Greatness vs. Restraint

“And yet precisely is this greatness? Just where, or in what, does it lie? I am quite aware it would take a far wiser head than mine to answer such a question, but if i was forced to hazard a guess, i would say that it is the very lack of obvious drama or spectacle that sets the very beauty of our land apart.What is pertinent is the calmness of that beauty, it’s sense of restraint. It is as though the land knows of it’s own beauty, of it’s own greatness, and feels no need to shout it. In comparison, the sorts of sights offered in such places as Africa and America, though undoubtedly very exciting, would, i am sure, strike the objective viewer as inferior on account of their unseemly demonstrativeness." (Ishiguro 28-29)

Commentary: This passage found within the Remains of the Day helps exemplify the idea of Restraint that Ishiguro is trying to implement in his Novel. Restraint is shown with a great amount of personification in this passage alone. "It is as if the land knows of it's own beauty" shows how personification is used. As if the land actually knows of it's own beauty. But this is used to help exaggerate the beauty of the land, and the true respect that the people have for it. Personification is also used to show the restraint in the passage. The land has it's own restraint, "feels no need to shout it" shows how the land can be very great, but it stays humble. Ishiguro uses this as something that a lot of people need to follow. Just because you reach greatness, doesn't mean that you need to blow it way out of proportion.

This passage also traces the basic path to greatness. "Just where, or in what, does it lie?" shows how every person has their own inner greatness, it is just whether or not they have the inner mentality to find it. Then, once the person possibly finds their given greatness, what they do with it and how they conduct themselves truly defines their legacy forever. "feels no need to shout it" shows what the person really needs to do when finding their greatness. Stay within yourself, and don't over extenuate your power.