Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe

by Fannie Flagg

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What are the characteristics of Sipsey?  

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Sipsey Peavey is a black woman who has worked for the Threadgoode family since she was only ten years old. The Threadgoode’s don’t know where Sipsey came from, but Ninny Threadgoode once stated, “You never know where colored people come from.”

Sipsey started off working as a nanny, taking care of the Threadgoode children, then later as a cook. She is incredibly devoted to Ruth and would do anything for her. Not only does she take care of Ruth when she has cancer, but she also helps Ruth to die with an overdose of morphine. It is also Sipsey who kills Ruth’s abusive husband, Frank Bennett. Sipsey is a very caring character who not only loves Ruth and the Threadgoode children, but the local children too. It is at Whistle Stop Train Station when Sipsey finally gets a child of her own. A woman there is giving her baby away and Sipsey takes him home and names him George Pullman (after the train carriage).

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