Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
"I was supposed to control the weather"... Jack and the Wind
starboardlight:
--- Quote from: Front-Ranger on June 22, 2006, 12:08:55 am ---I was thinking about the runny nose scene, but he also looks out the window that other time, I think both he and Alma look out the window together. It's like a little ritual, wash hands, glance out window, dry hands on butt.
--- End quote ---
yep. three kitchen scenes (runny nose, postcard, and thanksgiving showdown), and in all three, Ennis takes a peak out the windows. As a matter of fact, all three scenes are very similar structurally. Alma is there at the corner, Ennis enters, look through the window, they have a brief exchange, and Ennis rushes out of the kitchen leaving Alma there.
serious crayons:
Good one, Nipith. I guess whenever Ennis is in any room near a window (or even when he's not, as on the tar-spreading crew), we should be alert for thinking-of-Jack signs!
Brown Eyes:
--- Quote from: latjoreme on June 22, 2006, 12:19:07 am ---... head off to the back of the house to wring it out.
--- End quote ---
LOL! Yup. It's fun to see this "controversial" issue re-introduced.
;) ::)
And, yes, Nipith, it's really interesting to note the similarities in those scenes!
ruthlesslyunsentimental:
I come upon a thread here about the harmonica and I posted a response. atz75 responded to my post by telling me about this thread and suggested that I re-post my comment over here... so here I am...
I think the harmonica continues the Jack as Wind metaphor. It's a wind instrument that only plays when someone blows wind into it. Jack plays "He Was a Friend of Mine" a couple of times -- foreshadowing his own death.
I think Ennis' comment about the harmonica breaking in two is symbolic of Jack's death and the fact that he was broken in two... half of his ashes in Texas and half of them in Lightning Flat.
I'm new here so if this has been mentioned before...
Penthesilea:
--- Quote from: latjoreme on June 22, 2006, 12:03:16 am ---Oooh, good one, F-R! Is that the scene with the runny-nosed girls, or the one where Alma says "Ennis, do you know someone named Jack?"
And speaking of that postcard scene -- this may not be the thread for it, but what the hell -- I'm always amazed at how well Ennis keeps his composure when Alma says that. Just calmly finishes washing his hands, finally says "Maybe ... why?" Is he afraid to reveal anything untoward? Afraid to get his hopes up? At the very least, I think it's interesting that when telling Alma about his summer on Brokeback he obviously not only didn't give details but never even mentioned the name of the guy he worked with. What are your thoughts?
--- End quote ---
I think keeping ones composure in such situations is easier for the more quiet folks. It takes some seconds before he reacts, so he wins a short time to tkink about it. Surely not an unusual behavior for Ennis and Alma is used to it. And Ennis is used to not expressing his thoughts and emotions.
Another stategy to avoid an immediately answer is to pretend you didn't understand the question. So the other person has to repeat and you win a few seconds to prepare a nonchalant answer. That would have been my choice in this situation. But only if I hadn't a heart attack at the very moment ;)
On Jack's name: maybe he mentioned Jack's name once or twice, but Alma either forgot it or didn't draw any connections to Brokeback summer because Jack is a fairly common name.
Hmmm, could be, but somehow I have the feeling that Ennis indeed never mentioned Jack's name. And what does that say about Ennis' and Alma's relationship before their marriage and during the first years? There's no way I would not have known the name, had Ennis been my husband. (probably I would have known the name of every single sheep two days after my husband's return ;) )
--- Quote from: ruthlesslyunsentimental on June 27, 2006, 01:49:17 am ---Jack plays "He Was a Friend of Mine" a couple of times -- foreshadowing his own death
--- End quote ---
You sure? I have never heard this :o
--- Quote ---I think Ennis' comment about the harmonica breaking in two is symbolic of Jack's death and the fact that he was broken in two... half of his ashes in Texas and half of them in Lightning Flat.
--- End quote ---
Another sad one :'(
--- Quote ---I think the harmonica continues the Jack as Wind metaphor. It's a wind instrument that only plays when someone blows wind into it
--- End quote ---
Yes, the harmonica fits good. The harmonica's tones are sometimes similar to the wind. It soughs (howls?) like the wind.
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