Sir David Cardinal Character Analysis in The Remains of the Day

A close friend of Lord Darlington who works with him to gather together important figures in order to attempt to ease relations between Britain and Germany. Sir Cardinal is another example of an earlier generation of aristocrats that are dying off by the 1930s. While their polite and unofficial way of doing politics is falling out of vogue, they still strive to maintain their power and traditions.

Sir David Cardinal Character Timeline in The Remains of the Day

The timeline below shows where the character Sir David Cardinal appears in The Remains of the Day. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Class Difference and Social Change Theme Icon

Over the years, Darlington and his friend Sir David Cardinal gathered a group of people convinced that the situation in Germany shouldn’t go on, people... (full context)

...Who’s Who volume, he apologized for interrupting Stevens, but mentioned that he was godfather to Sir David’s son, Reginald, who was engaged to be married. Sir David had asked Darlington to communicate... (full context)

...resolved to settle the matter as early as possible. An hour later he noticed young Mr. Cardinal alone in the library, so he approached him and announced he had a message. He... (full context)

...tense atmosphere began to pervade it. At one relatively calm moment Stevens spotted the young Mr. Cardinal strolling outside and resolved to try again with his task: if he concealed himself behind... (full context)

Mr. Cardinal responded that he hadn’t had much time to appreciate the surroundings, and now M. Dupont... (full context)

Authenticity, Performance, and Self-Deception Theme Icon

...footmen looked relieved to see him. The atmosphere was now celebratory; Mr. Lewis had retired. Mr. Cardinal began to engage Stevens in conversation, though he had to ask Stevens several times if... (full context)

Mr. Cardinal started up a drunken conversation with Stevens, before a footman told Stevens that Miss Kenton... (full context)

History, Retrospection and Regret Theme Icon

...have been confused. It may have taken place a few months later, when the young Mr. Cardinal arrived unexpectedly at the house. (full context)

The young Mr. Cardinal had, following his father’s death in an accident a few years later, been making a... (full context)

Stevens then went down to Miss Kenton’s parlor to inform her of Mr. Cardinal ’s arrival. She said she was going out that evening, as they had agreed a... (full context)

Upstairs, Mr. Cardinal was eager to hear about Lord Darlington’s guests, but Darlington said it was quite confidential,... (full context)

Upstairs, Mr. Cardinal asked Stevens to get him more brandy; while Stevens suggested that he may want to... (full context)

In response to Mr. Cardinal ’s questions as to whether Stevens had noticed this, Stevens said that it wasn’t his... (full context)

Mr. Cardinal asked Stevens if he was content to watch his lordship go off a cliff; Stevens... (full context)

...did they touch on Lord Darlington, when Stevens mentioned his sadness at the death of Mr. Cardinal in the war. Miss Kenton brought up the unsuccessful libel suit, which she’d heard about,... (full context)