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The author considers the modern banquet with its speaker and entertainment a derivative of the totem feast. In the original custom the symbolism of eating the totem animal indicated directly the aggression. In the modern custom the forces are displaced differently. The eating now carries little of the original meaning. The token of submission to an authority is carried out by listening to a speaker. The rituals connected with this indicate the ambivalence of both the speaker and the audience. These rituals include telling jokes and the toastmaster's introduction: this introduction anticipates the hostilities of the audience and also leads the audience to idealize the speaker. The speaker controls the audience, yet he shows signs of fear. The audience hates the speaker, yet is eager to be led to idealize him. The destruction of the father figure takes place in the entertainment, when the younger members of the group are given an opportunity to act out the parts of the authorities and to destroy the authorities. The function of the feast is fulfilled. The father and sons are reconciled. The father controls his sons and overcomes his fear of them. The sons accept his control, but also destroy him, identify with him and succeed in remaining friends with him.
Author's Abstract.