Friday, May 7, 2010
The Good Woman That Came From France
From reading this short story something that I really liked was how Babbette is portrayed in the short story as being different. Everything from Babbette seemed to scare the people of Berlevaag. Since the beginning it seemed like Babbette was always on trial. The sisters kept a watchful eye on here since she was catholic and French. I really like how Dinesen creates Babbette to go into a community where people are so close-minded and only think about god. She is really different she has lost her family and doesn’t really mention god. To me she is the black sheep of the town. Through the story we start to see how much the two sisters start to think that Babbette is a good woman who just wants to earn her money honestly. But it isn’t towards the end of the novel that I really do believe that Babbette is an honest woman. As we know she won ten thousand francs in the lottery. “A dinner for twelve at the Café Anglais would cost ten thousand francs” (57). After I read this I knew Babbette was a good person. She has so much care for these people that she has spend an entire fortune on making them a special dinner. The two sisters were so shocked at the fact that she had made this meal with no regrets that they said, “you ought not to have given away all you had for our sake” (57) but Babbette didn’t care. She is the model for everyone around to be a true artist one must make sacrifices. Even thought Babbette comes from a broken family she saw that the two ladies needed love and care just like she did and she gave it to them by working hard and being there for them. The two sister didn’t have a significant other and Babbette gave them the love that they deserved. In the end we see how much they appreciate Babbette for all that she has done that they even say she will “enchant the angels.”
Fulfillment
Isak Dinesen’s Babette’s Feast proves that people need religion to believe in something perfect outside of themselves. On earth everything seems incomplete and people are left not fully satisfied. The two sister’s Phillipa and Martine, although beautiful never gets to be with their lover. It seems to bother the men more than the sister’s whom view we do not really see. Even though General Loewenhielm had everything he wanted, he still began to worry about his immortal soul. Phillapa’s lover states in a letter, “As I write this I feel the grave is not the end, in paradise I shall hear your voice again” (30). In heaven he is reunited with the thing he desires the most. Heaven brings people full circle and satisfies their needs and desires.
The general declared in his noble speech, “In our human foolishness and short-sightedness we imagine divine grace to be finite...But the moment comes when our eyes are opened, and we see and realize grace is infinite” (52). Only in heaven can a person feel complete and truly satisfied. When we get caught up in the world, we can’t see beyond the physical. The two old ladies for example hated each other for so long but somehow forgot their differences while at the special dinner for the late Dean’s birthday. The dinner somehow for a moment brought the satisfaction of heaven in the small yellow house of the two generous sisters. The general thinks, “This woman is now turning a dinner into …a love affair of the noble and romantic category in which one no longer distinguishes between bodily and spiritual appetite or satiety” (51) The general, the man who felt spiritually hungry, felt fulfilled when eating the food prepared by Babette. The Dean’s, father of the two sisters, saying goes, “The only things which we may take with us from our life on earth are those which we have given away” (51). The things we give away is our talent and that is the only thing we are allowed to take with us to heaven. This is why Babette is able to use her talent to create a sort of heaven on earth. Phillapa’s lover desires most to be reunited with the sound of her voice. Just to hear her special talent again will satisfy him.
The general tells his lover as he parts, “In this world anything is possible” (54). People must believe this because it is comfort to the sadness of never seeing a loved one again. The general said this to his beloved Martine as he left and promised that he would be with her if not physically, spiritually. Being with her in spirit and therefore believing in God makes their reunion possible.
The general declared in his noble speech, “In our human foolishness and short-sightedness we imagine divine grace to be finite...But the moment comes when our eyes are opened, and we see and realize grace is infinite” (52). Only in heaven can a person feel complete and truly satisfied. When we get caught up in the world, we can’t see beyond the physical. The two old ladies for example hated each other for so long but somehow forgot their differences while at the special dinner for the late Dean’s birthday. The dinner somehow for a moment brought the satisfaction of heaven in the small yellow house of the two generous sisters. The general thinks, “This woman is now turning a dinner into …a love affair of the noble and romantic category in which one no longer distinguishes between bodily and spiritual appetite or satiety” (51) The general, the man who felt spiritually hungry, felt fulfilled when eating the food prepared by Babette. The Dean’s, father of the two sisters, saying goes, “The only things which we may take with us from our life on earth are those which we have given away” (51). The things we give away is our talent and that is the only thing we are allowed to take with us to heaven. This is why Babette is able to use her talent to create a sort of heaven on earth. Phillapa’s lover desires most to be reunited with the sound of her voice. Just to hear her special talent again will satisfy him.
