Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
Alma Jr.'s Sweater vs. The Shirts
dly64:
--- Quote from: alec716 on June 22, 2006, 10:21:54 pm ---And/or ... maybe in treating Jr.'s sweater so carefully, as though it represented her, he was demonstrating that he had learned his lesson in losing Jack... that loved ones are to be cherished and treated tenderly at every turn. I believe that he learned, as some say, that tomorrow ain't promised.
--- End quote ---
I guess I don't put as much symbolism in the sweater as others do. Yes, I see it as a way that he indicates his love for his daughter. (He has troubles verbalizing his love to those closest to him). The smelling of the sweater was added in the film ... it was not indicated in the screenplay. I think there are three important parts of the last scene. The first is when there is an exchange between Alma, Jr and Ennis:
"This Kurt fella ... he loves you?"
"Yeah, Daddy, he loves me."
The is the first and only time Ennis uses the word "love". He also looks out the window ... you can see the pain and loneliness in his face .... I know he is thinking of Jack at that moment.
The second is when Ennis reconsiders and decides to go to Alma, Jr's wedding. This is the first time he has done this as well. I think he understands at that moment the importance of being with those he loves.
The final point is the two shirts. I see putting Alma's sweater in there as a motivation for opening the closet door. The "Jack, I swear ..." indicates his undying love for Jack. It is almost as if he is saying his wedding vows.
Curious what others think!
alec716:
--- Quote from: dly64 on June 23, 2006, 08:57:43 am --- The "Jack, I swear ..." indicates his undying love for Jack. It is almost as if he is saying his wedding vows.
Curious what others think!
--- End quote ---
Diane, tell you what, I think you are reading my mind, that's what!
Brown Eyes:
Yes, I think the main reason that Ennis rolls the shirts up like that in Lightning Flat is to safely get them by Old Man Twist. He's so protective of them... you get the sense that things would or could come to blows if John Twist did anything to try to get those shirts away from Ennis. I also think that Ennis just generally feels awkward about the whole situation and that manifests itself in his hurried treatment of the shirts as he walks down the stairs. I get the sense that he really wants to get out of there. I mean he's just visited the parents of his lover for the first time (and now he realizes that they know who he is, based on the earlier hints in the conversation at the table with the coffee) and it's clear that he's just been crying (also awkward for him probably). I think Ennis wants to hurry his exit until he has those last interactions with Mrs. Twist. They almost perform a little ritual of placing them in that bag. It's clear that they both know that this is significant. Also, I think her little nod of approval when he comes down with the shirts also was extraordinarily reassuring to Ennis (probably even more so than her verbal invitation to come back and see them sometime).
Another idea about rolling the shirts up... Am I correct in thinking that it's only Jack's blue shirt that we/ Mr. and Mrs. Twist can see as Ennis walks to Mrs. Twist's kitchen? Is he trying to hide the fact that his own shirt is inside?
???
Back to the comparison with Alma Jr.'s sweater... Yes, Ennis is shown to take care with her sweater and to smell it/ kiss it, which is sweet. But, he puts it in the closet like a normal piece of clothing. The shirts are arranged in the closet as a type of shrine. They're not hung there like any other piece of clothing. Combining the shirts with the postcard in a pride-of-place (and where Ennis can see them easily when the door is open) makes them really, really special.
:'(
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: atz75 on June 24, 2006, 12:37:33 am --- I also think that Ennis just generally feels awkward about the whole situation and that manifests itself in his hurried treatment of the shirts as he walks down the stairs. I get the sense that he really wants to get out of there. I mean he's just visited the parents of his lover for the first time (and now he realizes that they know who he is, based on the earlier hints in the conversation at the table with the coffee) and it's clear that he's just been crying (also awkward for him probably).
--- End quote ---
I agree it's probably awkward, but what I think is remarkable about this scene is how bravely Ennis is able to set aside the reservations he'd previously have had and overcome his fears of awkwardness or worse. Here's a man who just a few scenes earlier was paralyzed by worry that strangers on the pavement might be looking at him funny. Now he's presenting himself fairly openly as Jack's lover, facing whatever consequences that might entail, in order to do right by Jack. He knows that the Twists know about him and probably even notice his tears, and yet he can live with that, because he has realized what's most important. In a sense it's the flip side of the reunion scene -- the one other time he risked publicly expressing his love -- though instead of an overjoyed hello it's a grieving goodbye.
dly64:
--- Quote from: atz75 on June 24, 2006, 12:37:33 am ---Yes, I think the main reason that Ennis rolls the shirts up like that in Lightning Flat is to safely get them by Old Man Twist. He's so protective of them... you get the sense that things would or could come to blows if John Twist did anything to try to get those shirts away from Ennis. I also think that Ennis just generally feels awkward about the whole situation and that manifests itself in his hurried treatment of the shirts as he walks down the stairs. I get the sense that he really wants to get out of there. I mean he's just visited the parents of his lover for the first time (and now he realizes that they know who he is, based on the earlier hints in the conversation at the table with the coffee) and it's clear that he's just been crying (also awkward for him probably). I think Ennis wants to hurry his exit until he has those last interactions with Mrs. Twist. They almost perform a little ritual of placing them in that bag. It's clear that they both know that this is significant. Also, I think her little nod of approval when he comes down with the shirts also was extraordinarily reassuring to Ennis (probably even more so than her verbal invitation to come back and see them sometime).
Another idea about rolling the shirts up... Am I correct in thinking that it's only Jack's blue shirt that we/ Mr. and Mrs. Twist can see as Ennis walks to Mrs. Twist's kitchen? Is he trying to hide the fact that his own shirt is inside?
???
Back to the comparison with Alma Jr.'s sweater... Yes, Ennis is shown to take care with her sweater and to smell it/ kiss it, which is sweet. But, he puts it in the closet like a normal piece of clothing. The shirts are arranged in the closet as a type of shrine. They're not hung there like any other piece of clothing. Combining the shirts with the postcard in a pride-of-place (and where Ennis can see them easily when the door is open) makes them really, really special. :'(
--- End quote ---
I am printing your whole quote because I think you expressed it so well. IMO, there is an implied understanding of the significance of those shirts between Ennis and Mrs. Twist. Interestingly, the way this scene plays out is a bit different than in the screenplay. To be perfectly honest, the film is much more effective in showing Ennis' pain. It makes the exchange between Mrs. Twist and Ennis more poignant .... especially when Ennis is outside of the door and whispers ... "Thank you for this."
As for Alma Jr's sweater ... I agree that he is just putting it up on a shelf. Notice that he doesn't really look at it when he is putting it away. It is the two shirts he is focusing on (especially since he has just had the talk with Alma, Jr. and has realized he has lost the love of his life .... the thought of what could have been).
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