Babette's Feast Theme (Isolation)

Isolation plays a critical role in the short story, Babette's Feast.  The setting is a small and isolated village of Puritan people living a very simplistic lifestyle.  The people believe in common Calvinist philosophies like a large dedication to the Church.  In addition, they live in a way that isolates themselves from the sins of everyday life.  For example, when Babette prepares her elaborate feast, none of the people acknowledge the taste and smell of the food.  They isolate themselves from pretty much anything enjoyable on the earth, as well as from any other society around them.  They remain dedicated merely to the church, and isolate that as the main activity of every day.  For these reasons, it is clear that isolation is a common recurring theme in Babette's Feast.