“These two ladies had a French maid-of-all-work, Babette. It was a strange thing for a couple of Puritan women in a small Norwegian town; it might even seem to call for an explanation.”

This passage sets up the central contrast of the story and explains the actions of the sisters and their Berlevaag neighbors going forward. Setting up a scenario that defies expectations establishes the ability to change one’s views as one of the story’s main themes.

“But the true reason for Babette’s presence in the two sisters’ house was to be found further back in time and deeper down in the domain of human hearts.”

This line introduces the two flashback sections that follow and also the idea that Babette’s presence is tied to universal qualities that transcend the story’s specific events. It also implies that fate played some part in bringing Babette to the sisters, as her appearance was made possible by a series of coincidences and world events that could not have been predicted.

“And the fair girls had been brought up to an ideal of heavenly love; they were all filled with it and did not let themselves be touched by the flames of this world.”

Martine and Philippa are devoted to their religion, a fact that contextualizes their actions in regard to their lovers, Loewenhielm and Papin. In her youth, Martine does not speak to or of Loewenhielm , who nevertheless falls in love with her. Instead, she chooses to keep her true feelings to herself in service of God. Likewise, Philippa rejects a career in singing after Papin, a Roman Catholic, kisses her, and she never speaks of him again.