The Sink

[Front-Ranger]

That's right.He felt depressed,but at the same time,he felt free to do as he pleased.A man alone who had been educated in a rigid -and wrong- sense of masculinity,ended by being a real mess in his daily routine,without nobody by his side or nothing in his future to fight for.

You're right, friend. I think Ennis said it all when he replied to Junior, "When you ain't got nothin, you don't need nothin."

[myprivatejack]

You're right, friend. I think Ennis said it all when he replied to Junior, "When you ain't got nothin, you don't need nothin."

You´re welcome . Although I must add that in my post I am not saying that men,as a gender,were such a pigs... I was referring only to a certain kind of men in a certain kind of environment and with a certain kind of education.I guess you understand me...

[cricket99999]

I'm thinking AP did this to emphasize Ennis's masculinity, and coarse behavior.  At this point, the reader does not know this will be a gay character.  Sink pissing is in contrast to stereotypical gay male behavior, which is refined/cultured/civilized.   

[Front-Ranger]

Also, maybe to suggest that his life was going "down the drain." 

[optom3]

Also, maybe to suggest that his life was going "down the drain." 

I think that is a pretty good analogy, except at that point in the book we  have no idea of the magnitude of all he has  lost.
It  says "he is suffused with a sense of pleasure because Jack Twist was in his dream"

I always think the prologue is full of opposites.Why would such a rugged and masculine man, as he is initially portrayed, eg. urinating in the sink, pulling on his jeans and boots, be so happy to have had a dream about a man. From those very first two paragraphs we are immediately aware of the fact that this will be no ordinary tale.
Or is it just because I know the story and film so well, my judgement is being coloured ??
 I do remember the first time I read the story, I was pulled up short by the mention of Jack Twist.
So after all this rambling, I think maybe it is about contrasts, the rough down at heel masculinity of Ennis initially, before we are thrown for a loop by him dreaming of a man, and being so happy about it  that he wants to hang onto that dream for the whole day, to rewarm him.

Then I think again and wonder, could it be all about temperature. There is something very "cold" and souless about the image of Ennis urinating in the sink, contrasting with the rewarmed coffee, which very nearly boils over, and the dream rewarming his time on the mountain.The coffee nearly boiling over, but caught just in time.A curious similarity to Ennis, who throughout his time with Jack, almost lets his emotions boil over, then reins them back in again.In direct contradiction to his, "there's no reins on this one " quote.

Oh well I have managed yet again with this glorious masterpiece to talk myself through multiple interpretations !!!!!! It goes back to Proulx herself intimating that each reader will have a slightly different interpretation of the story. I would go so far as to say, each time I think of it, I have yet another idea, it is like peeling an onion and revealing layer apon layer.Like all truly great writers, she has given us a literary piece which will forever leave us questioning. I like that.
By the end of the book we do know that pretty well everything he cared for has gone down the drain.