Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
Topic of the Week 1/07: Did Ennis know early on that he was in love with Jack?
moremojo:
No. He didn't have enough self-awareness at that point to recognize and name such a feeling. The story shows him evolving over a period of decades into the acknowledgement of who he is both as a loving and a sexual being.
Brokeback_Dev:
--- Quote from: moremojo on July 30, 2007, 09:39:54 am ---No. He didn't have enough self-awareness at that point to recognize and name such a feeling. The story shows him evolving over a period of decades into the acknowledgement of who he is both as a loving and a sexual being.
--- End quote ---
Why then in llater years, did Ennis stopped seeing Jack as often as he once did? I mean he was living a lonely alone life with nobody, except maybe his girls occasionally. Its proven by the Thanksgiving "Jack Nasty" scene when he tells Alma he doesnt see Jack that often. and also when Cassie ran into him in the diner. Apparently he didnt see her anymore either
It breaks my heart when he turns Jack away after his divorce was final. It could have been some sweet life.
Scott6373:
--- Quote from: brokeback_dev on July 30, 2007, 09:50:18 am ---Why then in llater years, did Ennis stopped seeing Jack as often as he once did? I mean he was living a lonely alone life with nobody, except maybe his girls occasionally. As proven by the Thanksgiving "Jack Nasty" scene and also when Cassie ran into him in the diner.
It breaks my heart when he turns Jack away after his divorce was final.
--- End quote ---
This is one of the reasons I think that Ennis' emotional devleopment didn't realy start until Jack died, and Junior came to him about her wedding. Look at the questions he asked her.
What we saw in Ennis, when he recieved the postcard, and up to he point that Junior came to him, was grief, pure and simple, along with a great deal of self-pity and an increase in his self-loathing. His reaction to Juniors news, and the subsequent moment with the shirts was really the beginning of Ennis emotional blossoming.
Brown Eyes:
I think the answer might be slightly different for story-Ennis vs. movie-Ennis. I think both versions of Ennis definitely were in love with Jack very early on. I think film-Ennis became smitten with Jack during that very early bar scene right after their meeting with Aguirre. But, the question of when Ennis identified the emotion as love is more tricky. I agree that film-Ennis probably started really identifying the emotion as love around the time of the reunion (even if he would be reluctant to admit to the word "love" etc.). But at the same time, it's hard to interpret what his emotions were as he and Jack were descending the mountain. Maybe his brooding moment, sitting out in the field just prior to Jack's lasso trick and all his subsequent angst were meant to indicate that Ennis was getting closer to understanding that his emotions were about love. I think it's easier to believe that story-Ennis definitely knew his emotions were about love at the time that they came down from the mountain.
moremojo:
--- Quote from: brokeback_dev on July 30, 2007, 09:50:18 am ---It breaks my heart when he turns Jack away after his divorce was final. It could have been some sweet life.
--- End quote ---
Someone on the old IMDb board the other day (yes, there are still occasional edifying posts on that board) opined that Ennis accepting Jack's offer would have been tantamount to admitting that both he and Jack were homosexual (or were at least involved in a homosexual relationship). As long as he could rationalize their relations as "this thing" that takes hold of them, he could deal with it somewhat, but was confronted with fear and loathing when the truth was pushed too close to his consciousness (note his reaction when he learns of Jack's trips to Mexico). The poster went on to state that Jack eventually realized the hopelessness of the situation, but it took him a tragically long time to do so.
It took Jack's death to force Ennis into conscious awareness of the truth of his heart...only, sadly, it was too late for Jack to then be a part of that. As Scott wrote above, there is hope in knowing that Ennis at least at last has acknowledged his capacity for love and the importance of loving.
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