Matters of the Heart
Matters of the HeartIn Babette’s Feast the first line of a hymn, “Jerusalem, my heart’s true home” creates an underlying motif throughout the film. The hymn indicates that an individual’s home exists within the heart. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus commands his people not to store up for themselves treasures on earth, but to store for themselves treasures in heaven. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). For Babette and Philippa, their treasures are their passions for their personal arts, cooking for Babette and singing for Philippa. The each have the power to go to France to develop their talents, but they see that by developing their talents on earth, they store for themselves treasures limited to earth. As the film progresses, the viewer sees that these women have within their souls the capability to become great artists; however, as the hymn suggests, their true home is not where moth and rust destroy, but in the hope of fulfilling their abilities in heaven.
Of the many artists present in the film, one primary artist, Philippa, chooses to remain at home with her father, sister, and congregation instead of developing her talent as a singer in Paris. Had she become a famous singer in France, she would have been storing up for herself on earth a treasure in singing. She sacrifices the desire of her heart, developing her voice, and as a result adopts the hope of singing for the angels in heaven. Her decision to end her lessons with Achille Papin comes with feelings of anxiety and sadness. She longs to be with Papin, but more strongly desires to please her father. Because of the love she has for her father, she complies with his request, denying both her love for Papin and her voice. In a letter from Papin to Philippa, he writes, “I feel that the grave is not the end. In Paradise I shall hear your voice again. There you will sing, without fears or scruples,...
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