Andrea Lima
Wednesday January 5, 2011
Babette’s Feast
1. Website used: http://goscandinavia.about.com/od/denmar1/f/whereisjutland.htm
Jutland is part of the country of Denmark. It is a large peninsula that separates the North and Baltic seas. It is on the western section of Denmark and it borders Germany in the south. The peninsula sticks out toward the rest of Scandinavia and makes up the mainland of Denmark.
2. Throughout the movie, one’s senses are constantly being stimulated. Even from the opening scenes, there is music playing in the background in keeping with the drama at play. Also, small sounds are audible like horse’s hoofs, the cutting of various foods, things sizzling in pans. Also, when Babette’s is cooking the grand feast, the food is extremely colorful and of varying textures. It is as if one could reach out and actually touch the food being prepared. Also, the facial expressions of the people while eating the feast creates the illusion that the viewer actually tastes the food him or herself.
The French cuisine seems to have transformative powers in that all of the eaters of the feast come away changed. Prior to the feast, the parish members were grumbling and constantly at odds with one another. After eating the feast, the members are all happy and visiting with each other. Everyone has a smile on their face and they even gather around the well and sing together. The feast brought them together and seemed to brush away all their differences. Also, the music in the movie seems to have a healing power. Not only does the music give them pleasure, but it seems to remind each person of the important things in his or her life. It informs the power of sight in that everyone seems to see each other for who they truly are. When listening to the music, all the people see each other in a new light and find great joy and love in one another.
3. When Babette says that she made them happy she is talking about more than just providing a good meal. Before this feast the people seemed to view food as a bland substance that was only important for staying nourished. Tasting, smelling and seeing food was not important. Meals were a time to sit down and quickly ingest the needed nutrients to carrier out one’s work. However, with her feast, Babette seemed to awaken these peoples’ senses. They were now aware of the pleasure and satisfaction that food can bring. This also seemed to awaken their other senses as well. The people greatly enjoyed music after the meal and also were able to realize the importance of each other. Babette made them happy through awakening their senses with her delectable meal.

4. The Christian themes of sin and salvation are extremely evident in the movie. The entire movie is based around two women that are daughters of a respected church leader in the community. Piety is seen as the most ideal quality that any man or woman could hold. The general, for example charms a woman’s mother by showing off his knowledge of religious sayings and his devotion to the Lord. The members of the town are constantly coming to the sisters for religious advice and sort of act in a confessional manner. The idea of coming to faith in contrast to being a depraved sinner is common in the story. Another example of the theme of sin is when Babette states that she intends to serve wine at the meal. That night, one of the sisters dreams of the serpent and burning in hell. This shows this theme of sin and how certain foods were viewed as forbidden and sinful.

5. The majority of the story is set in a community that puts an extremely high emphasis on the immaterial and a low emphasis on the material. Piety is seen as the most important quality and is the focus of the community’s meetings and conversation. The sisters are seen as very beautiful despite their meager wardrobes and possessions. Being frugal and smart with one’s possessions is seen as far superior to flashy belongings. This is contrasted with the ornate life of the general. The general gave up loving one of the sisters in order to pursue a life of luxury and class. However, he is seen reflecting on his life later and judging whether or not he made the right decision. He even states how all of his possessions and clothes are nothing more than petty vanity. I feel that in this movie, immaterial qualities are seen as superior, but Christians are not expected to completely choose one or the other. I think that the movie shows we should not become consumed with the immaterial, but a “treat” here and there is fine. This is shown through the peoples’ immense enjoyment of the feast and the pleasure it brought them. This shows that Christians, while they should not become consumed with the material world, material goods can also bring joy and fulfillment.

6. I think that the Afterword would include a very similar story to the previous part of the story. I think that the relationship between the sisters and Babette would be very similar. I think that Babette would still keep her job as the housekeeper and cook. However, I think that their relationship would be different in that the sisters would give Babette a lot more freedom with her cooking and duties. I think now that they realize how accomplished she is as a chef and how she sacrificed so much for them, they would respect her a lot more and treat her more like family. I think that this gesture by Babette showed her gratitude and how she really desires to be with the sisters more than anywhere else. I think that although she would still act in her same role, the understanding between the two parties as well as respect would be far greater. I believe, overall, there would be a more family-like atmosphere in the house.

Questions for Frederick Meijer Gardens
1. Website Used: http://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_cloves.htm
Website Used: http://www.theepicentre.com/Spices/cloves.html
Cloves were originally grown in the Molucca Islands, which are present day Indonesia and the southern Philippine Islands. Today, large plantations grow cloves in countries such as Tanzania, Madagascar, Brazil, West Indies, and the Caribbean. Cloves are generally ground and have a very potent taste. Whole cloves can be used to “stud” pork and ham. Cloves are also used to give flavor to different game such as venison, wild boar, and hare. Cloves are also used in many spice mixtures like curry powders, mulling spices, and pickling spices. They are also used in Worcestershire sauce. It is very popular in North Africa and the Middle East in meat dishes and rice. Some other uses of cloves are for medicinal usage. It was used originally as an herbal remedy to alleviate toothaches and dental decay in the form of clove oil. Clove herbal tea was also used to alleviate nausea and excess gas. Clove oil is also used to treat fungal infections like athlete’s foot. Cloves have also been used to treat viral and bacterial infections. In tropical areas of Asia, cloves are used to treat cholera, malaria, tuberculosis, parasites, and scabies. Using cloves as a topical agent has also been used to treat acne and ward off insects.

2. Website Used: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=68#historyuse
Website Used: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinnamon
Cinnamon is grown in Sri Lanka, India, Madagascar, Brazil, and the Caribbean. It is also grown in china, Vietnam, and Indonesia. There are two types of cinnamon, Chinese and Ceylon. Cinnamon from Ceylon is a little sweeter and more refined. Cinnamon is used in cinnamon bark, which is a common spice. It is usually used as a flavoring agent. It is used to make chocolate, especially in Mexico. It is also used in many desserts like apple, pie, donuts, candies etc. True cinnamon is used in dishes such as chicken and lamb in the Middle East. Cinnamon can also be used in pickling or can be consumed directly in the form of cinnamon bark. Cinnamon powder is used in many thick soups and drinks.

3. Website Used: http://www.theepicentre.com/Spices/allspice.html
Allspice is grown only in the Western Hemisphere. It is the only spice that is exclusively grown in this place. The evergreen tree produces that allspice berries and is native to the rainforests in South and Central America. There are also plantations in Mexico and parts of Central America that grow allspice but the best kinds come from Jamaica. Allspice gets its name from its smell (aroma). It smells like a variety of spices, including cinnamon, cloves, ginger and nutmeg. Since it smells like so many spices together, it is called allspice. It is also called pimento because the Spanish thought it was black pepper, which in Spanish is called pimiento.