The general tells his lover as he parts, “In this world anything is possible” (54). People must believe this because it is comfort to the sadness of never seeing a loved one again. The general said this to his beloved Martine as he left and promised that he would be with her if not physically, spiritually. Being with her in spirit and therefore believing in God makes their reunion possible.
A Selfless Gesture
Imagine how it feels investing time in obtaining something, and then finding it in yourself to allow others to make use of it. There are very few people in this word who would give up something that they've desired to another individual of group of individuals. How would you describe someone who would do such a thing? A lot of people would call that person stupid, but I'd like to describe them as selfless and altruistic. In Isak Dinesen's Babette's Feast, Babette, a maid and "undercover" cook from Paris, comes upon a large sum of money but doesn't use it for a well deserved trip to Paris, but rather used it on two woman, Martine and Philippa, and their friends.
When I look at Babette in this story, it makes me think of Ms. Shen Te from Bertolt Brecht's The Good Women of Setzuan. It seems that in Brecht's play and in this Dinesen's story, there is a common them, which is a "good" person. For those who haven't read the story, Babette enters the house of two sisters as a maid and cook. After sometime trying, she wins a sum of money that she puts into making a meal or feast for friends. When she is asked by the sister if she is going back to Paris, she replies, "No...And how will I go back to Paris, Mesdames? I have no money...A dinner for twelve at the Cafe Anglais would cost ten thousand francs" (56-57). In response, the lady's say, "...you ought not to have given away all you had for our sake" (57).
After looking the conversation held between characters in this story, I finally understand what makes a "good" person. Put others before yourself. When you put others first, you avoid running into a lot of problems like being egocentric, stealing, coveting, putting others down, etc. Like any other people, Jesus, Martin Luther King, Gandhi, or any one else you can think of, in history deemed admirable, Babette put others before herself. As we learned later on in the story, Babette finds it in herself to make a place for those who sought to spitefully use her in her heart.
So, to you, readers and persons reading this blog: When you consider the people around you with whom you interact, look in the mirror and ask yourself the question, "What kind of person am I?". If you find yourself being the opposite of Babette, Shen Te, or any of the many other people mentioned in this blog, make a change for the better and advance humanity because overtime, we have fallen by the wayside.
Works Cited
Dinesen, Isak. Anecdotes of Destiny ; And, Ehrengard. New York: Vintage, 1993. Print.
When I look at Babette in this story, it makes me think of Ms. Shen Te from Bertolt Brecht's The Good Women of Setzuan. It seems that in Brecht's play and in this Dinesen's story, there is a common them, which is a "good" person. For those who haven't read the story, Babette enters the house of two sisters as a maid and cook. After sometime trying, she wins a sum of money that she puts into making a meal or feast for friends. When she is asked by the sister if she is going back to Paris, she replies, "No...And how will I go back to Paris, Mesdames? I have no money...A dinner for twelve at the Cafe Anglais would cost ten thousand francs" (56-57). In response, the lady's say, "...you ought not to have given away all you had for our sake" (57).
After looking the conversation held between characters in this story, I finally understand what makes a "good" person. Put others before yourself. When you put others first, you avoid running into a lot of problems like being egocentric, stealing, coveting, putting others down, etc. Like any other people, Jesus, Martin Luther King, Gandhi, or any one else you can think of, in history deemed admirable, Babette put others before herself. As we learned later on in the story, Babette finds it in herself to make a place for those who sought to spitefully use her in her heart.
So, to you, readers and persons reading this blog: When you consider the people around you with whom you interact, look in the mirror and ask yourself the question, "What kind of person am I?". If you find yourself being the opposite of Babette, Shen Te, or any of the many other people mentioned in this blog, make a change for the better and advance humanity because overtime, we have fallen by the wayside.
Dinesen, Isak. Anecdotes of Destiny ; And, Ehrengard. New York: Vintage, 1993. Print.
Satisfaction at its Best
"Then Martine said: 'So you will be poor now all your life, Babette?'
