Front-Ranger posted a link to this post on TOB a couple of weeks ago, but I decided to reprint it in full here because I just referred to it on another thread and got the impression not everybody has seen it. I think it's brilliant.
The rifle symbolizes Jack's and Ennis' fate and future
by - clancypants (Tue Apr 25 2006 15:06:23)
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UPDATED Thu Apr 27 2006 11:02:25
The 30-30 rifle (or a gun, or shooting) symbolizes Jack’s and Ennis’ fate and future.
A gun is mentioned twice without being seen -
1 – Aquirre tells the boys they’ll have a 30-30 on the mountain – he’s setting up their fate, being together.
2 – Jack mentions Lureen or her father may shoot Jack if they find out about him and the rancher’s wife (really Randall) – their fate is sealed, Jack’s death.
Twice we see the rifle get cocked –
1 – Just before they head up onto the mountain, Jack cocks the gun and puts it into its holster – this symbolizes a new life is about to begin for them, a friendship relationship.
2 – Just before Ennis rides off after the first tent scene, Ennis cocks the gun – this symbolizes a new life is about to begin for them, a sexual relationship.
Twice we see that the gun is fired – this symbolizes their future -
1 – Jack shoots at the coyote and misses – his vision of the future – living together - will not be realized.
2 – Ennis shoots the elk and hits – his vision of the future – not living together - will be realized.
Twice we know that the gun was fired, but we don't see it -
1 - Ennis tells Jack that Ennis killed the coyote - this symbolizes Ennis giving Jack one thing that Jack wanted - friendship.
2 - Ennis kills a coyote after he finds the slaughtered sheep - this symbolizes Ennis giving Jack another thing that Jack wanted - a sexual relationship.
Jack did not get his vision of the future; Ennis gets his vision of the future - but Ennis is willing to give Jack what Ennis is able to give Jack.
Twice a rifle is seen in its holster – the life they’ve been used to will change -
1 – Jack gets off his commute horse and carries the rifle, in its holster, over to the fire and sets it down by the two of them – they were “keeping house” with Ennis at home, Jack going off to work - this changes to Ennis going off to work and Jack staying home.
2 – Jack puts the holstered rifle in the backseat of his truck at the end of the final lake scene – this life of the past twenty years, of meeting 2-3 times per year – is going to change.
The rifle symbolizes their fate, the continuance of their relationship.
Twice there is a gun that is completely out of their control -
1 - The gun the man holds in the television episode Alma and Ennis watch. This is immediately after Ennis has returned from his time with Jack and he's sulking about Jack being gone instead of going with his family to the church social. This is a symbol that their relationship goes on even when they're not around each other; even when in another relationship.
2 - As Cassie Dances with Ennis, "The Devil's Right Hand," a gun. Again, relationship goes on in presence of another.
Note also that these two incidents may also symbolize the end of each Ennis+woman relationship in favor of the continued relationship with Jack.
Twice a rifle is in view, but is not cocked, holstered, or fired –
1 – Ennis carries the rifle up to Jack when he first meets with Jack after having ridden off the morning after the first tent scene – it’s a symbol that their lives (as friends) have had a change (they had sex), but their relationship will continue on in a new way.
2 – There is a small rifle hanging on the wall in Jack’s bedroom – it’s a symbol that their lives (as friends, and as so much more)have had a change (Jack died), but their relationship will continue on in a new way.
Ennis told Jack that "this is a one-shot thing we got goin’ on here." This is not a statement by Ennis that Ennis intends that the first tent scene will also be their last. Nor is it a statement by Ennis that their time on the mountain will be it for them. Rather, Ennis uses the one-shot (rifle) metaphor invoking the symbolism of their relationship continuing forever - because once it's been fired, there's no pulling it back in.
