Representation of the Interwar British Society in Kazuo Ishiguro‟s The Remains of the Day

Abstract

This thesis analyzes the impact of dominant cultural practices in the interwar British society in Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day by. In doing so, it examines the socio-economic landscape of the period, where fading aristocracy shapes the lives of its characters, including that of the protagonist Stevens. The research also studies the mysterious elements in the novel, such as the opulent but decaying Darlington Hall and the regretful recollections of the past that symbolize the touchable remnants of British society's past. Applying Raymond Williams’s theoretical methodology called cultural materialism, this research explores how material conditions influence cultural values and behaviors. The protagonist Stevens, a dedicated butler, exemplifies the class-consciousness prevalent in the interwar Britain. His unwavering commitment to serving his aristocratic employer, Lord Darlington, reflects the material dependence of the working class on the ruling class people for employment and social status. The sacrifices he makes, including repressing personal desires, illuminate how the material constraints of the time shape individual choices and perpetuate the existing power structures. Keywords: dominant, culture, material, consciousness, power, aristocracy marginalized section of the society, emergent, residual.