Timing is everything. Time passes unconcerned with our impatience and unyielding to our desires. While in the desired timing, the artist may not see the influence of his or her work, time is capable of reaching far and wide to deliver the intended result. An artist has the ability to pour out a talent, in the hopes of capturing the eyes, ears and hearts of the observer, but the artist has no control over when the impact materializes. In Isak Dinesens’s “Babette’s Feast”, Achille Papin and Babette Hersant, find themselves wanting to inspire love.
These two powerful yet distinctively different artists, unified by a common goal, inspire love in the hearts of sisters Martine and Philippa. Achille Papin was a powerful man of the Opera, adored by many. His passions could reach into the heavens, or fall mercilessly into the darkest depths. His success and fame propelled by his ability to steer the emotions of others, gave him endless confidence. His fearless character and hurried nature left him prone to wild decisions and uninhibited expectations.
In his art he was capable of commanding attention and arousing hearts at will, until his talents fell short when he attempted to woo a pious young Philippa. His eager crooning and bold declarations of desire seemed to have little effect on her and in his exasperation, he fled from her rejection. Time would neither slow nor rush her to feelings of love at his voice. He was led back to Philippa many years later after time had humbled him. Babette Hersant appears as the broken shell of a once great woman.
Desperately seeking shelter with the puritan sisters, Babette offers to work for them for free. At the recommendation of Achille Papin, she has come to them, bringing word of his admiration and respect. Humble and meek in demeanor, she patiently learns the culinary expectations of the puritan home. An uncomplaining servant, Babette serves the sisters in unwearied loyalty. 14 unhurried years pass, while she gently introduces her art into the foods she prepares. Her life in France scarcely spoken of, she lives contentedly woven into the world of the small puritan town.
Both artists initially faced barriers. Achille’s young heart and imaginative antics had a simple goal in mind, to make another’s heart feel love as deep and as instant as his. “Achille’s expectation grew into certainty and his certainty into ecstacy” (Dinesen 193). An artist may have complete control over his intentions, but he cannot bend time to either rush or slow his intended impact. His melodic pleadings were met with equally melodic lyrics of longing. “The world will once more believe in miracles when she and I sing together! (Dinesen 193) Unfortunately for Papin, while his lyrics were honestly meant, Philippa’s heart belonged to her father’s vision of a Godly life.
Babette similarly felt a calling to provoke feelings of love in others. Her request to prepare a French dinner for the puritan townsfolk in honor of their Master’s 100th birthday, was initially met with hesitation, fear and doubt. Babette’s French background frightened the women. She additionally requested to use her recent lottery winnings to pay for the meal and was again met with heavy reluctance. In his youth Achille’s temperament caused him to disappear from the lives of the sisters.
However, many years later, after time had changed his heart, he wrote a humble letter that would insert Babette into the home of the woman he once pursued. In his letter he spoke fondly of Philippa and of her voice, “In Paradise I shall hear your voice again…How you will enchant the angels” (Dinesen 297). The paths of the two artists, intertwine. Martine and Philippa finally relented to Babette’s French dinner offer, and soon they began to feel plagued with uncertainty, guilt and shame, unsure of what Babette might serve to their guests. Ingredients from France arrived and only added to the sister’s fears.
On their father’s 100th birthday, the sisters and the Dean’s followers uniformly agree that they will neither taste nor acknowledge any food or drink they are served. For the sake of their beloved Master’s daughters, all will remain righteous and silent. Prayers floated out across the table as each of them timidly began to eat. Course by beautiful course, bite by wonderful bite, the atmosphere around them began to change. The group that had previously seethed with worry, and bitter resentments, began to share stories freely and to speak to each other kindly.
The sisters who had been consumed with anxiety began to relax. As the meal continued, this spiritual lightening continued, until the group radiated with love for each other. After the feast and a short tranquil time talking to each other, the guests begin to leave. The hard hearted and quarrelsome group that had entered Martinne and Philippa’s home, left as if transformed. When everyone was gone and the sisters were alone once more, Babette exposed herself as a great chef, an artist. She tells them about her life in France, the Cafe Anglais where she was a treasured chef.
She confesses to the sisters that she is once again broke and to their horror she explains that she spent her entire lottery winnings to pay for the feast they had just eaten. When the sisters realized the sacrifice Babette had made for them, and for their father’s celebration, they were overcome with gratitude, humility and love. Philippa tenderly embraced Babette and through her tears she said “In Paradise you will be the great artist that God meant you to be…Ah, how you will enchant the angels! ” (Dinesen 225). It took over 35 years for Achille Papin’s intentions to find Philippa’s heart, and more than 15 for Babette to reveal her talent.
Both artists had extraordinary abilities and each played an important role in the lives of the sisters. While they had no control over the timing of their successes, they each contributed to the success of the other in inspiring love. Achille’s words that seemed to have little effect on Philippa in her youth, had long rested dormant within her heart. Babette’s years of service paved the way for her to prepare such a feast for them, but it was the intertwining influence of both artists, steered by the hand of time, that finally brought their successes.
