Wednesday, February 9, 2011
In the novel, "Fried Green Tomatoes" by Fannie Flagg, I think she has definetley made the setting so important and developed it so well that it is almost like a character. The setting in the book has a lot of unique qualities to it, just like a character would have. Some of these qualities include racial segregation, the country, small towns, family roots, and overall a time period that is so very different from the society we live in today. For example, when Mrs. Threadgoode says, "Everybody was always staying at the Threadgoode house. One summer, Momma had this big fat Baptist preacher, who was in town for a camp meeting, staying with us, and when he was out somewhere, the twins went into his room and got to playing in a pair of his trousers." (26). Although this quote doesn't specifically describe the setting, I think that it helps us to understand the setting that the characters are living in a little better. The fact that the Threadgoode family is so big, and welcomes anyone into their home, makes you put the puzzle pieces together that they are a family from a small town, since they are so carefree, and kind to everyone. Without the country setting, the story wouldn't be the same at all. Mrs. Threagoode, and all of the Threadgoodes, wouldn't have personalities like they do without the country setting either. I also think the Whistle Stop Cafe characterizes the setting very well. For example, when Mrs. Threadgoode says, "I remember the first time he [Smokey Lonesome] ever came in the cafe. I was having a plate of fried green tomatoes, and he knocked on the back door, looking for food. Idgie went in the kitchen and pretty soon she came back in with this poor fella that was filthy dirty from riding the rails, and told him to go into the bathroom and wash up and she'd give him a bite to eat." (134). I think this characterizes the setting because it lets us know that at the Whistle Stop Cafe, anyone was welcome. It didn't matter what race you were, anyone would get served. This shows that the Whistle Stop Cafe was a small business, in a small town, because you'd never get away with letting a colored person eat in your restaurant in the city back in those days. So, it helps us really picture the setting in our mind, and picture the town of Whistle Stop, Alabama to understand it a lot better.
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I think that you're right about how the setting let you know that anyone was welcome. I think that having Idgie welcome anyone at the cafe really helped create the setting. Having the sheriff warn her that she could get in trouble for giving food to colored people, and he still doing it develops her character, in a way that wouldn't be possible without the setting being in this time period, in the cafe. The setting does a very good job of developing the characters, and the characters do a great job of developing the setting. I think the setting and the characters work together, in a way, to get the main point of the book across.
ReplyDeleteI think you did a really good job of pointing out that Flagg does an awesome job of point out the characteristics of the town, and she does a good job of characterizing the setting. However, I honestly do not think that the setting has played an important role so far in the novel.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you when you say that the cafe is more like another character in the book because the setting of the cafe was developed so well. There were so many important events that happened at the cafe that made it what it was. Such as when Ruth and Idgie went against the norm and sevred african americans food from the cafe, even thought they had to eat out back. Most people in town didn't like it but it made the cafe more open and friednly towards everyone.
ReplyDeleteI totally and completely agree with your post. I agree that Flagg does an AMAZING job at showing how caring and trusting the Threadgoode family is, it's definitly not like that now. And I think that is what makes Idgie so willing to serve and help everyone at her cafe. If she had grown up n a family that was very sold and closed off, then she probably wouldn't be so nice to the customers.
ReplyDeletelivelaughlove, you rock! This is a wonderful post! Your quotes were creative and thoughtful! Nice job!
ReplyDeletekonsweyla, your response is exactly the thing I am looking for. I see evidence that you really thought about and considered what livelaughlove was saying! Nice job!
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