Narrative of aging and disease in Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day

Despite the centrality of aging and disease in Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day, these themes have received limited critical attention. This study fills that gap by analyzing their portrayal through the characters of Mr. Stevens, his father, and Miss Kenton. The protagonist, Stevens, navigates a transition into old age, confronting physical decline and cognitive struggles akin to those experienced by his father. This self-awareness generates deep unease and fear for his future. Lord Darlington's suicide, stemming from his diminished social standing in later years, intensifies Stevens' existential crisis. In response, Stevens embarks on a journey to reconcile his anxieties about aging and disease. Through his reflections, Stevens achieves a new self-recognition, marking the novel as a Reifungsroman. From the perspective of literary gerontology, this study examines Ishiguro's representation of aging, highlighting its significance within the narrative and Ishiguro's broader philosophical engagement with aging. Ishiguro invites readers to reconsider aging not as mere decline but as a transformative phase offering opportunities for reflection, growth, and the rediscovery of purpose. By doing so, the novel enriches our understanding of later life, framing it as a stage filled with profound potential and meaning.