The Artistic and Religious Nature of Food in ‘Christ in the House of Martha and Mary’


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Akgün B.

Representations of Food in British Literature, International Symposium, İstanbul, Türkiye, 15 - 16 Kasım 2007, ss.79-84

  • Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Tam Metin Bildiri
  • Basıldığı Şehir: İstanbul
  • Basıldığı Ülke: Türkiye
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.79-84
  • İstanbul Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

A. S. Byatt’s short story “Christ in the House of Martha and Mary,” based on Diego Velàzquez’s painting Kitchen Scene with Christ in the House of Martha and Mary, revolves around the relation of a young painter and a young cook. Food is thus associated with art, and, the subject matter of the artist being of a religious nature, with religion. The young painter discerns a fellow artist in the young cook, Dolores, who is not happy with the reception and appreciation of the food she cooks. Finally, the meal at the end of the story, which is reminiscent of the Eucharist, depicts food as knowledge. The initiation of the young cook, as an artist, is at last complete. That the enlightenment has been mutual and that Dolores has also contributed to the art of the painter, especially with her observation and command of her senses while cooking, can be noticed for it is not only the painter who provides for the meal. While the painter provides wine, Dolores provides a spicy tortilla, replacing the wafer in the Eucharist.

For the full text, see: https://www.academia.edu/803254/The_Artistic_and_Religious_Nature_of_Food_in_Christ_in_the_House_of_Martha_and_Mary_.