On Butlers, Architects, and Lawyers: The Professionalism of 'The Remains of the Day' and of 'The Fountainhead'

Abstract

Several commentators have explored the relationship of a fictional character of the butler, Stevens, in Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel, The Remains of the Day, to the proper professional role of the lawyer, since the novel was published. The professionalism of Stevens is here compared to that of another fictional character, the architect, Roark, in Ayn Rand’s novel, The Fountainhead, as they might be applied in the legal profession. The relationship of empirical research on lawyers’ values, wellbeing, and decisionmaking preferences to these divergent approaches to professionalism is then explored. A diversity of approaches to professional role is proposed as most appropriate, for modern lawyers.

Note: Originally published in Journal of Law, Business and Ethics. Permission to be published by Journal of Law, Business and Ethics.

Keywords: Kazuo Ishiguro, Remains of the Day, Ayn Rand, The Fountainhead, lawyers, professionalism