'Poor?' said Babette. She smiled as if to herself. 'No, I shall never be poor. I told you that I am a great artist. A great artist, Mesdames, is never poor. We have something, Mesdames, of which other people know nothing.'" (58)
Isak Dinesen’s short story, Babette’s Feast, reminded me of something very important. In his short story, Dinesen tells about an old French cook whom, after losing everything, finds herself at the doorstep of the home of two elderly sisters in a small Norwegian town named Berlevaag. Babette was never really understood. She didn’t speak their language very well, if at all, and she came from a place completely different than the sisters were used to. After winning the lottery along with 10,000 francs, she decides to spend it all on a dinner for 12 in honor of the Dean’s hundredth anniversary. She goes all out and prepares a delicious French dinner for them all and is more than happy to do so. At her dinner, everyone is themselves. They do things out of the ordinary for them. They talk and laugh and reminisce about the past. Babette’s Feast changed things for them. It brought out who they truly are. And, it brought out who Babette was – an artist. No one had ever understood her until the dinner was over and they saw her in her element. Although she was tired and restless, she had a great satisfaction that she accomplished what she wanted to. She was a great artist.
Dinesen’s story reminded me of my middle and high school years at The Chinquapin School and the history behind the school. One man (and his wife, of course) stumbled upon an idea after having learned so much somewhere else. They introduced this idea to a group of kids that had never been introduced to anything like this before. The founder “went all out” when starting the school. He wanted it to be a place where teenagers could be themselves and not have to hide behind those students in Public School who weren’t as willing to work for a better future. And although it was a hard task, it was what he wanted to do and he was satisfied when he accomplished it. Just as we as seniors will be satisfied with our accomplishments come graduation day. We’ll be tired and restless, but we’ll have a great feeling of satisfaction that we finished what we worked so hard in the 6 or less years that we’ve been here.
Babette’s Feast was a great reminder of what I’ve been working so hard for these past 6 years. The way Babette gave up so much just to do one thing for others and herself and the fact that she felt a great satisfaction by doing so made me remember everything that I’ve given up to be at Chinquapin. Although it may not equate to 10,000 francs, to me the things I gave up were of great value. Babette’s Feast reminded me of the great person that Chinquapin made me become. I became a great person and will continue to grow as time goes by.
Works Cited:
Dinesen, Isak. "Babette's Feast." Anecdotes of Destiny ; And, Ehrengard. New York: Vintage International, 1993. Print.
Babette's Feast Argumentative Essay
Read and think carefully about the following quotation. Then write an essay in which you refute, support, or qualify Dinesen's claim. Make sure to use appropriate evidence from literary, historical, or personal sources to develop your argument.
We tremble before making our choice in life, and after having made it again tremble in fear of having chosen wrong (52). -- Isak Dinesen
Humans are terrified of the unknown. We want to be in complete control of what is happening, and when it comes to making a choice, there is no control over the outcomes of our decision. But should we tremble? Or should we trust our decisions, and feel comfort?
It is hard to do, but we should feel comfort, and trust our decisions. If we truly want the best for our future, we should trust that we made the best decision possible, because if you have doubts about your decision, the you will definitely find something wrong with your decision. In Babette's Feast, Dinesen presents the two main characters, sisters, Martina and Philippa, with the opportunity to help a young french woman, Babette, with her escape from France by harboring her. By harboring her, they gained a helping hand around their house, and also, had the most delicious french feast they had ever had. In this feast, old friends shared their feelings for each other, and people made revelations to their friends. Originally, the sisters had doubts about taking her in and on allowing her to cook. It turned out to be one of the best decisions in their lives. But they hadn't let her cook french food until twelve years of knowing her. When they saw a turtle as an ingredient, one of the sisters went to ask her future guests to not say anything about the dinner if they found it nasty. They didn't trust their decision, but it ended up being great. And if they had trusted it, it would have been much greater.
FDR once said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” If we don't fear the outcomes of our decisions, the decisions can turn out to be even better than they would have been if we hadn't trusted them. If Martina or Philippa had trusted Babette's french cooking, they would have enjoyed great french feasts more often, and if she showed excitement for the feast rather than fear of what was being cooked, she would have saved herself the trouble of worrying. We should trust the decision to trust our decisions and see where that takes us in life.
Works Cited
Dinesen, Isak. Anecdotes of Destiny ; And, Ehrengard. New York: Vintage, 1993.
We tremble before making our choice in life, and after having made it again tremble in fear of having chosen wrong (52). -- Isak Dinesen
Humans are terrified of the unknown. We want to be in complete control of what is happening, and when it comes to making a choice, there is no control over the outcomes of our decision. But should we tremble? Or should we trust our decisions, and feel comfort?
It is hard to do, but we should feel comfort, and trust our decisions. If we truly want the best for our future, we should trust that we made the best decision possible, because if you have doubts about your decision, the you will definitely find something wrong with your decision. In Babette's Feast, Dinesen presents the two main characters, sisters, Martina and Philippa, with the opportunity to help a young french woman, Babette, with her escape from France by harboring her. By harboring her, they gained a helping hand around their house, and also, had the most delicious french feast they had ever had. In this feast, old friends shared their feelings for each other, and people made revelations to their friends. Originally, the sisters had doubts about taking her in and on allowing her to cook. It turned out to be one of the best decisions in their lives. But they hadn't let her cook french food until twelve years of knowing her. When they saw a turtle as an ingredient, one of the sisters went to ask her future guests to not say anything about the dinner if they found it nasty. They didn't trust their decision, but it ended up being great. And if they had trusted it, it would have been much greater.
FDR once said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” If we don't fear the outcomes of our decisions, the decisions can turn out to be even better than they would have been if we hadn't trusted them. If Martina or Philippa had trusted Babette's french cooking, they would have enjoyed great french feasts more often, and if she showed excitement for the feast rather than fear of what was being cooked, she would have saved herself the trouble of worrying. We should trust the decision to trust our decisions and see where that takes us in life.
Works Cited
Dinesen, Isak. Anecdotes of Destiny ; And, Ehrengard. New York: Vintage, 1993.
It Doesn't End Here
“Ah! How you will enchant the angels”(30).
In Babette's Feast by Isak Dinesen, there seems to be a feeling among the people that they have faith that the other will be successful and valued far beyond what they think. The quote above is used twice in the short story. Achille Papin says this about Phillipa, referring to her beautiful singing. Then on page 59, Phillipa says this herself to Babette, referring to her cooking skills. Dinesen uses a few different ways, besides this quote, to show that the characters, Achille and Phillipa, prophesied that the others will do well in life and after.
The two characters Achille Papin and Phillipa, especially Achille Papin, show they have faith that the other certain characters will do well by giving them excessive compliments. When Achille first hears Phillipa sing, Dinesen says that at that point he understood all. This is big hyperbole because how can someone's singing truly explain everything to one. Achille continues to exaggerate his amazement at Phillipa's singing. He even explains how her singing brought him to another world and because of this he, himself, could not even enjoy the kiss from her. He could not remember it. This exaggerated praise shows that Achille believe that her talent could take her anywhere and impressing people won't end even after she is in heaven.
Dinesin shows Phillipa's appreciation for Babette and faith that she will continue to do well in the way he expresses her body movement. He says that she put her arms around her, and she silently looked at her for a moment. This shows that Babette's gift had truly touched her to her heart.
The two characters have one common way to show that they are truly pleased with the other person and believe that they will please others forever. They use the quote above. It shows how that they have faith that this person's gift is so exceptional that people will never get tired of it or not be pleased by it. Achille believes that the gift of singing that Phillipa has will please the angels because it is so pleasant. They even refer to her as an angel herself. Phillip uses the same line that Achille used on her to explain to Babette that her gift is so great that it will please the angels above.
Also, Dinesen uses a theme of being taken outside of yourself when treated to these two gifts. Achille talked about how he was not himself when he kissed Phillipa. He was so caught up in her heavenly singing that he did not remember experiencing it. The brothers and sister who experienced Babette's dinner had the same feeling after that ate her dinner. They could not remember what they had eaten. The did not remember the experience, but they knew that they were changed.
This, among other ways, is how Dinesen shows that and why others think that their gifts are so heavenly and will please the angels in heaven.
Work Cited
Dinesen, Isak, and Isak Dinesen. Anecdotes of Destiny ; And, Ehrengard. New York: Vintage, 1993. Print.
In Babette's Feast by Isak Dinesen, there seems to be a feeling among the people that they have faith that the other will be successful and valued far beyond what they think. The quote above is used twice in the short story. Achille Papin says this about Phillipa, referring to her beautiful singing. Then on page 59, Phillipa says this herself to Babette, referring to her cooking skills. Dinesen uses a few different ways, besides this quote, to show that the characters, Achille and Phillipa, prophesied that the others will do well in life and after.
