Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
Joe Aguirre: what do you think of this character as portrayed in the movie?
optom3:
I think Aguirre is prejudiced in many ways.He has met Jack before, but presumably not Ennis, yet he treats Ennis with the same disdain as he does Jack.He is rude, curt and scathing to both the boys. I always thought he looked down on the boys as he considered them beneath him in every way.They were presumably less educated than him.
He probably had his suspicions about Jack's sexuality. Yet as with many things in the film and book, he is a study in contradictions.He sees Jack and Ennis on Brokeback, and he does not immediately send them packing. So although he appears to be very prejudiced he shows a degree of tolerance there.
Back down from Brokeback he is rude and abrupt with them both again.
Maybe BBM changes all who venture there, bringing out the "real" them, or the better version of them. Or maybe Aguirre was just the same as Ennis, a gay man in denial.In general we despise those who we see as reflections of ourselves.
Monika:
--- Quote from: optom3 on January 07, 2009, 11:24:08 am ---. I always thought he looked down on the boys as he considered them beneath him in every way.They were presumably less educated than him.
--- End quote ---
And presumably because they are poorer than him. Somehow Aguirre strikes me as the type of man who values money more than education.
--- Quote ---He probably had his suspicions about Jack's sexuality. Yet as with many things in the film and book, he is a study in contradictions.He sees Jack and Ennis on Brokeback, and he does not immediately send them packing.
--- End quote ---
Maybe he simply values his sheep more than "a couple of queers" and wants the job done above anything else?
optom3:
--- Quote from: buffymon on January 07, 2009, 11:29:47 am ---And presumably because they are poorer than him. Somehow Aguirre strikes me as the type of man who values money more than education.
Maybe he simply values his sheep more than "a couple of queers" and wants the job done above anything else?
--- End quote ---
I agree with the bit about valuing money over education.
Not sure about the queers bit, as I am fairly sure he knows Jack is gay, he also is less than pleased about the job Jack has done the previous year, so yet another contradiction. If he is more concerned about the wellfare of the sheep, why hire the allegedly incompetent Jack again ? Is there some kind of unspoken, tacit agreement/acceptance which is covered/disguised by his abrupt manner.Or is it simply, no one else applied for the job.
I suspect, that as with the whole film/book, there are multiple interpretations.
Front-Ranger:
I feel fairly confident in saying Jack and Ennis were the only ones applying for the job that summer. There were plenty of "better" places for young men to work, in the oil fields, in agriculture, forestry, etc. in addition to the military or going off to college. Those inclined to work with animals usually chose to work with horses and cattle, sheep being the lowest of the lows (unless you count pigs, goats, or chickens).
Monika:
There is also the question whether Jack really was incompetent. I have a feeling that Aguirre would have complained no matter how well Jack performed, it´s just the way he is.
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