Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
Religious symbolism in Brokeback
Artiste:
So to you scales are like religious symbols?
Hugs!
TOoP/Bruce:
"We was fishin buddies."
Ennis comes to this explanation quickly off the top of his head when Alma asks him how he knows a man called Jack. Some have questioned whether Ennis had a story planned to tell her all along if Jack ever showed up unexpectedly.
But let's consider it in terms of its Christian symbolism. In the earliest days of the Christian church, the fish was a symbol for Jesus, and in ancient Rome, Christianity was an underground society, and membership in that society was potentially a death sentence. Drawing the symbol of the fish was one way that members of the secret Christian society recognized each other. In Brokeback Mountain, we see that Randall reveals his membership in an underground society to Jack by offering to get together to do some fishing.
Artiste:
Thanks Bruce!
Those two details of yours are very revealing as religious symbols!!
Any others?
Hugs!
TOoP/Bruce:
In the Twist house in Lightning Flat, there is a prominently displayed crucifix on the the white walls of the home. It can be seen behind Mrs. Twist in some of her face shots. Similarly, behind Ennis in the same room, a black hat hangs on the wall behind him at the same level as the crucifix (it is near the door) and it is presumably Jack's black hat. This is another subtle Jack/Jesus equivalence.
Artiste:
Thanks Bruce!
I can understand about the cross in the Twist home.
But please elaborate more on the hat?
Hugs!
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