Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
TOTW 05/08: What do you make of the "Maybe Texas?" scene?
Brown Eyes:
Hi Leigh-Ann!
Thanks for that great post! :)
I think one of the reasons that Ennis is so paranoid and concerned following the confrontation with Alma... is that he does not know that Alma witnessed him and Jack kissing. So, as far as Ennis can understand... Alma just somehow deduced that he's gay. He's probably worried that he's giving off signals or clues that he's not even aware of.
And, not only is Jack not as concerned about these same types of fears, I don't think he would make those fears a priority. Even if he was afraid (I mean, he's probably a little afraid), I don't think he would let thos fears stop him from living with Ennis if he could. Jack's never been confronted in the same way as Ennis has by Alma, so there is some significant difference in experience here. And, Jack never witnessed the same kind of violence as Ennis (the Earl memory). So, perhaps the danger isn't as palpable to Jack. He knows Ennis is terribly afraid... so he's aware of these issues, but they don't seem to impact him as viscerally.
ifyoucantfixit:
Ennis's immediate reaction to Jack's proposal to move to Texas was not about their
relationship. It was about his relationship to his daughters. He said "Maybe you could convince
Alma to let you and Lureen to adopt the girls." " Then money would rain down from L.D. Newsome,
and we could all live together herdin sheep." I think he was trying to discuss his newly discovered
queer status. How much other people could tell about his queerness just by looking. He was
still afraid of being found out. Then Jack again mentioned his moving near him, and that was an
irritant. He didnt want to discuss them living together. Therefor the anger he displayed. Basically
"I dont want to go into that again. I was wondering about the awareness of others to us. Me and
you as QUEERS." That i think was the conversation that he wanted to get into. And Jack angered
him by bringing up the same thing HE had always wanted. Thereby making him angry.
Now further than that we can go int all the symbolism. The dropping the bucket, and the
things that might have been getting away. Or the fact that it was water under the bridge or
on down river. However you wish to catagorise it. Jack once again foiled, and stomping off
this time because of his plans being stunted yet one more time. I believe it was showing how
they both had the same issues that stopped them in the beginning. Nothing solved nothing
changed. Yet again. They didnt talk to each other with intent, on listening to the others ideas,
but at each other. With their own agenda in mind period.
Brown Eyes:
Isn't this the scene where Ennis is balanced on a rock in the stream? If I'm remembering that correctly... it's great because it's a literalization of his name (sort of)... the idea of an island in the middle of water.
The whole topic of the floating bucket is huge. And leads right back into that old, classic discussion about buckets and coffee pots.
forsythia12:
--- Quote from: atz75 on February 18, 2008, 03:24:31 pm ---Hi Leigh-Ann!
Thanks for that great post! :)
I think one of the reasons that Ennis is so paranoid and concerned following the confrontation with Alma... is that he does not know that Alma witnessed him and Jack kissing. So, as far as Ennis can understand... Alma just somehow deduced that he's gay. He's probably worried that he's giving off signals or clues that he's not even aware of.
well, i don't think ennis is confused about how alma knew 'cause she already told him about tying the note to his fishing line. she told him she used to wonder why he never brought home any fish.
and jack did have some confrontation about his gayness. he was totally shot down by the rodeo clown, he was told off by agguire, and he was ridiculed by jd newsome several times.
i think jack not only persued ennis without a lot of fear of being discovered, but he persued his sexuality without crippling fear. yes, he hid it, but he knew he was gay, and he was going to live as a gay man when and where he could. mexico, leshawn's husband, ennis, whatever.
i think despite his fears, he embraced his sexuality more than ennis, who was paralyzed by fear.
i think moving to texas was again showing jack's optimisim. jack was very optomistic at times....ennis, not so much. ennis saw problems, whether valid or not....
--- End quote ---
Brown Eyes:
Well, yes, Alma explains that she figured things out about the fishing trips, the note, etc.
But, also Ennis is now worried about "people on the pavement" looking at him "suspicious" like "they know." I do think Ennis is worried that folks are somehow able to figure him out by the way he looks (or something like that).
I definitely think you're right that Jack simply lives without at much fear as Ennis, even when it comes to the issue of sexuality.
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