Banter - FINISHED! :)

The art of bantering is something Stevens lacks, but it is a skill he wants to improve. After the death of his former master Lord Darlington, Darlington Hall was sold to an American man named Mr. Farraday. Mr. Farraday uses the English language differently than in the 'old-fashioned' way both Lord Darlington did and Stevens does. Bantering is a theme which holds the novel together, as well as making the novel more comical, and throughout the story Stevens practices bantering. A good example of it is when he meets the locals at the pub the Coach and Horses in Taunton, Somerset (p. 138) This is where the lack of Stevens bantering-skills becomes obvious. The conversation(p. 138) ends up with Stevens expressing his feelings of disappointment as the reaction to his apparent witticism he recieved from the locals was not what he had hoped for .

The art of bantering can also be connected to the theme of butlers and dignity. This is because that if Stevens learns the art of bantering he may please his master Mr. Farraday, and it will make Stevens more professional, according to Stevens himself and his image of 'the perfect butler'. During the journey Stevens undergoes personal change, and bantering has a great deal of importance for the processs. He considers the modification necessary for his employment as well as a significant pre-requisite for his profession.

Another detail of importance is the fact that the theme bantering opens up as well as ends the novel. In the beginnig of the novel (p.14) Stevens and Mr Farraday are having a light conversation. As they speak of Miss Kenton, Mr Farraday involves witticsm and Stevens reaction is total embarrassment. Stevens is not used to those kind of words from his employer, though he says: 'The most embarrassing situation, one in which Lord Darlington would never have placed an employee'. At the end of the novel though, Stevens sees the bantering as a start of his future life. Stevens makes the conclusion of bantering as the solution of pleasing his master and becoming the 'perfect' butler.