Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
"Jack, I swear..." What do you think Ennis meant by that?
Rayn:
Well, thank ya kindly, Mary... Now, maybe we can get this topic underway and going again!
Yours truly,
Rayn
Mary Twist:
My Dear Rayn,
Yes, by all means, the folks here should explore the memorable "Jack, I Swear" sentiment of Ennis. I honestly hope that my beloved Ennis was inspired to say his kind thought subsequent to his visit to me.
Sincerely,
Mary Twist
whiteoutofthemoon:
".....I swear"....
I personally saw a direct contrast to this statement with the wedding scene earlier, as the preacher is saying "do you swear to love, honor....til death do you part"....Ennis says "I do" looking down, not looking at Alma, somewhat hesitant.
Here, at the end, he says "I swear" (ie ... "I do"), sincerely, with full eye contact to the shirts.
Alas, too late, by a long while...
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: whiteoutofthemoon on June 03, 2006, 04:33:01 pm ---I personally saw a direct contrast to this statement with the wedding scene earlier, as the preacher is saying "do you swear to love, honor....til death do you part"....Ennis says "I do" looking down, not looking at Alma, somewhat hesitant.
Here, at the end, he says "I swear" (ie ... "I do"), sincerely, with full eye contact to the shirts.
--- End quote ---
Hey, whiteoutofthemoon -- great observation! I've never seen those two scenes contrasted before. And on your very first post here, too. Awesome. Welcome to BetterMost!
Brown Eyes:
--- Quote from: whiteoutofthemoon on June 03, 2006, 04:33:01 pm ---".....I swear"....
I personally saw a direct contrast to this statement with the wedding scene earlier, as the preacher is saying "do you swear to love, honor....til death do you part"....Ennis says "I do" looking down, not looking at Alma, somewhat hesitant.
Here, at the end, he says "I swear" (ie ... "I do"), sincerely, with full eye contact to the shirts.
Alas, too late, by a long while...
--- End quote ---
WOW, I will second Katherine's welcome and say that this is a great observation. The idea that Ennis is swearing an oath to Jack, which occurs to him as a result of his talk with Alma Jr., makes perfect sense to me. And, now that you mention it, that cut from Ennis with his dry heaves and crying in the alley to that specific moment in the marriage ceremony seems really important. Lee chooses to allow us a view into a very small slice of Ennis's wedding to Alma and he chooses these particular lines. It makes great sense as foreshadowing.
It's an interesting thing to think about in terms of Ennis's attitude towards Alma Jr.'s marriage... I'm sure he remembers his own marriage at 19 as a deeply unhappy thing. We've hashed this out before in many threads... but it's just so sad that this deeply important act of love for Ennis... swearing a commitment to Jack... only happens in absolute privacy and after Jack is gone. Even if Ennis had found the courage to live with Jack, they still wouldn't have had the option of the public celebration of their love that Alma Jr. and Kurt will enjoy. In their own way, Ennis and Jack were already deeply and permanently committed to one another... even in living apart. I think they both truly lived their lives for each other and organized their lives as much as possible to keep their relationship going (even on the awkward terms upon which their relationship existed). It's only after Jack's death that Ennis behaves like a practical partner... going to visit the family, offering to take responsibility for Jack's final wishes and then finally swearing a commitment or "marriage" to him. I wonder too at Ennis's sense of urgency to claim Jack's ashes... in a way maybe it was a little bit like staking his claim with Jack. As if in wanting those ashes Ennis's is saying "he's mine."
:'(
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