Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
"Jack, I swear..." What do you think Ennis meant by that?
TJ:
--- Quote from: atz75 on May 01, 2006, 11:20:13 am ---Heya Rayn,
I just quoted that beginning paragraph of the Close Range story at length in my new "Jack and the Wind" thread. I love that opening to the story. A beautiful piece of writing.
--- End quote ---
For the reader of the story with those two beginning italicized paragraphs, those words of Ennis preparing to pack and moving off the Stoutamire Ranch at/in/near Signal, Wyoming, sets the tone for the rest of the story.
It is like the story of Ennis and Jack which begins in Signal at Aguirre's parking lot in May 1963 is a flashback.
We don't even know whom Jack Twist is until that scene in the book nor do we know what his relationship was with Ennis.
Mary Twist:
Oh, my, I had such a long trip here from Wyoming and through Internet Movie Database system. It's awful what happened there. A disgrace it is. Yet I am here now, thank God.
I know what my Ennis meant by "I swear, Jack". He always loved him, stiil does and always will. Ennis will be visiting me soon for Mother's Day weekend.
I love Ennis so much.
Mrs. Twist
starboardlight:
--- Quote from: Mary Twist on May 03, 2006, 05:22:03 pm ---Oh, my, I had such a long trip here from Wyoming and through Iinternet Movie Database system. It's awful what happened there. A disgrace it is. Yet I am here now, thank God.
I know what my Ennis meant by "I swear, Jack". He always love him, stiil does and always will. Ennis will be visiting me soon for Mother's Day weekend.
I love Ennis so much.
Mrs. Twist
--- End quote ---
ha ha. welcome, pull up a chair, and make yourself at home. help yourself to the coffee, but don't ask for the cherry cake. ours only has one cherry in it, so it's best to avoid that awkwardness.
Brown Eyes:
Welcome Mary, nice to see you here! I remember you from the old boards. :)
Rayn:
--- Quote from: Mary Twist on May 03, 2006, 05:22:03 pm ---I know what my Ennis meant by "I swear, Jack". He always love him, stiil does and always will. Ennis will be visiting me soon for Mother's Day weekend.
--- End quote ---
Readin' over TJ and Mary Twist's posts the thought just occurred to me that, of course what Ennis says has everything to do with love, but perhaps it's even a wider and more inclusive statement.
In the movie, Ennis has just told his daughter he'll attend her wedding. Ennis knows, now, how deeply Jack loved him and perhaps he has realized that he hasn't been too skilled at loving anyone. It's not Ennis' fault. It's just how he is... for many reasons, but since he now knows, sees his lack of skill, he swears to Jack that he always loved him and will improve on it: "Jack, I swear, I always loved you and I'm gonna git better at lovin' others too...." We can't really know, but it's a wonderful way to imagine it and I arrived at it because of my interaction with all you good friends here.
I know the part where Alma Jr. visits the trailer to announce her wedding isn't in the book which again shows how very different the movie is, but that first page intro in the book does mention "he might have to stay with his married daughter". I bet that's where the idea for the wedding announcement came for the movie!
Thanks,
Rayn
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