Where's the proof that Ninny and Idgie aren't the same person?posted7 years agoby45replies I haven't read the book so I am only talking about the movie. There's rather a large debate about Ninny and Idgie being the same person or not. Can anyone really prove that they were two different people?
Fried Green Tomatoes. It tells the story of a Depression -era friendship between two women, Ruth and Idgie, and a 1980s friendship between Evelyn, a middle-aged housewife, and Ninny, an elderly woman. The centerpiece and parallel story concerns the murder of Ruth's abusive husband, Frank, and the accusations that follow. Aug 19, 2011 This Site Might Help You. RE: Is Ninny Threadgoode really Idgie Threadgoode in fried green tomatoes? Im just sooo confused, she knows all the conversations between Ruth and Idgie, and that Sipsey killed frank bennet, and then at the end when evelyn went to Ruth's grave she found Idgies note, and it hinted that ninny is idgie, but ninny claims she was married to cleo threadgoode?
If they were different then why did Ninny smile like that at the end? She started to act weird before Evlyn asked if Idgie was still alive. Who's to say that Ninny didn't confess to her true identity because she wanted Evlyn to figure it out on her own? There's no proof that Ninny wasn't Idgie. She may have wanted to tell the story from a third person point of view rather than use her own identity. And we never saw Ninny during the flashback scenes.
Ninny was never around with Idgie and Ruth yet she knew every detail of their life together. That would not be possible if she was a different person. Another factor is that Ninny married and had a child at around the same age as Evelyn was at the time (in her 40's). Ruth died at 37 and that's where the story ended. Idgie was still single when Ruth died which means Idgie must have married around 40.
And back in those days not many women married at such a late age. So is it just a coincidence that both Ninny and Idgie weren't married yet at 40? This is the one detractor to the movie for me. I haven't even read the book, but watching the movie I cannot ignore other facts presented that completely contradict the idea of Ninny being Idgie.
For one thing, Idgie married her brother? If the filmmakers wanted to imply they were the same person they could have just said Ninny was a sister of Idgie's and eventually married. That would eliminate the contradictions but still tie Ninny into the story.Also, another good point someone mentioned on this thread was Ninny's reveal of Sipsey being Frank Bennett's murderer.
If Ninny were Idgie she would have already known this happened and not need Sipsey to tell her this on her death bed.I mean yes it is possible Ninny created an elaborate hoax to trick Evelyn but what for? Why would she state certain things the way she did (the crush on Buddy, marrying one of Idgie's brothers, Sipsey revealing that she murdered Frank)?Personally I do not buy the idea that Ninny and Idgie were the same person. It doesn't make sense. Also, it can be assumed that Idgie became the caretaker of Buddy Jr once Ruth died. I am pretty sure she would consider him her son, so why would Ninny mention only having one child?I honestly think the allusion at the end was added at the last second to add more mystery to the film. However, it does not make sense to me and I do not interpret it as Ninny being Idgie. If anything I see it as adding further mystery to the identity of Idgie as just this wondering/nomad like figure.
Also I could not buy Idgie settling down and marrying a man. It just doesn't fit her character imo. For me, it´s clear Avnet changed the book and IDGIE AND NINNY ARE THE SAME PERSON.The whole thing about her crush on Buddy, Frank´s death and more are a hoax.The smile Ninny gives to Evelyn is more elucidating than anything.FrannyFine, this ponts are really great:'Ninny was never around with Idgie and Ruth yet she knew every detail of their life together. That would not be possible if she was a different person. Another factor is that Ninny married and had a child at around the same age as Evelyn was at the time (in her 40's).
Ruth died at 37 and that's where the story ended. Idgie was still single when Ruth died which means Idgie must have married around 40. And back in those days not many women married at such a late age. So is it just a coincidence that both Ninny and Idgie weren't married yet at 40?' I haven't read the book, but I can understand why those who HAVE read the book might not care for the implication that Ninny and Idgie are the same person in the film. Since I've seen the film and love it, and I'm not familiar with the book, I have to say I like the ambiguity at the end of the film.
