Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
"Jack, I swear..." What do you think Ennis meant by that?
Front-Ranger:
--- Quote from: HerrKaiser on February 14, 2007, 12:01:40 pm ---But, we have to remember that even Jack said to Ennis, "why haven't you found anybody to marry". Alma did this as well, even though both knew perfectly well where Ennis' desires were focused.
--- End quote ---
I think I know xactly why Jack said this. He thought if Ennis married again then Jack would be able to quit him and at last have peace. But it wouldn't have happened. I know, I've been in that boat before.
moremojo:
--- Quote from: Front-Ranger on February 14, 2007, 04:11:50 pm ---I think I know xactly why Jack said this. He thought if Ennis married again then Jack would be able to quit him and at last have peace. But it wouldn't have happened. I know, I've been in that boat before.
--- End quote ---
My take on this was that Jack was concerned for Ennis's happiness and comfort--he thought that Ennis, by marrying, might feel less lonely and have more purpose than by being on his own. Jack and Alma both broach the subject of remarriage with Ennis, despite their hurt and abiding love for him.
Front-Ranger:
--- Quote from: moremojo on February 14, 2007, 04:32:04 pm ---My take on this was that Jack was concerned for Ennis's happiness and comfort--he thought that Ennis, by marrying, might feel less lonely and have more purpose than by being on his own. Jack and Alma both broach the subject of remarriage with Ennis, despite their hurt and abiding love for him.
--- End quote ---
Yes, I agree with that as well.
HerrKaiser:
I think less of Jack if indeed he married for the money and stayed married for the money. Maybe, if that is true, Ennis would have sensed this and hence been a bit squeamish about the reasons Jack gives for a 'living together commitment'.
This is getting off subject, but all's fair if you are OK with this....
Jack may have taken the high road and attempted to martyr himself by suggesting to Ennis he get remarried. Such an act would have surely reduced if not eliminated the time he and Jack spent together. But, I think not. I believe it was Jack's way of either 1) trying to get Ennis to say 'no, I want you' or 2) setting the stage of his leaving Ennis for Randall.
Either way, it was not 100% honest, in my opinion. On the other hand, Ennis' reaction was pure and utter Ennis....his shifting, his eyes, his facial demeanor all exuded the powerful love he felt for Jack, but Jack seemed to have had a blockage to this way in which Ennis communicated.
Back to the "...I swear..." subject; this goes full circle. Ennis in ONLY TWO WORDS spoke a lifetime of love and commitment. Jack would never have heard this or felt it, which is not to demean wonderful Jack...he just needed alot of overt attention and he admitted this.
Cameron:
In my opinion I really believe that Jack was asking Ennis if he would get married again because like he did a lot he was pushing Ennis to say what he couldn't say.
Just like when Ennis said ' I'm sending a prayer of thanks' and Jack asked 'for what?'. Wasn't it obvious what the prayer of thanks was for?
But to me Jack had to push Ennis, but Ennis said as much as he was able to.
Then when Jack asked Ennis about getting married, I think he knew that Ennis could not marry again, and why he wouldn't, but again Jack was trying to get Ennis to say things that he couldn't say in words.
I do think that Ennis was very obvious with his feelings all along, but Jack could not understand all the signals Ennis was always sending him.
JMHO
As to 'I swear', you know that is one of the few lines that I have still not really be able to put any meanings to. I have many ideas but actually, I dunno, this one is still a mystery to me in many ways.
I think it obviously could mean a whole lot of things depending on one's own interpretion.
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