1. Child is the Father of Man
Katie
Julia

2. Thesis
Children who have traumatic experiences involving their parents can have trouble becoming stable, well-adjusted adults

3. Arrives in Whistle Stop
Smokey
“He had never touched her, except to shake her hand. He had never held or kissed her, but he had been true to her alone.” (Flagg 349)
Witnesses mom’s death
Oct
Arrives in Whistle Stop
July
Attends Idgie’s trial
Birth
8 years old
Dad is taken away
13 years old
Runs away
Dec
Meets teenage hobo
Jan Death
“Bernice went to live with a neighbor, and Smokey stayed at his uncle’s house. Then, when he was thirteen, he headed down the railroad tracks to nowhere, and never came back.” (Flagg 16)

4. Frank
“[Frank’s] left [eye] was the only one with even a glimmer of human compassion in it.” (Flagg 177)
Dec
Tries to take Stump; Death
Aug
Meets Idgie
Discovers mother’s affair
Birth
Sept
Ruth leaves Frank
Father abuses him
Nov
Marries Ruth;
Rapes her
Nov
Sees Stump for first time
“His father [was] a bull of a man who thought nothing of knocking Frank out of a chair or kicking him down the stairs.” (Flagg 175)

5. Venn Diagram Frank Smokey -poor relationships with parents as children
Mother cheats on husband and Father is abusive
Mother killed and Father arrested
-can’t maintain stable relationships
-runs away
-becomes homeless
-alcoholic
-weary
-keeps to himself
-socially inept
-shy
-abusive
-violent
-psychopathic
-inferiority complex
-have little self-control
-hates women
-insecure
-irresponsible

6. BUT…
Ninny?

7. Discussion Examples
Other characters who lack strong relationships with their parents:
Batman (Batman)
Severus Snape (Harry Potter)
Katniss Everdeen (Hunger Games)
Mr. Crocker (Fairly Oddparents)
Dr. Gregory House (House)

8. Thank You!
Any questions?