There constantly seems to be an underlying theme of a loss of reality or perhaps a moving reality. This loss of reality centralizes around Stevens constant transfer between the reality of a situation and what a butler must do or what is the important to him at that moment. Stevens recollects an event or time in Lord Darlington’s house and while there are some controversial, philosophical, or humanitarian debate taking place, the reader is suddenly thrown into a conversation about polishing silver, or a butler who shoots a tiger in the dinning room. This sudden shift takes the reader away from the ideologies of social order to maintaining of house. This serves as a reminder that Stevens concerns appear to surround the constant needs of Lord Darlington and his house rather then the humanitarian, or so thought humanitarian, efforts of this council. Which this also leads to his desire to be a great butler, he explains that he desire to be a great butler is dependent partly upon the gentlemen in which he serves. Therefore, the man he serves must be a great gentlemen and in his generation one that works for a gentlemen that seeks the betterment of mankind. However, while he believes Lord Darlington is attempting to aid mankind he seems to take no interest in what he is attempting to do aid mankind.
However, that said there are characters who are in essence sprinkled in. Characters like Congressman Lewis, Miss Kenton and some of the characters that Stevens encounters along his journey because they are a touch of reality. They bring into this idealistic would that Stevens and Lord Darlington live in a sense of the real world. The human emotions and concerns that are part of the pursuit of the betterment of mankind are in some form or another kept neat an tidy by the conference of the world leaders but they never go and experience it with society. However, these characters that are sprinkled in have interacted with the society in which whom this idealistic society is attempting to change and help.
Catherine Gill 