When compared to great stories of exploration such as The Odyssey or On The Road, the journey described in The Remains of the Day seems kind of laughable.
There are no exotic lands, strange creatures, or spine-tingling adventures here—just a butler driving through some pleasant English countryside (and badly at that). But this journey, however modest, is precisely what the butler needs in order to see his homeland with new eyes. Exploration becomes a way for Stevens to see what he once took for granted. He then turns this fresh eye on the twists and turns that have made up his own life.
Questions About Exploration
- Take a look at the way scenes from the countryside and villages are depicted. What are the scenes like? How does the time of day affect your perception of these scenes? Do these places seem welcoming or hostile? Why or why not?
- Describe Stevens's state of mind on the road trip and compare it to his behavior as a butler within the confines of Darlington Hall. How does his behavior change in different scenes? Do you see any changes in his thinking over the course of the road trip?
- In the first chapter, Stevens asserts that simply by working in a big, important house, he has been exposed to more of England than any sightseer. Does the novel support his view? Would he have arrived at the same thoughts and conclusions if he had not gone on his road trip? Why or why not?
Chew on This
Travel provides Stevens with the kind of fresh perspective that he needs to reflect on his own experiences.
The English countryside that Stevens drives through is often depicted as a foreign, sometimes hostile place.