Duck lake story
Is that a metaphor? What's the meaning behind the story?
shareIt's just a tall tale meant to entertain and tease.
share
MovieChat Forums > Fried Green Tomatoes (1992) Discussion > Duck lake story
It is a tall tale meant to tease but I think in the movie it has a little more meaning. In the book it's just one of MANY tall tales Idgie tells so I assume it's meaningless but its repetition in the movie always made me think there was something behind it.
I always interpret it as a metaphor for Ruth and Idgies relationship. Idgie froze like the lake after her brother died, but she was carried off (and saved) by Ruth, the flock of ducks.
I know there is absolutely no indication that this was the intention, but two times the story is told (once to Smokey and once to Ruth near the end) that beautiful tragic romantic music is playing.
To me the tall tale is just telling Ruth and Idgie's story.
Remember Buddy told that story to Ruth moments before he tragically died? Ruth was on her deathbed when she asked Idgie to tell it to her one more time just before she passed.
shareIt's told numerous times: Buddy to Ruth and Idgie; Idgie to Smokey; Idgie to Buddy Jr. (repeatedly); and finally, Idgie to Ruth. It's a shared story among loved ones. Buddy shared with his two best girls. Idgie shared it with close people in her life. It's like a familiar, old blanket that always brings comfort. Ruth wanted it to be the last thing she ever heard, coming from Idgie.
---
We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.