Confused Self-identity

Kazuo Ishiguro is a distinguished contemporary Japanese-British writer and has enjoyed great prestige in the world since he was young. He is called one of the "Three British Literary Migrant Giants" together with Salman Rushdie and Vidia Naipaul. He grew up in England and received typical British education, and therefore his creation is inevitably influenced by immigration status and western thoughts. He has published seven novels up to now, and the former six novels won the award in the world. This paper studies Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day, which won the Booker Prize in 1989. This novel takes place between two world wars, and sets in British typical Darlington manor. It uses diary style to describe an English butler Stevens, who suffers inner bewilderment and confusion when facing the change of era and master, has to rethink himself in the trip. Taken the protagonist’s identity construction process as a main line, combined the novel’s time background, both domestic and abroad, this paper depicts his character and inner world, analyzes its self-identity confusion causes and concrete manifestation as well as the reflection on himself.This paper first analyzes the causes of protagonist’s twisty self-identity, both internal and external, from family influence and social status, and then elaborates the concrete manifestation of confused self-identity through the protagonist who is bounded by dignity, thoughts, emotion and profession. Meanwhile, this paper expounds his confusion to self-identity problem through changes from era and master and protagonist’s inner conflicts and shaky faith. Finally, combined with the meaning of travel in literature, it analyzes Stevens’inner change and reflection on his self-identity in his travel journey.Identity problem has great values and time significance. In the globalized world today, with the political, economic and cultural mingling, people are faced with more and more opportunities and challenges, and their identities also turn to be more and more diverse. So, the orientation of our identity is especially important. People live in the global village, and it is worthy to us to explore how to reasonably control self-identity. Only when we know ourselves correctly and accept society properly without losing self and drifting with the stream, can we control ourselves in various cultural conflicts.