My feeling is that Ninny and Idgie are meant to be the same person, but Ninny never actually admits this to Evelyn. She prefers to let it remain an intriguing mystery. I've tried to find proof in the film that they are not the same person, but I was unable to. I looked for Cleo in the wedding scenes, the Threadgoode brother that Ninny claimed to be married to, but couldn't find him. Perhaps I didn't look hard enough, I don't know, but the only brothers I could find were Idgie's favorite brother Buddy, and Julian, the brother who teased Idgie about wearing a dress and then years later as an adult helped to rescue Ruth from her abusive husband.
I assume Cleo does appear in the book, but in the film, I couldn't fine him. To me at least, his presence in the film would tend to confirm that Ninny was telling the truth about being married to him. But like I said, maybe he IS in the film somewhere, I'm just saying I couldn't find him. I just watched this for the first time in a long time. When I was younger I never noticed this idea that they could be the same, but having just finished it, the ending of the film is clearly trying to suggest that.
Strange that a fresh jar of honey shows up on the same day that Ninny comes back to Whistle Stop. You'll also notice that after SHE points the honey out to Evelyn, she doesn't go to investigate it with her. She steps away, as if she already knows everything going on over there. The knowing glances make it clear they are the same person.There are clearly things throughout the movie such as Ninny being told about what really happened to Frank Bennett that don't add up, but the ending is clear, to me.However - In the book, Ninny and Idgie are totally different people. The book ends differently, and Ninny is present in the story (unlike in the movie, she is conspicuously absent in all the flashbacks).
Idgie was alive at the end of the movie because she was 'Ninny'. Evelyn didn't need to ask to meet Idgie because she already had met her.she was 'Ninny'. When Evelyn said 'maybe we'll see her someday' she was playing along with Idgie pretending to be 'Ninny'. That's why she smiled like that.Right before that she said, 'I feel better cuz all these people will live as long as you remember them'.She still remembers Idgie and therefore 'she is still alive charming bees and selling honey.' , but this is not to be taken literally. She lives in her memories and will remain alive in others memories now that she has shared them with Evelyn. Evelyn is 'playing along' with that in mind, but she does not think Idgie is literally alive.Also, when Evelyn first arrives at that scene, Ninny says something to the effect of, 'I don't know what to do.
For the first time there is no one for me to take care of'. If Idgie were still alive she could take care of her like she was previous taking care of Ms.
There has been a lot of speculation among viewers of the film about the final scene, in which it seems apparent that Ninny Threadgoode and Idgie are the same person. When Evelyn couch finds a note and a jar of honey on Ruth's grave, Ninny gives her a 'knowing look' and Evelyn takes on a look of understanding.
However, the final scene is not a definitive statement that they are the same. Evidence throughout the movie shows the separation between the characters, and scenes are listed below: 1. Ninny states in the nursing home during her first scene that she was practically adopted by the Threadgoode family, not born directly into it. Ninny Threadgoode also states that she married Cleo Threadgoode, another one of Idgie's brothers. However, Cleo Threadgoode never appears by name in the film, and neither does Ninny, so the confusion is understandable. During the wedding scene near the beginning, a child-aged Idgie is on her brother Buddy's back while Ninny says in voiceover that she (Ninny) had always had a crush on Buddy, rather than 'Idgie always had a crush on Buddy.'
Even if she was trying to pretend that she and Idgie were separate people, it doesn't seem likely that Idgie would describe herself as having a 'crush' on her own brother. Towards the end of the movie Ninny says that Sipsey confessed on her deathbed the full truth of Frank Bennett's death. Idgie knew the truth from the beginning, so Sipsey would have no reason to confess if Ninny were Idgie. Otis, Ninny's friend and roommate, was also present at Sipsey's confession, meaning that she would know both Idgie and Ninny if they were separate people. Mrs Otis' adult daughter confirms that her mother has been Ninny's neighbor for many years. Even though we never see Ninny and Mrs Otis interact in the film, it seems likely Mrs Otis would have noticed that her long-time friend 'Idgie' was suddenly calling herself 'Ninny.' The implication that Ninny and Idgie are the same person, therefore, is impossible based on several other points in the film.
