LOSS IN KAZUO ISHIGURO’S NOVEL THE REMAINS OF THE DAY
LOSS IN KAZUO ISHIGURO’S NOVEL THE REMAINS OF THE DAY

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this article is to explore the various aspects of loss in The Remains of the Day, the third novel by Japanese-English writer Kazuo Ishiguro. The theme of loss permeates the narrative, shaping the recollections of Stevens, the protagonist, who dedicated almost his entire life to serving his master, Lord Darlington. The present of the novel is set in 1956 England during a six-day motoring trip to the West Country, but the main story unfolds through the introspective narration of Stevens, the head butler of a manor house called Darlington Hall. Once in its heyday, Darlington Hall now stands in a state of dilapidation, embodying both personal and public history—the glory and fall of an aristocratic class, and a life spent in self-imposed denial. With the benefit of hindsight, Stevens gradually realizes that his singularly focused life of commitment and loyalty to his lord, along with his personal sacrifices, has led to various types of loss in his life, including the loss of his desires, dreams, vision, good name, career, and the emotional loss of the love of his life. In public history, the fall of Darlington Hall symbolizes the loss of an aristocratic class and the end of an empire. Now in old age, Stevens has experienced additional types of loss. Through arguments supported by illustrative examples and explanations, this article aims to delve into the different types of loss in his life.

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