The Two Stories

In stories of Babette's Feast, by Isak Dinesen, and Short Friday, by Isaac Bashevis Singer, it can be very easy to pick and point out the many differences that they have with one another, but there are several similarities that can be found throughout stories. One of those comparisons are religion point of views. It is very apparent in both of the stories how religious matters are an enormous importance in the characters lives. In Short Friday religion is mentioned everywhere. The first thing that was brought up about religion is the effort that Shoshe, Shmul-Leibele wife, took to study the Pentateuch. Throughout the story many rituals are expressed from the couple. Likewise in Babette's Feast the family is very much religious as well. The father called the Dean was the leader of a small Lutheran religious sect with a faithful following in the small town. His daughters, Martine and Philippa, were named after Martin Luther and Luther's friend Philip Melanchton. Both of the stories also bring up that after life there is Paradise, in other words heaven, and also that the what goes on in the earthy life does not have any effect in Paradise . In Short Friday "An angel of God had come to guide Shmul-Leibele …his wife..., into Paradise. This brings up that although the couple had mistakes before their death they are still going to Paradise. Paradise was shown in Babette's Feast when the family's maid creates a dinner and the daughters were amazed by the talents of the maid, which she long lost recognition of as well as those in her hometown. Philippa embraces the maid and assures her that her art is not lost, because in paradise she will be all God meant her to be. It is clear the in Paradise no one is every judged but only loved. Like the many similarities comes the many differences and one huge one is the difference in the wealth that are in both stories. In Babette's Feast the family was very much high class and in Short Friday, Shmul-Leibele and Shoshe only survived on Shmul-Leibele poor tailoring business. But with this big difference it is hard to avoid the similarity in between it. Although both stories material goods are different both express a deep love for those around them. Short Friday and Babette's Feast are to amazing stories that were a delight to read.