.
 
 

3) The reader must make significant changes from the original passage. These changes must reflect the reader’s knowledge of the characterization of Stevens and Miss Kenton. The analysis has to show consideration of the actual outcome of changes like these.
 
 

2) The reader must make it obvious he understands Ishiguro’s detailed complexity of Stevens. The reader should show that he understands Stevens’ repression through his modifications. The analysis should show how the events would impact the novel.
 
 

1) The reader should show a thought out revision and a consistent analysis of his revisions.

---



Creating Political and Moral Ideologies for Stevens






TASK:The reader will follow Stephens’ own self-subjugating exploration of suppressed ideals and values through his memoirs and travelogue, and invent their own set of morals and ethics for a man devoid of his own through deftness and naivete.

Things to think about during this exercise:
 
 

--Why did Stephens suppress his true feelings regarding the ethics of his employer(s)?

**Why do people repress and suppress emotions and thoughts?

**Go to: http://www.dreamscape.com/willp/phil/works-LP/understanding.html and find out**
 
 

--What decent and humane qualities does Lord Darlington

possess?

--What sordid and ignoble qualities does Lord Darlington

possess?

**Try to answer the previous two questions in relation to

Stevens as well**

--Why does Stephens feel that through his faithful service

and meticulously professional façade as a butler in a

"Great man's house" he can serve humanity?
 
 

--What political ideologies does Darlington possess that

allow him to feel that the "common person" is incapable of

democratically legislating in the arena of international

affairs?

*For example, English detachment and the overall

elitism in the wealthy class that Darlington belongs

to.

*Ideals regarding dignity and morality relating to the

"masses", and the imperatives of the elite to defend

those that fail to defend themselves

--What aspects of Stevens’ character allow him to remain

naïve about Darlington’s elitist, almost fascist ideals?

*For example, his own feelings regarding dignity and

his service to humanity through his service of a

"great man." (Recall the conversation with Mr. Harry

Smith during his modest boarding in Moscombe, near

Tavistock, Devon following his absentmindedness in

Running out of "petrol" en route to see

Ms.Kenton/Mrs. Benn (Around page 164, Day 3 of

The journey)
 
 

Students are encouraged to use their own knowledge from the novel, their own feelings and thoughts regarding the subject matter, and information in the websites given below as well as any other sources of information such as the movie or reviews to complete this task.
 
 
 
 

**Following the completion of the first exercise, think of another novel, play, poem, movie, or even a song that relates to your ideas about the structure of the main conflict of the novel, and write a short essay explaining the relationship, (if you hadn’t already realized the main conflict, here’s a gift: Stevens' idea that serving a "great man" who tried to do "good" in the world as opposed to the truth that Lord Darlington was elitist and even nearly fascist).

**Try a work about youthful naivete or

stubborness in old age, etc, etc.
 
 
 
 

RESOURCES:
Political Ideologies in Ishiguro's Remains of the the Day
 
 

Postcolonial Literature in English: An Overview of Political Contexts
 
 

Self-Realization in the Characterization in Ishigurou
 
 

Timeline of Events in The Remains of the Day
 
 
 
 

PROCESS:

0. Read the novel.
1. Follow along with Ishiguro's establishment of ethics for all characters, with specific emphasis on Darlington and Stevens in a journal or notes.
2. Brainstorm about a method to create a set of morals or ethics, and a few political theories for Stevens based on his understanding of foreign policy, love of England, meticulous nature, etc. and argue whether his would be views of a conservative, liberal, or moderate, and the degree to which he would express these views.
3. Chose a work of literature or some other form of art, i.e. a song, painting, sculpture, etc. to use for the short essay.

TASK 3:
 
 
 
 
 

TASK:

Often times in classic literature an author will use a series of events to emplify certain qualities or aspects of the main character. Ishiguro used the scene of Stevens’ father’s death to show Stevens’ priorities in three different parts of his life including personal, family, and professional. Consider the following quotes from this scene to discover the order of importance in which these parts of his life had.
 
