Introduction
Fried Green Tomatoes is a 1991 comedy dram film written by Carol Sobieski and Fannie Flagg. The film tells the story of a friendship between two pairs of women – Ruth and Idgie during the Great Depression of early 1930s as well as that between Evelyn and Ninny in the 1980s. It happens that Ninny knew Idgie and Ruth and she tells of the stories about these two women to Evelyn who is in her middle ages (Avnet, 1991). The central issue in the film concerns the murder of Ruth’s abusive husband Frank after which numerous accusations on the murderer follow. As such there are numerous comparisons and relations of issues, characters, experiences, and upbringing all of which impact on relativity and perception. Albert Einstein’s 1905 theory of relativity has ramifications beyond the sciences. It states that laws of physics are the same everywhere and as such, it is used to explain the behavior of objects in space and time. The theory is used to explain different phenomena such as light bending due to gravity, existence of black holes and even planet Mercury’s behavior in its orbit. The theory of relativity means that there are no “absolute” frames for reference and that each time one evaluates something it is always in relation to something else. The upbringing and experiences of characters in Fried Green Tomatoes during the Depression Era is different from those of characters in the 1980s and each needs to be considered in light of its period and the social issues of that period.
In light of Einstein stating that laws of physics being the same for all observers regardless of their speed, there are numerous gender issues in the film, which show the interconnectedness of women. On one hand, there is the series of tests to the loyalty between Idgie and Ruth’s friendship to each other. Idgie is a tomboy who possesses a fiery free spirit while Ruth reveals a well-mannered demeanor. Fast forward to the 1980s and there is an almost equal relationship reflecting differences in age and mannerisms between Ninny and Evelyn yet occurring in a different social context 50 years later. Ninny Threadgoode is an 83-year old woman who matches in the character of Ruth because she exudes wisdom, calmness, and ability to handle life in a manner similar to Ruth. Evelyn on the other hand is depicted as being in her 40s and needing guidance from an older or wiser and more courageous woman in much the same manner as Idgie. Evelyn and Ninny meet while the latter is a nursing home patient with Evelyn showing signs of an unsatisfactory marriage. In all these contrasts show that the women remain close-knit to fight numerous challenges among them playing second fiddle to men as exhibited by the troubled marriages by both Ruth and Evelyn.
It is clear that food and a homely atmosphere hold a vital place in the lives of the two pairs of women though each has to be considered in light of its era. Throughout history, connections about food and cooking invoke women. The roles associated with these issues are considered “feminine” and as such, “feeding people becomes almost an exclusive privilege and domain of women”. Ruth and Idgie are presented in this very role of feeders in the film as they run the Whistle Stop Café. This depiction shows that the women fit into traditional gender roles. The women growing up in the 1930s had been brought up under strict gender roles where they have to be directly involved in the “feeding” and do so in an elaborate manner. On the other hand, Evelyn and Ninny are depicted as meeting while the former is visiting her husband’s mean-tempered aunt at an Alabama nursing home. Again, the central point is the depiction of women in a domestic setting which his time round is different. It is not at the maternal homes of the characters as is the case with Idgie and Ruth’s friendship but this time social changes have allowed for more diversity in family interactions. Indeed the friendship between Evelyn and Ninny is that of total strangers unlike that between Idgie and Ruth who were sister in law. However, of importance to note is that real and meaningful friendships flourished in both cases.
The huge age gap between Ninny and Ruth, contrasts with the relatively close age gap between Ruth and Idgie. These differences in ages mean differing perceptions and experiences. For instance, Ruth and Idgie having had close ages probably experienced similar hardships, challenges, and ambitions. They were both in phases of life where they needed to establish themselves in a manner to overcome the largely patriarchal power that overwhelmed and undermined women of their time. As such, Ruth and Idgie’s engagement in food and staring a care was a bold way to not only take care of Buddy Jr. but also to become economically independent. Although Idgie had obtained assistance to set up the café from her father papa Threadgoode, she combines with a fellow woman to gain respect, and power adequate to challenge political and social systems using a traditional feminine role (food and cooking). Indeed, the film depicts Idgie as having some masculine tendencies- drinking whiskey, telling tall tales, and playing poker. Ruth on the other hand is the perfect female. Besides her submissive demeanor she “dotted swiss organdy dress and her auburn hair pulled back with a red
ribbon” (Niewiadomska−Flis, 166). Idgie’s coercion and heavy, domineering influence over Ruth shows the excessive male domination in the 1930s.