The two characters Achille Papin and Phillipa, especially Achille Papin, show they have faith that the other certain characters will do well by giving them excessive compliments. When Achille first hears Phillipa sing, Dinesen says that at that point he understood all. This is big hyperbole because how can someone's singing truly explain everything to one. Achille continues to exaggerate his amazement at Phillipa's singing. He even explains how her singing brought him to another world and because of this he, himself, could not even enjoy the kiss from her. He could not remember it. This exaggerated praise shows that Achille believe that her talent could take her anywhere and impressing people won't end even after she is in heaven.
Dinesin shows Phillipa's appreciation for Babette and faith that she will continue to do well in the way he expresses her body movement. He says that she put her arms around her, and she silently looked at her for a moment. This shows that Babette's gift had truly touched her to her heart.
The two characters have one common way to show that they are truly pleased with the other person and believe that they will please others forever. They use the quote above. It shows how that they have faith that this person's gift is so exceptional that people will never get tired of it or not be pleased by it. Achille believes that the gift of singing that Phillipa has will please the angels because it is so pleasant. They even refer to her as an angel herself. Phillip uses the same line that Achille used on her to explain to Babette that her gift is so great that it will please the angels above.
Also, Dinesen uses a theme of being taken outside of yourself when treated to these two gifts. Achille talked about how he was not himself when he kissed Phillipa. He was so caught up in her heavenly singing that he did not remember experiencing it. The brothers and sister who experienced Babette's dinner had the same feeling after that ate her dinner. They could not remember what they had eaten. The did not remember the experience, but they knew that they were changed.
This, among other ways, is how Dinesen shows that and why others think that their gifts are so heavenly and will please the angels in heaven.
Work Cited
Dinesen, Isak, and Isak Dinesen. Anecdotes of Destiny ; And, Ehrengard. New York: Vintage, 1993. Print.
Suspicion
Now I only read a little more than half of the story, Babette’s Feast, but from the reading that I have done I wonder whether she is really good woman? We have any books where the kind the woman has two sides to her that many do not recognize; therefore, I suspecting that she is hiding something from Philippa and Marine, the daughter’s of the Dean.
Now we know that from the letter Achille Papin of Paris sent that she is good woman, but why would a woman be so kind to two younger women and serve them for free. At first Babette appeared to be a beggar, but then to the two sisters she turned out to be a “conqueror”. When the two sisters told her they weren’t going to be able to pay her, she said that she would work for free and she wouldn’t want to work anywhere else. The narrator of this story states that Babette said, “If they sent her away she must die” (31). From the beginning of when they met, Babette showed her faithfulness to the younger woman, only knowing that according to Papin they are good people. Why would she do such things for people that she doesn’t even know? When Philippa has the dream that Babette poisons the older brothers and sister on page 40, it makes me think that Babette is up to something else. After all, she never speaks a word about her past life.
Another question that was brought to my mind was whether or not the two sisters are just using Babette. At the beginning when they first meet, the sisters inform Babette that they are poor and don’t like luxurious things. They said, “The first day after Babette has entered their service… they…explained to her that they were poor and that to them luxurious fare was sinful” (32). But, then they turn around and let her cater their father’s anniversary party after she wins her money. To me, they aren’t as good as they seem either.
Work Cited
Dinesen, Isak. Anecdotes of Destiny ; And, Ehrengard. New York: Vintage, 1993. Print.
Now we know that from the letter Achille Papin of Paris sent that she is good woman, but why would a woman be so kind to two younger women and serve them for free. At first Babette appeared to be a beggar, but then to the two sisters she turned out to be a “conqueror”. When the two sisters told her they weren’t going to be able to pay her, she said that she would work for free and she wouldn’t want to work anywhere else. The narrator of this story states that Babette said, “If they sent her away she must die” (31). From the beginning of when they met, Babette showed her faithfulness to the younger woman, only knowing that according to Papin they are good people. Why would she do such things for people that she doesn’t even know? When Philippa has the dream that Babette poisons the older brothers and sister on page 40, it makes me think that Babette is up to something else. After all, she never speaks a word about her past life.
Another question that was brought to my mind was whether or not the two sisters are just using Babette. At the beginning when they first meet, the sisters inform Babette that they are poor and don’t like luxurious things. They said, “The first day after Babette has entered their service… they…explained to her that they were poor and that to them luxurious fare was sinful” (32). But, then they turn around and let her cater their father’s anniversary party after she wins her money. To me, they aren’t as good as they seem either.
Work Cited
Dinesen, Isak. Anecdotes of Destiny ; And, Ehrengard. New York: Vintage, 1993. Print.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
