What does an English Butler and football player from Wisconsin have in common? comes check it out and you'll see. In Kazuo Ishiguro’s “Remains of the day” the household butler Stevens, displays rather uncanny stoicism during his father’s final moments of his life. During an eventful international gathering at the Estate Stevens’ father dies and in the moment of his passing Stevens, the utmost professional and dignified butler of his time continues with his duties, as Stevens puts it “…I know my father would have wished me to carry on just now.” This leads readers to think “what an asshole” or “I can’t believe this guy. His dad just died and he doesn’t even go to him, or He doesn’t even seem to care, barely gets a tear out.” With such an emotional event happening one must ask themselves “why?” Stevens, as his father once was, is a very professional and serious Butler. To many people nowadays this seems hard to understand because our way of life is so much different then it was in England during the 1920s. Today the people that have maids are usually stereotypically illegal immigrants hired by the rich and paid measly wages as portrayed by numerous movies. However Europe in the 1920s things were different and as it was to be a Butler especially when born into the occupation, as was Stevens, it’s a BIG deal!
As you may or may not have known, via movies, books, etc., Butlers are the most “uptight”, rigid, serious types of people. However Butlers are not the only occupation or persona types that share these character traits. Think about high ranking military types, SOME professional athletes, judges, and many others even YOU! One example I will use is that of Brett Favre. Brett Favre is a professional NFL athlete; he is future hall of fame, super bowl winning, record holding quarterback for the Green bay Packers. On Monday, December 22, 2003 Brett Favre’s father passed away one day before the start of the teams Monday night football game. The game itself was insignificant however Brett Favre has a record going which was at the time 187 straight regular-season games played, 257 and counting today! Instead of going to his families’ side Brett played the game and had possibly the greatest game of his 18 year career throwing 4 touchdowns, 399 yards, with a rating of 154.9! One can imagine the professionalism, the heart and hard iron will to step out on the football field and still play on that kind of level. Brett like Stevens managed to keep his composure even in the face of death to elevate the standard of excellence for that role. Having taught the game of football to Brett as a kid I am sure Brett thought it would have been his father’s wish to have Brett play the game as he did, although I don’t think he would have known he would have played so well!