Theme in Babette's Feast

               One important theme in Babette’s Feast is the concept of change verse tradition. This theme comes up a number amount of times in the story starting with the suitors. First Lorenz comes to the village and challenges the tradition established by Phillipa and Martine’s father. Then Achille Papin comes and takes it a step further. Achille Papin challenges the tradition in the small community by not only being a Roman Catholic outsider but also attempting to win Phillipa’s love. Phillipa’s father has “brainwashed” her too much and she rejects his love and even makes her father break the bad news to him.

                The big breaking of tradition in the small community of Jutland comes later when Babette asks the sisters if she can prepare a feast. Trying to please Babette’s first and only request, they accept. When they find out about the extravagance of the meal, they completely regret their decision and have a meeting with the town in order to discuss the news. Their ways and tradition are challenged but the sisters and the town agree to break the tradition in order to please Babette.