Idgie's "Real" Identity

Idgie’s Identity Revealed

            After reading the novel Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café and watching the movie Fried Green Tomatoes one could get a good idea of what author Fannie Flagg intended Idgie’s identify to be, or at least so I thought.  I felt overall Idgie was truly a wonderful person and her friendship with Ruth was truly inspiring.  They had a close relationship and exhibited a fine example of what “true” friendship really means. 

            When doing research for this project I learned that my opinion was not the same as others when it came to the analysis of Ruth and Idgie’s relationship.  A review titled Fried Green Tomatoes:  Excuse me Did we See the Same Movie, written by Vickers (1994) implies that Ruth and Idgie were really a lesbian couple even though Ruth may not have been fully aware.  Roger Ebert (1992) says that “ It’s pretty clear that Idgie is a lesbian, and fairly clear that she and Ruth are a couple, although given the mores of the South at the time a lot goes unspoken, and we are never quite sure how clear that is to Ruth” (pp 1).  This implication never really crossed my mind as a plausible theory until I read the review.  I do not believe this was Flagg’s true intention when writing the script I feel that Flagg wanted to convey a story of friendship.  I also believe that Idgie was just a girl who questioned authority and did what she “felt” was right and not what was expected of her. This questioning or defiance also was in my opinion why she felt the need to protect her friends Ruth and Big George. 

Were Idgie’s and Ruth’s Characters Based off of a Real People?

            A blog written by Tracy Reyes titled Fried Green Tomatoes. Blog Spot:  Movies Based off of True Stories (2009) tells that the story of Fried Green Tomatoes was based off of real people.  Reyes (2009) says that “The Whistle Stop Café was purchased by Bess Fortenberry during the depression” (pp 1).  Tracy Reyes describes Bess Fortenberry as an individual that enjoys hunting and playing practical jokes over prissy things (2009).  She tells a story that “On one occasion Bess Fortenberry showed up at a Halloween party in a rented hearse and then stayed up all night playing poker with the boys” (Reyes, 2009).  These depictions of Bess Fortenberry gives us an idea of where Fannie Flagg got the idea of Idgie’s character.  Bess Fortenberry also had a close partner and friend named Sue Lovelace.  Reyes (2009) says that “Bess was more tomboyish and Sue was the complete opposite, very feminine and dainty” (pp 1).  This is a true description of what Ruth and Idgie’s relationships were like and gives us more insight as to how Flagg created the characters that everyone so dearly loves.