Ethics essay from the book The remains of the day

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nEthics essay from the book The remains of the day

nAbstract

nStevens was a butler working at Darlington Hall where he has devoted all his life. He had previously loved Miss Kenton although he never expressed his love towards her. Stevens reflects on lost chances because he was preoccupied with professionalism and dignity at the expense of important aspects in his life. According to him, a “great butler” is one who strictly adheres to the principles of professionalism, dignity and duty to his employer regardless the circumstances. Therefore, although he is intensely in love with her co-worker, his principles do not allow him to express it. He thinks that he should maintain his dignity and professionalism at all cost. Consequently, Stevens completely ignores his emotional and social life hence he cannot express his love to Miss Kenton. However, according to Aristotles Nichomachean ethics complete human should display ethics in terms of physical aspect, emotional state, social well-being, and rational aspects. For this reason, Stevens completely fails to succeed in his life.

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nIntroduction

nThe Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro features Stevens who is the first person narrator. In addition, Stevens is a butler who was about to retire from Darlington Hall. He is on a journey to meet his former lover and past colleague Miss Kenton. Meanwhile, he attempts to gradually accept his past by remembering the account of his past at Darlington Hall (Ishiguro 10). In this regard, he tries to re-examine his choices and values in his past life. More importantly, the narrative concentrates on lost chances and regrets. The Remains of the Day highlights that Stevens was a butler who has devoted his life to the dedicated work of Lord Darlington (Zeul 629). Stevens is regarded as the great butler owing to his robust feeling of loyalty, stern personality, and typical work ethics.

nStevens decides to revisit his once-memorable relationship with Miss Kenton. He used the car belonging to his new boss, Mr Farraday in his trip in Cornwall to meet his former lover Mrs Benn. He gets the opportunity to reflect on his robust faithfulness to Lord Darlington. In addition, the earlier mutual affection and attraction between him and Miss Kenton are revealed. However, they failed to confess their real feelings towards one another (Ishiguro 13). All their previous accounts demonstrated a serious friendship, which nearly developed into romance. For instance, Stevens never showed his romance to Miss Kenton even when she attempted to entice him to be closer to her. However, after meeting again, she had now married for two decades (Matthews and Groes, eds. 3). Additionally, she confesses to worrying if she had committed an error in marrying but clarifies that she has adapted to loving her spouse. The couple is also expected to welcome their first grandchild. On the other hand, Stevens describes the lost opportunities because he failed to marry Miss Kenton. Similarly, he ponders about the long period he has wasted in the self-sacrificing services to his employer who may not value his wholehearted loyalty (Zeul 629). For this reason, he begins to concentrate on the remain of his time which implies the remaining chances in the future such as serving his new boss Mr Farraday and making use of what is available in his life.

nStevens analysis regarding what it means to be a “great butler?”

nAccording to Stevens analysis, the “great butler” must be defined by principles of professionalism, dignity and duty to his employer. According to him, a great butler should always work professionally regardless the circumstances (Sucher 21). Therefore, although he is intensely in love with her co-worker, his principles do not allow him to express it. In this regard, he thinks that it is irregular to fall in love with an individual who works below his hierarchy in the workplaces. More importantly, he thinks that such kind of engagement would lead to distraction to his quality service (Ishiguro 12). Furthermore, Stevens is so resolute to preserve his dignity that he establishes a straightjacket, which helps him to eliminate the feeling emotions, and he evens fails to identify them. In fact, he takes desire in his own self-discipline in his capacity to overlook his dying father and concentrate on painful foot of a French ambassador. Therefore, he establishes an inverse association between authenticity and duty leading to an emotional bankruptcy in his life (Matthews and Groes, eds. 4). In conclusion, his obsession with duty forces him to loss his desires completely.

