Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
TOTW 01/09: Jack meeting Alma - symbolism and questions (story-related)
Monika:
--- Quote from: retropian on January 26, 2009, 09:28:17 pm --- It didn't seem Jack was trembling or overcome with emotion, which I would have liked to have seen.
--- End quote ---
I agree. I can see it during the kissing scene, but not when he meets Alma. One of my favorite lines from the ss is the one about Ennis being able to feel Jack tremble.
Everytime I watch that scene I wish they would have been a little more out of breath :)
Katie77:
The short story and the film, certainly do show two different scenarios of the introduction to Alma.
Even though they are puffing and trembling in the SS, and Enis uses the excuse about not seeing each other for four years, I still do not think that Ennis is aware that Alma saw them kissing. I think he is using that excuse to explain their excitement and the visual that is now in front of Alma as they are introduced. I think they were the only words that Ennis could think of at the time to try to cover up any reason for Alma to be suspicious of how they both looked.
If Ennis had thought Alma had seen them kissing, I think he would have left and never come back.
Ellemeno:
I'm going to respond as if the question was "Do I think Ennis knew Alma saw them kiss?" And i"m going to only reference the movie.
I don't think Ennis ever thought Alma suspected a thing until the Thanksgiving scene in the kitchen. I don't think he would have so arrogantly said, "I'd be happy to leave you alone" moments before the divorce scene, if he thought she thought he was gay. I don't think he would have said "Once burned" right before she confronted him in the Thanksgiving scene, if he'd thought she thought he was gay. Both times he is acting like their lack of success in the marriage was her fault.
Also, right after she confronts him on Thanksgiving is the first time he asks Jack, "Lureen don't suspect?" I think he only gave indication that he thought he was getting away with his fishing trips actually being trysts until then.
Also, and I've brought this up before and I don't think anyone has yet ever agreed with me on this - I think that Monroe, Junior, and Jenny totally hear the Thanksgiving exchange, at least the end parts, which were louder. And it's why we never see Jenny after that moment, and why Junior suggests he might not be the marrying kind.
Monika:
--- Quote from: Ellemeno on January 29, 2009, 04:13:19 am ---I'm going to respond as if the question was "Do I think Ennis knew Alma saw them kiss?" And i"m going to only reference the movie.
I don't think Ennis ever thought Alma suspected a thing until the Thanksgiving scene in the kitchen. I don't think he would have so arrogantly said, "I'd be happy to leave you alone" moments before the divorce scene, if he thought she thought he was gay. I don't think he would have said "Once burned" right before she confronted him in the Thanksgiving scene, if he'd thought she thought he was gay. Both times he is acting like their lack of success in the marriage was her fault.
--- End quote ---
I agree. In the movie there´s never any doubt that Ennis doesn´t know, in my mind.
I find it more vague in the ss though.
Katie77:
--- Quote from: Ellemeno on January 29, 2009, 04:13:19 am ---Also, and I've brought this up before and I don't think anyone has yet ever agreed with me on this - I think that Monroe, Junior, and Jenny totally hear the Thanksgiving exchange, at least the end parts, which were louder. And it's why we never see Jenny after that moment, and why Junior suggests he might not be the marrying kind.
--- End quote ---
I agree, that Monroe and the girls would have heard the argument at Thanksgiving. I dont think Jenny would have been old enough to comprehend what was actually going on, other than to see that her Mum and Dad were having an argument. I do think Junior probably got the gist of what was happening. In those days though, I doubt if she would have understood completely what was actually going on, but as she got older she might have become more aware of things.
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