The book makes it clear that Ninny and Idgie are different people, as Ninny has died and Evelyn is visiting her grave when she finds the jar of honey and the note on Ruth's tombstone. A final scene confirms that Idgie now runs a roadside stand with her brother Julian (the boy who made fun of Idgie at the wedding), where they sell honey while Idgie entertains visitors with her tall tales. The above is one interpretation of the film, whereas below offers another with understanding of creative story adaptation for film. Out of respect for everyone's right to their own opinions, it has been left to offer the reader the option to decide for themselves which version makes more sense to them.
This is one sign of the amazing skill of the writers of the movie - over 20 years later, people are STILL trying to figure out the truth of the story. This is an attribute of truly creative storytelling. In the film adaptation of this book, Idgie and Ninny are indeed the same person. Using the points made above, the other interpretation of Idgie and Ninny being the same person is addressed below: 1.
As far as being adopted, this is a turn of phrase in Idgie's creative storytelling to Evelyn. Idgie keeps Buddy's memory alive by, as the saying goes, spinning a good yarn (which most likely influenced the author's choice of the name 'Threadgoode'). 'Practically adopted' is just another way of telling Evelyn that she was part of the Threadgoode family and establishes a close familial connection, which is why she would know so many details of Ruth and Idgie's lives.
Cleo does not appear in this movie because the theatrical Ninny IS the theatrical Idgie. Ninny is trying to establish a deep connection to the Threadgoode family, otherwise her intimate knowledge does not quite make enough sense. She does not want Evelyn to figure out at the beginning of her tale that she is actually Idgie.
Cleo being left out was done to make the idea that Idgie and Ninny are one in the same only slightly more obvious. For all we know, 'Cleo' is a completely made up name for her husband's real name. In the book Ninny and Idgie are indeed separate, but making them the same person makes the story more intriguing, and confusing, for the 3rd party - the viewer of the movie. Ninny says she had such a crush on him because young Idgie loved her brother so much that when he died she never got over it.
As Buddy's 'pet since the day she was born,' she was completely heartbroken. This is a creative way to express her love for Buddy and implies how strong it is as well as keeping Evelyn unaware of Ninny's true connection to Buddy as his little sister.
( You have to understand that what is happening on screen is always directly linked to the narration, and when Ninny said she had 'such a crush' on Buddy, Buddy is carrying Idgie around on his back and they are the focus of the scene.) 4. When Ninny says that Sipsey confessed on her deathbed to herself and Mrs.
Otis, this is just another creative way for Ninny to tell Evelyn the story and explains why she knows exactly what happened to Ruth's husband. It's just a creative cover story.
Evelyn wouldn't be able to 'fact check' Ninny's story because she was not there and no one is alive who was (especially after Mrs. Otis dies), so who can argue with Ninny's claim that it was a deathbed confession and not something of which she already had direct knowledge? Evelyn simply trusts that what Ninny is telling her is the truth, but that does not mean that it is actually true. She never second guesses Ninny by going to Mrs. Otis would notice if Idgie suddenly started calling herself Ninny. But only if she was present to hear the story. However she is not.
She's never seen interacting with Ninny. One can assume the name 'Ninny' was completely made up for the story being told to Evelyn and to make the truth and fiction harder to separate.
This would be another tribute by Idgie to her brother Buddy. (Another interpretation of the name change is that as soon as Idgie settled down, she became a different person than young Idgie, and so gave herself another name to distinguish her younger, wild, carefree self from her older, settled, married self. In that case, Idgie and Ninny would be the same person to Mrs.
Otis anyways.) As you can see, all of the points can be interpreted in another way which confirms that Ninny is in fact Idgie. This was done because an old woman telling a younger woman a story about two other women who lived in the 1930's is not nearly as interesting as one of those women growing old and concealing her identity in order to tell Evelyn the great story of the lives of her two greatest loves - Buddy and Ruth.
This is why the scene at the end has Evelyn and Ninny exchanging a look of knowing when Evelyn discovers the note on the the grave, because Evelyn JUST figured out that Ninny IS Idgie. Evelyn continues to play along with Ninny's creative storytelling by asking 'Maybe we'll see her today?' As she looks at Ninny, who playfully returns 'Maybe.'