Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
What would it take to help Ennis be OK about himself?
Jeff Wrangler:
--- Quote from: ifyoucantfixit on June 06, 2007, 01:46:32 am ---
I dont know if this is completely off topic, but have you ever wondered about the reason for old man Twists
horrible remark...He knew without doubt that it would cut Ennis to the quick? Do you think he was so disgusted by Jacks homosexuality, or so mad at Ennis for not moving up there, maybe blaming him for his sons death, as a result of his lack of movement to the ranch..that he wanted to hurt Ennis for allowing his son to die, even though he was always mean to Jack also..It has always been a tough one to figure out for me. The old mans motivation...
At any rate I thought he may have moved Ennis one way or another, but i wasnt sure which way that might be.
--- End quote ---
Homophobia. He knew very well that Ennis was his queer son's queer lover. In effect it's a verbal gay bashing. Hasn't got anything to do with being angry at Ennis for not moving to Lightning Flat with Jack, or blaming Ennis for Jack's death. As Annie Proulx says, Brokeback Mountain is a tale of the destructive effect of rural homophobia, and that's what we're seeing here.
serious crayons:
::) Here we go again, with a question that's almost up there with sorry/s'alright among BBM controversies.
OMT shows no unequivocal sign of homophobia. He's a mean old bastard for sure, and he knows about Jack and Ennis' involvement ("I know where Brokeback Mountain is"). But he doesn't say one thing he might not as easily say about heterosexual lovers.
In discussing his sons' plans to ditch his wife and child in order to live with another man, his chief complaint is that Jack never followed through. He could have used the help with the ranch.
Even by telling Ennis about the other fella, OMT is showing, in a weird backward way, an understanding and acceptance of their relationship. Again, he's treating them just as he would if a straight couple -- he knows Ennis will be cut to the quick -- and in so doing, he's normalizing their relationship, validating it (though not in a kind way, obviously).
The movie is about, in part, the idea that appearances can be deceiving. That's especially true when it comes to the dads. We're set up to think of Ennis' dad as a good guy ("My dad was a fine roper," "I think my dad was right"), but later learn he was a potentially murderous homophobe. On the other hand, we're told Jack's dad was a jerk ("Can't please my old man, no way," "never taught me a thing, never once came to see me ride") and in the context of this movie and the culture it portrays it's natural to assume that OMT is specifically a homophobic jerk. But surprise!! He's not. The two fathers, in a way, follow opposite trajectories of character development.
I also think it's important that nobody who knows about Jack and Ennis reacts in the way Ennis would expect and fear. Aguirre doesn't fire them. Alma keeps quiet for years. It's not that the movie is trying to show that cultural homophobia is all in Ennis' head -- Earl's murder is a powerful reminder of its very real threat -- but the movie wants to focus on the homophobia in Ennis head, to show how the destruction of rural homophobia affects not only lives but also souls.
I see Mr. Twist as a grieving father, albeit an obnoxious one. In denying Ennis the ashes he's saying that Ennis doesn't deserve them -- he let Jack down, wouldn't commit, wouldn't become part of the family. Jack's ashes are going in the family plot, because Ennis has not earned the right to take a role.
Jeff Wrangler:
--- Quote from: ineedcrayons on June 06, 2007, 02:12:03 pm ---Jack's ashes are going in the family plot, because Ennis has not earned the right to take a role.
--- End quote ---
Jack's ashes are going in the family plot because it's the last act of control by the Stud Duck in the pond over the son he despised. Ennis's worth or right, or lack thereof, has nothing to do with it.
Penthesilea:
--- Quote from: ineedcrayons on June 06, 2007, 02:12:03 pm ---
I see Mr. Twist as a grieving father, albeit an obnoxious one. In denying Ennis the ashes he's saying that Ennis doesn't deserve them -- he let Jack down, wouldn't commit, wouldn't become part of the family. Jack's ashes are going in the family plot, because Ennis has not earned the right to take a role.
--- End quote ---
--- Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on June 06, 2007, 02:49:47 pm ---Jack's ashes are going in the family plot because it's the last act of control by the Stud Duck in the pond over the son he despised. Ennis's worth or right, or lack thereof, has nothing to do with it.
--- End quote ---
I think Jeff is at least partly right here:
"he thought he was too goddam special to be buried in the family plot."
and
"Tell you what, we got a family plot and he's goin in it."
Sounds pretty despiseful to me - of Jack, not despiseful of Ennis. Like Jeff, I think the refusal of the ashes was a final act of showing Jack (and Ennis, too - and even Mrs. Twist) who's the boss/stud duck. Not even in death, OMT could find something good to say about his son, nothing about Jack found his approval.
On the other side, I think Katherine is right in saying, OMT's main accuse is that Jack's plans "never came to pass". That he and Ennis did not lick the ranch in shape and help him. I think he would have been ok with the two living there. Therefore he can't be a total homophobe. I think he did not like that Jack (and Ennis) was/were queer, but he would have silently accepted it, in order to get help.
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: Penthesilea on June 06, 2007, 03:06:47 pm ---
I think Jeff is at least partly right here:
"he thought he was too goddam special to be buried in the family plot."
and
"Tell you what, we got a family plot and he's goin in it."
Sounds pretty despiseful to me - of Jack, not despiseful of Ennis. Like Jeff, I think the refusal of the ashes was a final act of showing Jack (and Ennis, too - and even Mrs. Twist) who's the boss/stud duck. Not even in death, OMT could find something good to say about his son, nothing about Jack found his approval.
--- End quote ---
I can buy that. And it's in character, though it's still not homophobic.
Tell you what, I'm only half committed to the "he denies Ennis the ashes because Ennis couldn't commit" interpretation. But I think it's interesting, and possible. And he does look like a grieving father to me. Even mean old bastards can mourn dead sons.
--- Quote ---On the other side, I think Katherine is right in saying, OMT's main accuse is that Jack's plans "never came to pass". That he and Ennis did not lick the ranch in shape and help him. I think he would have been ok with the two living there. Therefore he can't be a total homophobe. I think he did not like that Jack (and Ennis) was/were queer, but he would have silently accepted it, in order to get help.
--- End quote ---
Right. He probably wasn't running for president of the local chapter of PFLAG, but I think he tolerated their homosexuality. Imagine if he were homophobic, how differently he might have described Jack's plan. "Half-baked notion" is the only negative thing he says about it.
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