Relatively, Ninny and Evelyn are also struggling in a male dominated world in the 1980s although the settings are different since the exercise of patriarchal power and adherence to gender roles are subtle. Ninny offers to help a fellow woman escape from a depressing marriage even though they were strangers. The two do not team up to exude “feminine power” as Idgie and Ruth since they live at a time when women had acquired more rights and could engage in almost everything that men could. They take the angle of genuine friendship between strangers to show “feminine” power. Evelyn agrees to take care of Ninny in what comes across as some relative compensation to show that unity between women had not dwindled.
The setting depicted in the 1930s had to show some aspect of racism because it was rife in the American society during the Great Depression. Although Idgie and Ruth act as the perfect friends with each being a genuine friend to the other the reactions from the African American characters –Big George and Sipsey indicate some extent of racism. The two men are devoted to Idgie, their boss in an overwhelming manner. Ninny notes that Big George “watches over Idgie night and day”. He also acts mute and this extreme humility seems illogical and compelled by some social or external push- racism where blacks were to treat whites with respect and deep humility especially when they served as domestic workers. The high regard with which the African American servants hold Idgie and Ruth improves the women’s confidence and experiences with the malefolk. It propels the two women to see men as conquerable and hence the setting up of the café and its aggressive management. Evelyn and Ninny in contrast live at a time when they experience civil liberties and great women rights. Racism was no more in the 1980s. Male-dominated white women lacked African American male servants that could lord over. It is against such a background that Evelyn has to contend with support from an elderly lady when she is facing a troubled marriage.
The film paints a picture of a rustic, lulling, and Klan-ridden Alabama where character are innocent but they are compelled to give in to harsh racial realities. Although it seems hidden, the complexity of black-white relationships was evident in the Southern states at the time (1930s) and place (Alabama) which is the setting of the film. The few words spoken by the black characters speaks of the horrors of and fears of being black in Alabama and other Southern states in the 1930s. The commission on interracial cooperation notes that 3,798 lynchings occurred between 1889 and 1930 mostly involving black people. Although white employers such as Idgie were genuinely affectionate of their black employees, the general atmosphere between the races could not allow such affection to be explicitly displayed or reciprocated. These experiences cultivated among the women the perception of racism and blatant insensitivity. The scenario in the 1980s is quite different. Experiences of equality by Ninny and Evelyn had taught them to value each other and other people as well as become sensitive and positive to human sufferings, which is best defined by the deep friendship that the two strangers developed.
Conclusion
Fried Green Tomatoes is a 1991 comedy drama film tells the story of a friendship between two pairs of women – Ruth and Idgie during the Great Depression of early 1930s as well as that between Evelyn and Ninny in the 1980s. The theory of relativity means that there are no “absolute” frames for reference and that each time one evaluates something it is always in relation to something else. The 1930s and the 1980s periods were marked by great changes among them racism in one and equality and freedom in the other. As such there are numerous comparisons and relations of issues, characters, experiences, and upbringing all of which impact on relativity and perception. Women stick together under traditional roles of food, cooking, and other feminist issues with their motivations being to overcome male domination. Issues of race, quest for economic freedom spur women in the1930s to work hard and stick together. Equality between genders seems unachievable but racism has been dealt with in the 1980s and this gives Ninny and Evelyn more ground to stick together. The upbringing and experiences of characters in Fried Green Tomatoes during the Depression Era is different from those of characters in the 1980s and each needs to be considered in light of its period and the social issues of that period
References
Avnet, J. (Director). (1991). Fried Green Tomatoes [Motion Picture].
Niewiadomska−Flis, U. (n.d.). Negotiating Gender with a Spatula: Foodways. Warsaw Journal for the Study of the United States , 165-176.
Vickers, L. (2006). Fried Green Tomatoes. Excuse me, did we see the same movie? Jump Cut, A review of contemporary media, 1994. , Pp. 25- 30.
