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TOTW 03/08: "There was some open space..." - What do you think this means?
Penthesilea:
Monday, Monday... time for another TOTW. :)
While we've been pretty much movie-only last week, we now have a sentence from the short story we want to focus on. The topic was suggested by LauraGigs. Thank you Laura! :)
"There was some open space between what he knew and what he tried to believe, but nothing could be done about it, and if you can't fix it, you've got to stand it." - What do you think this means?
The question is mainly aimed towards the first half of the sentence: what do you think Ennis "knows", and what is he trying to believe?
Does it refer to Ennis's doubts about the cause of Jack's death? Does it refer to what OMT told Ennis about 'some ranch neighbour' down in Texas (and thus Jack possibly leaving him), or to his feelings of guilt and what might have beens? Or do you have other connotations? Or may it be a mélange of all these things?
Some open space in Wyoming (photo by me)
Sandy:
Wonderful topic.
I'm going to refer to a comment made by a resident who's name I cannot remember in a thread I cannot find! So, if anyone can remember the author please advise.
It went along the lines of Ennis' sexuality. Paraphrasing, I think that the gist of it was about the first part.
"There was some open space between what he knew and what he tried to believe"
The author read it to be that Ennis knew himself to be attracted to and in love with Jack, but tried to believe it wasn't so.
serious crayons:
Beautiful pic, Chrissi! At first I thought it was a screencap, from the view out the trailer window in the last scene of the movie.
One interpretation I think is possible goes along with my belief that Jack was killed in an accident. So, "There was some open space between ..."
... what he knew: Jack had been killed in an accident
... and what he tried to believe: Jack had been murdered.
Ennis tried to believe Jack was murdered because that would justify his fears and he wouldn't have ruined both their lives for nothing.
Brown Eyes:
In addition to being a reference to the murder/accident question, as Katherine mentions... I think the "open space" also has to do with Ennis's level of knowledge about his relationship with Jack. How much did he really know vs. what did he believe about the other ranch-fellow? Also, I think it might represent lingering questions about the issue of how much they loved each other... and whether or not that love was communicated effectively.
For instance, in order to feel comfortable with himself and with the way things were left with Jack at their last meeting...maybe Ennis needed to believe that his capacity to love Jack was somehow effectively communicated to Jack (eventhough he never told him explicitly). And, maybe he needed to believe that they would have been able to work things out between the two of them had Jack lived. That the last fight really wasn't the end or a moment of giving up for Jack. But, of course Ennis couldn't know these things for sure following Jack's death.
I think the nuance might be slightly different for the movie vs. the book.
I love the ending passages of the story.
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: atz75 on January 22, 2008, 03:52:59 pm ---For instance, in order to feel comfortable with himself and with the way things were left with Jack at their last meeting...maybe Ennis needed to believe that his capacity to love Jack was somehow effectively communicated to Jack (eventhough he never told him explicitly). And, maybe he needed to believe that they would have been able to work things out between the two of them had Jack lived. That the last fight really wasn't the end or a moment of giving up for Jack. But, of course Ennis couldn't know these things for sure following Jack's death.
--- End quote ---
Yes, that makes sense, too. I think this line is a lot like "I swear" -- it's kept ambiguous to allow for multiple interpretations.
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