- For other uses see Butler (disambiguation)
The butler is a senior servant in a large household. Usually the butler is the most senior staff member, although in the great houses of the past, the household was sometimes divided into departments with the butler in charge of the dining room (including the wine cellar) and pantry, and sometimes the entire parlour floor, and a housekeeper who was in charge of the whole house and its appearance. In this case the butler may have been either subordinate or equal to the housekeeper. In modern houses where the butler is the most senior worker the title Head of Household Staff is sometimes given.
Responsiblity and influence
Traditionally, the butler was hired by the master of the house but usually reported to the lady of the house. In the largest of households the butler was head of a strict service hierarchy and held a position of power and respect. Such butlers engaged and directed all junior staff. Butlers were addressed by last name by their employers, their children and guests, but as Mr. Surname by fellow servants and retainers and tradespersons. These butlers did very little in the way of physical labour; they officiated in service rather than actually serving, for example, the butler was at the door to greet and announce the arival of a formal guest, the door was actually opened by a footman, who would receive that guest's coat and hat. The butler "helped" his employer into his coat, which had been handed to the butler by a footman.
The butler engaged the footmen and assigned their duties. Footmen reported directly to the butler; the first footman (or head footman) was deputy butler and filled in as butler during the butler's illness or absence. In a smaller household female servants and kitchen staff were also directly under his management. Further, in a smaller household the butler may have acted as valet for his employer as well.
In times past, butlers earned their position by working their way up the service ladder. Today, however, there are butler schools; the top graduates may earn USD 50,000 to start.
For many years butlers were always male and this remains the usual case. There are, however, female butlers and they are sometimes preferred; an example would be in some Islamic cultures where it is unacceptable to have males working intimately with females in these circumstances.
The butler is also a traditional role in the performing arts and has taken on iconic status; it can perhaps be considered a stock character in film and theater where a catch phrase is the butler did it!
Famous fictional butlers
Famous non-fictional butlers
See Also
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