“Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café”
Discussion
Buddy Threadgoode dies suddenly in a railway accident, and his death acts as a blow to many people of his family and friends. Among the most affected is Idgie because Buddy is her young brother, and the bond between the two is strong. The mysterious death of Buddy also brings a cloud of despair, especially to the Threadgoode family. As he was crossing the railway line, his shoe gets stuck in the tracks making him get hit by the train hence losing his life instantly. As I mentioned earlier, the relationship between Buddy and Idgie is excellent, and when Idgie learns about the death of Buddy, she is sent into grief that takes long to heal. It casts a shadow over her usually good humor that is liked by many. Idgie is also not willing to spend time with people because this brings to him, the memories of her fallen brother. In most instances, She, therefore, prefers spending time alone in the woods, although this state of solitude makes things tougher for her.
Idgie is emotionally affected by the death of her brother. However, she is not alone since many people are comforting her. For example, her sister Nanny says, “You know, a heart can be broken, but it keeps on beating, just the same” (Flagg 37). These are powerful words of encouragement from Nanny to Idgie. By uttering the above terms, Nanny means that death is natural, and no one can avoid it. Even after it attacks us, we should remain strong because life must continue despite the pain that we may have or maybe undergoing. As per Nanny, Idgie should learn that after the grief, she has a life to live and some other things to accomplish. Nanny is thus teaching all of us how we should accept death and heal fast, then move on even after it snatches our beloved one.
Idgie does not recover quickly from her grief, even after Nanny advises her on how to catch up and move on after the heartbreak. Things cool down for her when she falls in love with Ruth Jameson, a Sunday school teacher from Georgia. Even though feelings develop between the two, Idgie decides to marry Frank Bennet, whom she realizes is abusing Ruth. After she helps Ruth escape, she opens a café in Whistle Stop to support her family, including her unborn child. Opening a café shows how Idgie is a strong woman. It proves how independent she is as a woman and her willingness to help those who need her help, such as Ruth, even after helping her escape from Whistle Stop. The actions of Idgie also teach us how we should stand with our friends, especially when they are in difficult times.
What do the actions of Idgie symbolize in relation to the present world?
Despite being one of the main characters in the novel, Idgie is an embodiment of many things. As a free-spirited young woman, she is representing the strength of a woman and how women should work to support their families. By overcoming violence, racism, sexism, and even death throughout the novel, Idgie proves herself as a true heroine. Her actions should be emulated not only by women but also for those who respect human life and dignity.
Work Cited
Flagg, Fannie. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe: A Novel. Ballantine Books, 2011.