nStevens also believes that he should maintain his professionalism at all cost. He defines a great butler with his ability to safeguard his professionalism irrespective of his social life. For instance, he devotes his whole life to his career with minimal time to use for a personal life (Sucher 25). In addition, he is preoccupied with the virtues and values of butler profession, which according to him can be involved by the universal phrase “dignity.” Similarly, Lord Darlington is also fanatical with his profession as he spends most of his time on diplomacy (Ishiguro 14). The butler profession requires a higher level of dignity. The ideals of dignified profession particularly when used under demanding situations are what he refers to as great butler. Therefore, he persistently upholds an outward and inward feeling of dignity to protect his own profession. However, these ideals of dignity in his profession adversely affect his life in terms of relationships, love, politics, loyalty and social constraints (Zeul 629). His insistence on dignity in his profession without paying attention on his emotion he subsequently destroys his intellect of humanity in regards to his individual self. His fundamental challenge within the story is the process in which dignity in his profession associates to his own encounter in the present, past and future (Sucher 30).

nStevens takes his job seriously as a butler hence his motivation is completely different about professionalism and dignity. He thinks that the aspect of dignity in their career should guide great butlers since they are linked to outstanding persons in the country. Therefore, he aspires to maintain his professionalism and dignity above anything else (Ishiguro 15). In fact, Stevens categorized the concept of working as a butler into three groups; “great butlers”, “competent butlers” and “lesser butlers”. He outlines his groups on a point of dignity which overlays with professionalism. He thinks that “lesser butlers” will leave their professional services for the reserved one at minimal provocation (Matthews and Groes, eds. 5).

nStevens advises that dignity have to be fundamentally with an ability of a butler not to leave the professionalism he possesses. Ultimately, great butlers can be recognized by virtue of their capacity to retain their professional responsibility and preserve it to the maximum (Gale 11). In so doing, it illustrates how he believes that a butler should utilize his personal and professional life if they are to attain the status of the great butler (Sucher 31). Likewise, he tends to imply that great butlers should never be affected by external factors however vexing, alarming or surprising they seem to be.

nThe book also attempts to associate the issue of dignity with pride. For instance, Stevens has a high sense of pride because of his profession since he is Darlington Halls butler and he has acquired such position because of preserving his professionalism in his individual life. In another instance, he thinks that the English people have a crucial advantage as compared to foreigners such as French. For this reason, he thinks that a proper man can only be described to be an English person. In the book, he refers to his boss as my employer (Sucher 36). Additionally, when asked to introduce himself, he mentions his name accompanied by any prefix or suffix, which can excite the employer. For instance, when Stevenss identity is questioned on his identity, he normally states that he is Darlington Halls butler who works for one of the greatest persons in the nation. Furthermore, he has demonstrated a character, which always champions the professional perspective (Ishiguro 33).

nMiss Kenton could have been beneficial in his life in Stevenss life because she could have opened his individual life. Nonetheless, at that moment, he rejects Miss Kenton as he focussed on discarding any form of emotional thought (Gale 71). He also believes that key irritations are those individuals who lack honest commitment to their profession as well as those who are migrating across different post in pursuit of romance (Matthews and Groes, eds. 6). Therefore, he implies great butlers should forego their personal life in order to concentrate on the achievement of their professional goals.

nFurthermore, he argues that dignity is the standard of being worthy of respect or esteem. Stevens describes dignity as the ability to work as a suitable person (Sucher 40). He displays his dignity in the car trip through the kind of persons he interacts with. It is wrong for him to think that only individuals in the upper socio-economic status can retain dignity. Nevertheless, following his interaction with family that accommodates him after running out of resources he realizes that poor people have dignity (Gale 17). Through this kind of dignity in the family, he is able to quickly respond to the circumstances in the family.