 

"Once my father had been laid in his bed, I was a little uncertain as to how to proceed; for it seemed undesirable that I leave my father in such a condition, I did not really have a moment to spare." (Ishiguro, 93)
 
 

"When I returned to the drawing room… I immediately found myself more occupied replenishing the guests with tea and coffee." (Ishiguro, 94)
 
 

"As I understood, he was asleep for much of the time, and indeed, I found him so on the few occasions I had a spare moment to ascend to that little attic room. I did not then have a chance actually to converse with him until the second evening after the return of his illness." (Ishiguro, 96)
 
 

"’I’m proud of you. A good son. I hope I’ve been a good father to you. I suppose I haven’t.’

‘I’m afraid we’re extremely busy now, but we can talk again in the morning… I’m so glad you’re feeling better now,’ I said again and took my leave." (Ishiguro, 97)
 
 

"Miss Kenton then said: ‘Mr. Stevens, he really is in poor state. You had better come and see him.’

‘I only have a moment. The gentlemen are liable to retire to the smoking room at any moment.’

‘Of course. But you must come now, Mr. Stevens, or else you may deeply regret it late.’

… I heard Miss Kenten say softly behind me: ‘His pulse is very weak.’ I gazed at my father for a moment, touched his forehead slightly, then withdrew my hand… [Stevens said] ‘This is most distressing. Nevertheless, I must now return downstairs.’" (Ishiguro, 104)
 
 

"… Lord Darlington [said], ‘Stevens, are you all right?’

‘Yes, sir. Perfectly.’

‘You look as though you’re crying.’

I laughed and taking out a handkerchief, quickly wiped my face. ‘I’m very sorry, sir. The strains of the day.’" (Ishiguro, 105)
 
 

"‘Mr. Stevens, I’m very sorry. Your father has passed away about four minutes ago… Will you come up and see him?’

‘I’m very busy now, Miss Kenton. In a little while perhaps.’

She began to climb the staircase, but I stopped her, saying:

‘Miss Kenton, please don’t think me unduly improper in not ascending to see my father in his deceased condition just at this moment. You see, I know my father would have wished me to carry on just now.’

‘Of course, Mr. Stevens.’

‘To do otherwise, I feel, would be to let him down.’

‘Of course, Mr. Stevens.’" (Ishiguro, 106)
 
 

"…That night in particular, constituted a turning point in my professional development… if you consider the pressures contingent on me that night, you may not think I delude myself unduly if I go so far as to suggest that I did perhaps display, in the face of everything, at least some modest degree a ‘dignity’… Indeed, why should I deny it? For all its sad associations, whenever I recall that evening today, I find I do so with a large sense of triumph." (Ishiguro, 110)
 
 
 
 

RESOURCES:
 
 
 
 

http://www.hewett.norfolk.sch.uk/curric/english/resource/ishiguro/kilocke.htm
 
 
 
 

http://landow.stg.brown.edu/post/uk/ishiguro/remainspolov.html
 
 

PROCESS:

In order to fully evaluate Stevens priorities in life, reread the above passages of the scene. Decide which order of importance Stevens places on himself, his family, and finally his professional matters. Use examples from the above passage to back up your theory. Also visit the links in order to come to a complete understanding of the novel as a whole. After you have decided the order of Stevens priorities write a well written short-essay discussing what you have discovered. Be sure to use specific examples from the book.
 
 

EVALUATION:

:) A student will receive a smiley face if he writes a well-written short essay in which he uses a specific example from the scene to defend the fact that Stevens’ first priority in life was his profession, followed by his family matters, and lastly himself. As can be determined from the above quotes, Stevens put his professionalism before anything else in his life. He put his work and family before he put himself. This order of priorities must be backed up with logical evidence from the novel.
 
 

:] This is a neutral face. A student will receive this if he gets the order correct in the priorities but fails to back the facts up with significant, well-researched evidence. The student may have gotten the order of Stevens’ priorities wrong or just slightly gotten off-track during the process.
 
 

:( This is a sad face because the student has gotten the order wrong of Stevens priorities and hasn’t fulfilled all required exercises during this task.

CONCLUSION: With the aid of these exercises and information from other sources, (most significantly the web), the student should’ve gained insight into the thought process and psyche of Kazuo Ishiguro’s elusive and seemingly incomprehensible character, Steven, in the novel Remains of the Day.