Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
what possessed Jack to take that shirt in the first place?
Rayn:
What possessed Jack to take Ennis' shirt? As I see it, Jack was attracted to Ennis from "the git-go", had a real interest in him right off, eyed him like a bobcat a jackrabbit at first, then again like a sly devil in the rear view mirror of his truck when he was shavin'.
Jack was the more sexually aware, aware of his need and desire for men. Yeah, they both had women, but nothing came close to what they had with each other.
Jack never fell out of the love they made in each other that Brokeback Summer. Ennis didn't know it as clearly, but he had fallen for Jack just as deeply. So, yeah, I think Jack took the shirt to remember that summer with Ennis in case he never saw him again.
The shirts were a marvelous invention of Annie's, a beautiful symbol of their bond of passion, longing, love and the pain of loss. Everything about their love for each other is within those two shirts become one. No one who sees the movie can ever forget that remarkable symbol.
Rayn
starboardlight:
--- Quote from: Penthesilea on June 07, 2006, 01:33:29 pm ---Straboarlight's comment is a good one, too:
Being not much of an Ennis myself, I wouldn't have thought of this. But it makes sense.
--- End quote ---
and I'm too much an Ennis. It made sense to me right away. I've shut down too many times to count. It just knocked me to the ground to see so much of me in him. The way he looked/not look at Jack. His introvertion. His paralysis. Hit so close to home.
Mikaela:
--- Quote from: atz75 on June 08, 2006, 12:01:08 am ---.....I also think it must feel really amazing to him to hear that much devotion explicitly stated. I think the camera does cut away before we see him fully absorb Jack's statement. And, yup, I think his main response must be physical in the tent (although it's an ominous tent encounter since there's no moon).
--- End quote ---
I just had the opportunity to re-watch the film one more time in the cinema, and one sequence that struck me strongly was the transition from Jack's "sometimes I miss you" line and Ennis's lack of spoken reply, to the two of them in the tent, to the landscape outside with the river water rushing by in darkness. The river is still there, the symbol of Jack's and Ennis's relationship, and its current is going strong and fast - though in the darkness of night. To me, the sequence and imagery of those two latter scenes now give an extremely expressive visual representation of the short story's "brilliant charge" being "darkened by the sense of time flying". Their feelings for and attraction to each other is just as strong (expressed through Jack's spoken line, the physical intimacy in the tent and the flowing river), but time and distance and longing have nevertheless taken their toll and darkened the mood. (ie. the dark night / moonless night sky).
--- Quote ---I think Ennis doesn't "have the language" to articulate what he feels about Jack, but I think the emotion of love is really there for him (probably at least from the 2nd tent scene on). [snip] I think also that by the second to last camping trip when Ennis asks Jack if he thinks people "know" and wonders if Jack's relationship with Lureen is "normal" he's already given up on the idea that he's not "queer." These questions are almost outright admissions that he feels and knows what his situation is.
--- End quote ---
I agree with this. At two crucial times when Ennis tries to speak about his physical relationship to a *man*, or to men ie. about being "queer, he says "I don't know". That's his answer when Jack asks where he stands in relation to "getting into this again" after 4 years. (Though Ennis's expression there gives his *real* answer. **sigh**) And when Ennis speaks about people in the streets knowing, he starts out with: You ever get the feeling, I don't know...."
He doesn't know; - meaning: He doesn't know how to articulate or adequately express in words all that he's nevertheless *aware* that he's feeling. For he knows that he's feeling *so very, very much* - about getting into it again with Jack, and about being, - and being seen as, - "queer".
Ennis having come to consider himself a "queer" contributes significantly to the darkening of the mood in those latter scenes, I think. For that realization on his part hasn't altered his homophobic opinion of "queers"- including himself. Increased self-loathing *and* increased fear of being found out are the consequences,. Hardly bright and cheerful aspects of being deeply in love.
Meryl:
--- Quote ---From Mikaela
To me, the sequence and imagery of those two latter scenes now give an extremely expressive visual representation of the short story's "brilliant charge" being "darkened by the sense of time flying". Their feelings for and attraction to each other is just as strong (expressed through Jack's spoken line, the physical intimacy in the tent and the flowing river), but time and distance and longing have nevertheless taken their toll and darkened the mood. (ie. the dark night / moonless night sky).
