(Brief) NAZISM & FACISM IN Kazuo
Ishiguro’s The Remains’ of the Day
In the ordered and structured world of Darlington Hall, which Steven is so keen to preserve, it can be argued that in his quest to be a ‘good’ butler he sacrifices his principles. When looking back on his life as a butler, Stephen says, “the allegation that his lordship never allowed Jewish people to enter the house or any Jewish staff to be employed is utterly unfounded- except, perhaps, in one respect to one very minor episode in the thirties which has been blown up out of all proportion.”[1] After much comical waffling, and attempts to distract the audience with talk of the silver, we find out that the episode which Steven is referring to, is when two blameless Jewish maids are dismissed because Lord Darlington is entertaining anti-Semitic, Fascists.
In his quest to be a ‘good’ butler Steven defends his employer’s decision, explaining: ““There are many things you and I are simply not in a position to understand concerning, say, the nature of Jewry. Whereas his lordship, I might venture, is somewhat better placed to judge what is for the best.” (157-6). Steven’s behaviour can be compared to the Germans during WWII; he acts like a ‘good’ German in being silent and following his masters orders to the letter.
However it is revealed that Steven isn’t the only one. Many people were taken in by the idea of Nationalism and Fascism in the 1930s. In Remains Steven reveals, “[if] you were to see just a few of [the] guest lists from those days; you would see then not only the extent to which Herr Ribbentrop dined…as [the] guest of honour… Around the time of the Nurembeg Rally. The fact is, the most established, respected ladies and gentlemen in England were availing themselves of the hospitality of the German leaders.” (145)
@Picture above depicts the BBC drama 'Upstairs Downstairs', which shows episodes of the upper classes entertaining a Nazi.
[1] Kazuo
Ishiguro, Remains of the Day (London:
Faber and Faber, 2010), 145-6.
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