nAristotelians reflection on the ideas of virtue and the good life from the Nichomachean ethics

nAccording to Aristotles Nicomachean ethics, the Greek term Eudaimonia is translated to mean flourishing, well-being or happiness. Precisely, an individual who is flourishing is considered to have a good life. Based on Aristotles argument, human beings are determined to flourish. Their actions desire to facilitate flourishing (Miller ed. 11). He also described the four aspects of rational society. In this regard, he suggests that human beings are physical beings since they need rest, exercise, and nourishment to facilitate proper functioning of the body. Secondly, humans are emotional beings since they have reactions, urges, desires, and wants. Thirdly, their social characters are manifested in the ability to establish friendly cooperation in different social groups (Ryff and Singer 42). Finally, humans have rational features based on the factors such as knowledge seeking, expressive, and creativeness. Based on Aristotles argument, the ability to achieve a good life is based on the accomplishment of the four aspects in human life (Koehn 52).

nAristotles arguments also highlight the concept of virtue. A virtue refers to an attribute of character, which helps an individual to flourish. Under the virtue, he also describes the principle of the mean (Miller ed. 13). The doctrine is one of the most notable factors of Aristotles ethics. The doctrine of mean suggest that virtue occur as a mean state between the severe extreme of deficiency and excess. For instance, the virtuous mean of bravery is positioned between the iniquities of cowardice and rashness, which illustrate deficiency and excess respectively (Koehn 52). According to Aristotle, this is not detailed invention. Claiming that bravery is a mean between cowardice and rashness does not imply that bravery stands precisely between both extremes. Similarly, it does not indicate that bravery is the equal for all persons (Ryff and Singer 45). Aristotle frequently argue that in the ethics no precise formulations or general laws that exist in the practical setting. Instead, they require approaching issues on case-by-case basis. In addition, their decisions must be informed by instilled virtue and pragmatic wisdom.

nBased on Nichomachean ethics, human beings are not at liberty to select and choose their virtues. For instance, they have no power to make decision on when they will be temperate or courageous. Additionally, they cannot regard individuals to be virtuous in case they are unable to demonstrate all types of virtues (Miller ed. 25). According to Aristotle, all virtues appear to be generated from same foundation. A virtuous individual is a person who is certainly willing to demonstrate all the virtues, and a logically virtuous character displays all the virtues correspondingly. The term ethics is used to describe the character of an individual (Koehn 57). Likewise, all the virtues are generated from an integrated character. Therefore, no good individual can display certain virtues without showing them all.

nAristotle argued that human beings become virtuous via habit and education. The environment in which people spends their time has the power to influence the virtues acquired in someones life (Inwood and Woolf 1). Most importantly, an individual can teach him/herself about proper behaviours, which can facilitate him to flourish. For instance, a person can learn how to play games or exercise. They may also learn the practices of being brave, being friendly, and behaviour of sharing. In so doing, they become part of the innate personality (Ryff and Singer 49).

nSecondly, human beings can become virtuous being through habits. For instance, as human beings attain maturity, they begin to acquire habits, which lead to flourishing (Kenny 71). Therefore, children do not understand such behaviours but adults and adolescent do. They also use their practical wisdom, which enable them to practice different kind of actions (Koehn 60). The most effective process of teaching human being to be virtuous occurs via demonstration of virtuous character. According to Nichomachean ethics, an individual who is flourishing has a virtuous character. At certain point of human development, they begin to be accountable of their own characters. At that moment, they start to become active and willingly refine their characters (Inwood and Woolf 3). Therefore, they continue to enhance their emotional and physical state as well as the capacity to engage with others. Ultimately, they strengthen their proper habits, gain more knowledge, assist other persons, and pursue peace in the society (Kenny 71).

nAlternative interpretations of greatness do other characters offer in response

nAccording to the interpretations of other characters such as Miss Kenton, the term greatness refers to the ability to reveal ones emotions such as romantic love towards other persons. In this respect, a great butler should not pretend or lie (Gale 11). The ability to express the feeling bravely to other persons can be regarded as greatness. Miss Kenton also argues that the incapacity of Stevens to pay close attention on the humanity caused challenges in his own life. In addition, she challenges Stevens conviction in serving his master rather than attending to his feeling of love or emotions. Therefore, the real greatness can be achieved in human life by striking a balance between emotional, physical, social and rational well-being in an individuals life (Ishiguro 11).

