Call it a crazy hunch if you like, as I've nothing to back it up with, but I've always wondered if Aguirre sees something of a younger version of himself, perhaps when he had no power, in Jack? He'd employed Jack the previous year, so he couldn't have been that displeased with Jack to hire him again in '63.
I have always had a niggling suspicion about Aguirre.As you point out he had previously hired Jack,so must not have disliked him that much.Also in the S.S he watches Jack and Ennis "for ten minutes,one day witing untill they had buttoned up their jeans,waiting untill Ennis rode back to the sheep,before bringing the message"
Several things bother me about this.
Aguirre has obviously watched them having sex,which seems odd for a totally straight guy.He then waits to get Jack on his own,and finally there is no reprimand for Jack.
Even if we take away the gay aspect,surely if you had just witnessed 2 employees doing anything other than what they were paid for,would you not at least reprimand them both,maybe even fire them.He comes over as such a hard man that this seems at odds with how he reacts.
I cannot believe that anything Proulx writes is without significance.So what am I missing here.Does Aguirre actually have leanings towards,homosexuality,and in particular Jack.Is that why he watches them fully and lets them stay a little longer.
Does he then become jealous and decide to curtail their freedom,bringing them down early.There is something that does not quite gell.I would have thought that any completely straight man,would watch,see what was happening and then cease watching p.d.q.
Aguirre almost seems on some levels to mirror OMT in that he pays lip service to the idea of 2 men being together,but does not fully embrace it and consequently,feels the need to wound and hurt.In my experience those who are completely happy in their own skin are less judgemental.
That would make him ill at ease with his own sexuality,maybe it is all a little too close for comfort.
I am willing to be shot down for this.Happy for another explanation.As I say the whole episode bothered me from the very first reading.The words literally jumped off the page at me.Why just wait watching the whole thing,and then wait to get Jack on his own?
I have asked a few straight men who are not homophobes,including my husband,and not one of them would willingly watch 2 men having full blown sex,if they had the option to turn away.