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TOTW 19/07: Why couldn't Jack learn to just be happy with things as they were af
Penthesilea:
Happy Monday BetterMost folks :)
this week's topic was suggested by our mountain-climbing, travel-reporting, metal-searching and BBQ-cooking Rocky Mountain resident, FRont-Ranger (Lee). Thank you Lee for the suggestion :-*!
Why couldn't Jack learn to just be happy with things as they were after 20 years with Ennis?
They knew each other for such a long time. Jack knew about Ennis's fears and he knew they were not baseless. He also knew it was dangerous to pursue romance in Childress. Why did he do it?
moremojo:
Jack wanted regular intimacy with the man he loved from the moment he fell in love. The irregular get-togethers out in the middle of nowhere were just crumbs from the feast he felt he was missing out on. I do believe Jack was basically homosexual, but nonetheless, as someone who was in love, I felt he used the Mexico trips and Randall as Ennis substitutes. Randall was probably less of a romance than just another variant of the fishing trips--settling for second best when what Jack really wanted was always being deferred (and probably always would be).
delalluvia:
--- Quote from: Penthesilea on December 17, 2007, 12:36:04 pm ---Why couldn't Jack learn to just be happy with things as they were after 20 years with Ennis?
--- End quote ---
Because Jack had better self-esteem than Ennis. Jack was never happy with the relationship the way it was and he was never going to be happy with it like that. But he was in love. People in love put up with shit relationships for long periods of time. Doesn't mean he liked the way things were or thought he didn't deserve more. Sooner or later, there was bound to be a blowup. For Jack it took 20 years. Perhaps if they were able to see each other a bit more, it would've taken less time for the blowup to happen.
--- Quote ---They knew each other for such a long time. Jack knew about Ennis's fears and he knew they were not baseless. He also knew it was dangerous to pursue romance in Childress. Why did he do it?
--- End quote ---
Well, that's assuming Jack was murdered. If you don't think Jack was murdered, then this question doesn't make sense.
Penthesilea:
--- Quote from: delalluvia on December 17, 2007, 08:00:56 pm ---
--- Quote ---He also knew it was dangerous to pursue romance in Childress.
--- End quote ---
Well, that's assuming Jack was murdered. If you don't think Jack was murdered, then this question doesn't make sense.
--- End quote ---
I think I have to respectully disagree. If you think Jack was not murdered, it still doesn't make Childress a safe haven for gay men. Seeking sex or romance in his own neighbourhood was still potentially dangerous.
delalluvia:
--- Quote from: Penthesilea on December 18, 2007, 05:05:38 am ---Well, that's assuming Jack was murdered. If you don't think Jack was murdered, then this question doesn't make sense.
I think I have to respectully disagree. If you think Jack was not murdered, it still doesn't make Childress a safe haven for gay men. Seeking sex or romance in his own neighbourhood was still potentially dangerous.
--- End quote ---
It doesn't make sense to single out Childress or Jack for that matter. We have no idea - per the movie - what Childress is like. Even if you believe Jack was murdered, did Lureen actually say where Jack was murdered? I think she said it was on a 'backroad' somewhere. That doesn't necessarily mean Childress or the environs around. Considering how much Jack traveled, it could have easily been in Oklahoma or New Mexico or Colorado. Also, Earl was murdered in Wyoming. You could easily change the sentence or include Ennis in it - "Ennis knew it was dangerous to pursue romance in Wyoming/Riverton, why did he do it?"
And the answer? Well, because people do. Doesn't matter where they are. Even Ennis took that chance - heck, he even went to a motel with a man in his own hometown knowing the danger.
See what I mean? [shrug]
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