Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Bigred24:Post #2
In the book Fried Green Tomatoes, I believe Fannie Flagg developed her setting, the cafe, as a character. This is shown when Dot Weems says, "Idgie just got her brand-new Philco radio at the cafe, and says anybody wanting to hear "Amos 'n' Andy," or any other program, is welcome to come in and need not order anything to eat" (46). This proves that the cafe is developed like a character because the cafe is given a description. People come to the cafe just to hang out with friends, listen to the radio, and have a good time. The Whistle Stop Cafe is unlike other cafes because it is more personal. Ruth and Idgie know their customers and usually insist on providing them with free food. The cafe is also developed as a character when Fannie says, "Ever since Idgie had put the picture of Miss Fancy the Elephant up at the cafe, Onzell and George's youngest child, Naughty Bird, had been fascinated"(151). How Naughty Bird reacted to the picture in the cafe proves how the cafe is a character. The cafe influenced people, especially Naughty Bird. The cafe was an important part in peoples lives and after Naughty Bird saw the picture of the elephant that is all she talked about.
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There is more than just one setting. Just make sure you take that into consideration when you think about the setting becoming a character. While the cafe does a lot of "character" because of all the things that have happened there, it isn't exactly a character because it doesn't affect other actual characters in the novel.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the fact that the cafe is an important part of the books' setting, but there are more settings than just that one. Besides the cafe, the Nursing Home where Mrs. Threadgoode stays is also an important setting. That setting is in present day and is where Mrs. Threadgoode met Evelny. She taught Evelyn a lot of valuable life lessons and helped her get through a tough time in her life. It is also where she tells all of her stories to Evelyn and without hearing those stories it would be difficult to understand the book.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that the cafe is a very important place in the story, most of the story takes place there. And I agree that the Rose Terrace Nursing Home is very important. But part of the setting is the time period. Fried Green Tomatoes takes place in a racist time and it's in the south, so that is very important too. And the fact that it was during the Great Depression is pretty important. For Ruth and Idgie to open up their cafe and serve to the community while most people couldn't afford it was major.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great thread! Nice work everyone! Bigred24, you've done a great job of explaining why you feel the setting is another character. I like the way you worded it!
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