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Why was Lureen attracted to Jack?

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serious crayons:
If only I were always as logical and practical in choosing my mates as we're crediting Lureen with being!  :laugh:

Scott6373:
I think she hooked up with Jack just to piss off daddy

malina:

--- Quote from: LauraGigs on July 17, 2007, 01:05:15 pm ---This is a great question. I have a lot to say about this but must be brief at the moment... the main reason IMO?

She had a big birthright coming to her: the Newsome family business, which she intended to hold on to and run. Although it may not have been foremost in her mind at the moment, she would need a spouse who would help her in that regard without taking it all over for himself (as many macho Texans in the 60s might tend to do).

Jack picks up her hat, yet stays in the bar —> helpful, but essentially passive. Just what she needs for the long term.

(And so she then sees if he can satisfy her more short-term needs as well!   ;D  )

--- End quote ---

Ohh... this is clever, Laura! And rings true...

LauraGigs:

--- Quote from: ineedcrayons on July 17, 2007, 01:15:59 pm ---If only I were always as logical and practical in choosing my mates as we're crediting Lureen with being!  :laugh:

--- End quote ---

I'm not saying 100% of her decision was cold and pragmatic — far from it. You can tell as they dance that she's falling hard! Jack has all the surface qualities: good looks, gallantry, fun, sensitivity, et cetera.

But I'm just saying that even as our conscious minds are doing one thing (falling hard in her case), the subconscious is at work too, planning ahead. (I always think of when Ennis fusses with the tent — 'tent don't look right' — even though he's not supposed to be sleeping there!)



Also, the theme of struggle between free will and outward (parental) control means many fictional characters act in a way that's a combination of loyalty/emulation and rebellion.

Jack: Lived several states away. Didn't let dad crush his dreams. = Rebellion
        Rode bulls like his dad. Returned home every year. = Loyalty/emulation

Junior: Wanted to move out of the house, in with Ennis = Rebellion
           Married young like her parents, stayed in town, involved family in wedding = Loyalty/emulation

In Lureen's case, she's going to fall right into the family plan of carrying on the Newsome business. But she's too high-spirited to let them completely dictate her personal choices. So I guess I agree to some extent that her choice of Jack seems to clash with what the Sr. Newsomes would have preferred. (But maybe LD would be obnoxious and put down anyone she married; we don't know.)

serious crayons:
That sounds right.

And it's true, we do tend to get attracted to people -- or at least marry people  ::) -- who seem to fit in with our long-term plans.

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