"I feel that you have chosen the better part in life. What is fame? What is glory? The grave awaits us all!" (30) says Achille Papin, in a letter informing the sisters of Babette's arrival. Fame is a path in life that we have all contemplated over. So many people want to take that path, some will commit an act of treason in order to share even a spec of the spotlight. Achille Papin has undergone fame and glory through Opera performances, but his prime has passed, and Opera singing is something that has left a bittersweet memory in his mind. A French singer (male voice) and a Norwegian church singing novice (female voice) would of possible renewed Papin's career, and stern back more triumphant fame. But unfortunately Miss Phillipa refused to proceed a Opera career. Perhaps the question should be changed to: what is fame and glory without Phillipa? Nothing. And the sisters Phillipa and Martine, according to Achille Papin, chose the better path, but I say Martine and Phillipa chose a less hurtful path; a path less risk-prone. And when Papin uses the word "better" he is referring more to the level of comfortableness, in my opinion.
We will all meet our burials one day, but this inevitable reality should stop anyone from pursuing their grand-esk dreams.
Dinesen, Isak. Anecdotes of Destiny ; And, Ehrengard. New York: Vintage, 1993.
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I agree with you Luis. It seems that the author of Babette's Feast is trying to let us know that there is no point to having fame, glory, or money when either way we are all going to die. The author mentions the quote above and also uses Babette's example of her spending on the money on a dinner instead of leaving the sisters. Babette prefers to spend the money on making others happy rather than being greedy and keeping it all to herself.
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