Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
Why Jack Quit Ennis
jpwagoneer1964:
--- Quote from: ruthlesslyunsentimental on July 14, 2006, 12:17:50 am ---
Ummm, I think he’s learned that Jack was “in love” with Ennis… that Ennis was “in love” with Jack… that they maybe could have made a go of a life together… BUT, I don’t think he’s totally overcome his fears – that’s too “Brady Bunch” for me. And I do think regardless how much he has progressed, I think he’s still comfortable with whatever part of his relationship with Jack that he “sacrificed” or “held back” for his daughters. I know you didn’t intend for me to infer that Ennis has learned that he should not have put his daughters ahead of his love for Jack… maybe that he’s learned that a better balance should have been found?
--- End quote ---
I think when his daughters were younger has was right to put them ahead of Jack. In doing so he put Jack family ahead as well. Not enough parents do this, failing to realize ther security and well being need to be put first.
I don't think Randell was much more that an option to Jack. After the dance he doesn't respond and has a look the suggests he wishes he couldn't this be Ennis
ruthlesslyunsentimental:
--- Quote from: jpwagoneer1964 on July 14, 2006, 12:43:07 am ---I think when his daughters were younger has was right to put them ahead of Jack. In doing so he put Jack family ahead as well. Not enough parents do this, failing to realize ther security and well being need to be put first.
--- End quote ---
Sure enough.
--- Quote ---I don't think Randell was much more that an option to Jack.
--- End quote ---
But, over time... ?
--- Quote ---After the dance he doesn't respond and has a look the suggests he wishes he couldn't this be Ennis
--- End quote ---
Great big "Sure enough!"
Mikaela:
My God, people, how do you find the *time* for these lengthy and illuminating posts? I'm in awe! :)
I've stated elsewhere that when it comes to "Did Ennis know the "thing" was love" I agree completely with Katherine. And when it comes to; would/did Jack quit Ennis - what does "quit" really mean - would he quit for the sake of his love for Ennis - I'm entirely with Ruthlessly. Can't think of any argument in either case that hasn't been put forth much more eloquently by others here already.
One thing (even that's such a loaded word in BBM) I have been mulling over, is that if I think that Jack would "officially" quit Ennis at the November meet-up, however he'd choose to do that; - if he came to realize (and I agree with him) during their last meeting when Ennis broke down that he *would* have to quit for Ennis's sake - because their relationship was killing Ennis and not just himself - if losing Jack was necessary for Ennis to be able to move forward in life or to at least come to terms with his own life or manage the day-to-day "being Ennis" - why doesn't Jack's death work the same way? Or does it? But I see this has been touched upon in the most recent exchange of posts, so I'll count myself answered, if still actively mulling this over.
Another thing I've been mulling over is whether Jack subconsciously - I don't ever think he'd do this consciously - realized that one way of managing the quitting (again, quitting for the sake of Ennis, for his love of Ennis) would be his own death; ie. whether in his pain and grief over the whole situation he got careless and tempted fate after his return to Texas and so caught the eye of the local Mr. Del Mar Senior versions. I surely don't think Jack is the type for this - but his expression as he watches Ennis drive away after the dozy flashback is deeply disconcerting for anyone who loves Jack's eternal optimism. Wouldn't it hit him all the harder once he realized that quitting seemed the only way?
What I mainly wanted to attach some comments to, was the Randall situation. There are several posts discussing this, I'm going to quote this one from Jeff as a jump-off point:
--- Quote ---By the time of Jack's death, I guess he and Randall had known each other for about three years, so you might think Jack would know by then whether or not Randall's intentions were honorable, as the saying used to be, but maybe our dear, optimistic Jack didn't really know. Or maybe he was just day-dreaming out loud.
--- End quote ---
I just can't get my head around the Randall we meet in the film ever moving to Lightning Flat. That well-groomed, smooth (I happen to heartily dislike him making the moves on someone new right in front of their wives' eyes), college-educated, not-very-mechanical man, moving up to the poverty and loneliness of the Twist Ranch to "lick it into shape", braving the condescending ways of OMT? I just can't see it. I can't see how Jack would have thought that could ever work, even. Doesn't mean Randall and Jack didn't talk about it, doesn't mean Randall can't have been entirely serious about Jack, doesn't mean they didn't have a relationship going for years, but..... no. I could much rather see Randall suggesting they move out of Childress and find work and a life together elsewhere, but then in a town somewhere. Like the short story says, perhaps if it happens to others (than Jack and Ennis) they move to Denver. A degree in Animal Husbandry still didn't mean he can't get any other sort of job, does it?
I do however think that when Jack talked to his parents of this new man, the ranch neighbor he was giing to bring up to the ranch, - he *was* talking of Randall and not some other person. (For one thing, the shooting script included a scene where Randall lets Jack out of his car and they are observed by some grumpy guys who don't seem to appreciate two men behaving in that particular way. This must have been filmed since those guys appear in the BBM trailer and in all probability are the ones who kill Jack in the telephone conversation "flashback". