Article’s

This paper examines self-deception as a psychological coping mechanism in Kazuo Ishiguro’s An Artist of the Floating World (1986) and The Remains of the Day (1989). Focusing on the protagonists Masuji Ono and Stevens, the study investigates how both characters reconstruct and reinterpret their past experiences to mitigate feelings of guilt, shame, and moral responsibility arising from their complicity in historical and political failures associated with the Second World War. Drawing upon Leon Festinger’s theory of cognitive dissonance, alongside theories of narrative identity and unreliable narration, the research explores the ways in which memory functions as a defensive and reconstructive process rather than a neutral record of past events. Through a comparative textual analysis, the paper demonstrates that Ono and Stevens employ selective memory, strategic omissions, rationalizations, and narrative evasions to preserve coherent self-images in the face of personal and historical disillusionment. While Ono exaggerates his historical significance to justify his actions as a wartime propagandist, Stevens suppresses personal agency by retreating into an idealized notion of professional dignity. Despite their differing cultural and social contexts, both characters reveal a common psychological pattern in which self-deception serves as a means of protecting the self from existential anxiety and identity collapse. The study argues that Ishiguro’s use of unreliable first-person narration exposes the complex relationship between memory, guilt, and self-preservation. Ultimately, the novels suggest that self-deception is not merely a moral weakness but a universal survival strategy employed when individuals confront painful truths about themselves and their participation in flawed historical systems. By comparing these two works, this paper highlights Ishiguro’s nuanced exploration of human vulnerability and the enduring need for psychological consolation in the aftermath of personal and collective trauma. Keywords: Kazuo Ishiguro, self-deception, cognitive dissonance, memory, unreliable narrator, An Artist of the Floating World, The Remains of the Day, narrative identity.