nThe greatness of Stevens could only be realized by attending to his emotional being. Precisely, he should satisfy his reaction, desires and wants in his life (Bay 27). Moreover, his greatness lies in his ability to express preference or desire on things that he loves. The emotional wants and needs are the key to successful life because they act as the most basic resources (Kenny 73). Similarly, the greatness of a profession is founded on the need to create opportunities to interact with other people in a social setting. For a person like Stevens, his ability to flourish in his profession is dependent upon his ability to engage with different persons (Gale 17). Putting emphasis on social growth in the career facilitates friendly cooperation and trust. Finally, other characters such as Mr Farraday suggest that greatness can be determined by adhering to the voice of reason and coherent thoughts. In so doing, they will be able to achieve comprehensive success in their lives (Ishiguro 23).

nStevens did not succeed in achieving his goal

nThe novels illustrates that Stevens fails to succeed in achieving his goal. His definition of greatness is based on the idea of restraint of his emotional, social and logical being, as he is preoccupied with perfection. He thinks that the greatness of his profession is based on the absence of the inappropriate demonstrativeness. His father initiated the notion of greatness in his life but this idea became the source of separation between son and father and bred deep bitterness (Ishiguro 12). In addition, the incoherence of emotions in Stevens live ruined the emotional aspect of his life. Consequently, it destroyed his ability to express love to his co-worker and his father (Bay 22). His failure is also attributed to his belief that an individual should not leave the professionalism after minor provocation. However, his longing for this type of greatness has negatively affected his opportunity to attain romantic love (Gale 23). Concealed with his profession, he allowed another suitor to marry his previous lover. Therefore, it illustrates that human beings must be guided by their social, emotional, physical, and rational life in order to achieve true greatness.

nConclusion

nStevens was a butler working at Darlington Hall where he has devoted all his life. He is determined to be a great butler who according to him should be based on the idea of restraint of his emotional, social and logical being, as he is preoccupied with perfection. However, he is unable to socialize with other people, which make him to remain isolated. For instance, he fails to utilize the opportunity of expressing his love towards Miss Kenton. Therefore, Stevens profession does not adhere to the concept of Nichomachean ethics.

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nReferences

nBay, Lynn. “A great butler”: the unreliable narrator in Kazuo Ishiguro’s” The Remains of the Day.” (2009). Print.

nGale, Cengage Learning. A Study Guide for Kazuo Ishiguro’s” Remains of the Day, The (Lit-to-Film)”. Gale Cengage Learning, 2016. Print.

nInwood, Brad, and Raphael Woolf. Aristotle: Eudemian Ethics. Cambridge University Press, 2012. Print.

nIshiguro, Kazuo. The remains of the day. Vintage, 2010. Print.

nKenny, Anthony. The Aristotelian Ethics: A study of the relationship between the Eudemian and Nicomachean ethics of Aristotle. Oxford University Press, 2016. Print.

nKoehn, G. L. E. N. “The archer and Aristotles doctrine of the mean.” Peitho: Examina Antiqua 1 (2012): 155-167. Print.

nMatthews, Sean, and Sebastian Groes, eds. Kazuo Ishiguro: contemporary critical perspectives. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2010. Print.

nMiller, Jon, ed. The Reception of Aristotle’s Ethics. Cambridge University Press, 2012.

nRyff, Carol D., and Burton H. Singer. “Know thyself and become what you are: A eudaimonic approach to psychological well-being.” The exploration of happiness. Springer Netherlands, 2013. 97-116. Print.

nSucher, Sandra J. Teaching the moral leader: A literature-based leadership course: A guide for instructors. Routledge, 2012. Print.

nZeul, Mechthild. “The remains of the day.” The International Journal of Psycho-Analysis 80.3 (1999): 629. Print.