--- End quote ---
I like how you've likened the film technique to the story quote. Very enlightening! :)
That rushing water is always a powerful symbol, but here especially it takes on so much meaning. It could also be a foretelling of the end of the relationship. Time is rushing inexorably by, and only hours remain for them now until they part forever. For the first time, we see where the river is flowing--it's reaching its end in the lake.
I just watched those scenes again on the DVD, and it's interesting to note that there is still movement visible in the water behind them as they sit drinking whiskey. Then there's the shot of the stream flowing into the lake behind the dark tent (its current is gentler compared to the previous fishing trip scene--another indication of diminishing strength?). Finally, the lake seen the next morning is almost still--only ripples are left on the surface. That's the last time we see water in the film, too. :(
--- Quote ---Ennis having come to consider himself a "queer" contributes significantly to the darkening of the mood in those latter scenes, I think. For that realization on his part hasn't altered his homophobic opinion of "queers"- including himself. Increased self-loathing *and* increased fear of being found out are the consequences,. Hardly bright and cheerful aspects of being deeply in love.
--- End quote ---
Yes, I think that contributed a great deal to his cutting off the relationship with Cassie without a word. In the scene with her at the bus station, I see it in his eyes now when she says "I don't get you, Ennis del Mar." He's wondering if she'll put two and two together eventually. The poor man is just the picture of absolute misery. :(
Brown Eyes:
--- Quote from: Mikaela on June 09, 2006, 08:00:07 pm ---The river is still there, the symbol of Jack's and Ennis's relationship, and its current is going strong and fast - though in the darkness of night. To me, the sequence and imagery of those two latter scenes now give an extremely expressive visual representation of the short story's "brilliant charge" being "darkened by the sense of time flying". Their feelings for and attraction to each other is just as strong (expressed through Jack's spoken line, the physical intimacy in the tent and the flowing river), but time and distance and longing have nevertheless taken their toll and darkened the mood. (ie. the dark night / moonless night sky).
--- End quote ---
Heya Mikaela, I like this reading of the final tent scene. I do think there's a lot to be optimistic about regarding this last moment of physical affection that we see. It's a great "bookend" to the first tent scene... obviously at the very beginning of the first scene, Ennis jolts his hand away quickly once Jack pulls Ennis's arm around him. And, here in the third tent scene, Ennis is peacefully embracing Jack in that exact same position (essentially) as if this is now their routine. Adorable. So, Ennis has come a long way. Also, I love that you point out that the water is still strong. I think it's important to recognize that their love/ attraction hasn't diminished, but that there are huge coming obstacles and the relationship has been stretched about to it's limit after all the years of stress and strain that have been places upon it. Somewhere, there's a great thread kicking around about the importance of the full moon as a vital symbol of "true love". I don't even remember if the moonlight thread is here on BetterMost or was back on imdb. Anyway, it's been discussed that the full moon in Chinese mythology is the sign of true love... and that the moon is highlighted in BBM at key moments. Right before the first tent scene the full moon emerges out from behind the clouds. During the prayer of thanks camping trip the full moon is bright and clear. Etc. So, aside from being a handy device for telling the timeline of the story... it can be read on more symbolic levels. I think the missing moon for the last tent scene is a bit of ominous foreshadowing.
--- Quote ---Ennis having come to consider himself a "queer" contributes significantly to the darkening of the mood in those latter scenes, I think. For that realization on his part hasn't altered his homophobic opinion of "queers"- including himself. Increased self-loathing *and* increased fear of being found out are the consequences,. Hardly bright and cheerful aspects of being deeply in love.
--- End quote ---
I think even Ennis's opinion of "queers" is deeply conflicted and complicated. For the most part, yes, I think he wrestles with the demons of his father's homophobia and the societal expectations that he's absorbed. BUT, I also think in the Earl flashback conversation, he reveals an interesting aspect of his OWN opinions about at least Earl and Rich. He calls them "tough old birds" and seems downhearted about the idea that they were the "joke of town" (he doesn't seem to take any glee in this observation... but he does reveal that he was paying very close attention - even as a kid - to what was happening to these two guys). But, by acknowledging that they were tough, he's paying them a compliment. He realizes how hard their situation was and seems to admire their ability to go on despite all the pressures. I think this little detail is important for distinguishing Ennis's Dad from Ennis (who was clearly very observant and thoughtful, even as a kid, about the situation surrounding Earl and Rich)
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