The Remains of the Day Group

Question:

alex-evans100
alex-evans100
Student

In the novel, 'The Remains of the Day', how is the theme of light and dark used as a metaphor for Stevens' life?

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Posted by alex-evans100 on Monday July 14, 2008 at 10:23 AM and tagged with characters, dark, light, metaphor, stevens, the remains of the day, themes.

Answers:


  1. michael336 Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    On the surface, the light/dark motif symbolizes the golden age of the great houses (the 1920s/1930s) and being in service, compared to the postwar period when, not only have the great houses become economically unfeasible, but the honor of "being in service" has also declined.

    But in another, deeper sense, the play of light and shadow reflects Stevens' acknowledgement of the truth of Lord Darlington and his role in his role in Nazi appeasement and Stevens' deception, to himself and others, of the fact that Lord Darlington was not as honorable as Stevens would like him to be, lessening Stevens' own sense of self-worth.  What was presented as "light" (the golden age) was in fact shadow (due to the deception).

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    Posted by michael336 on Thursday August 28, 2008 at 3:17 PM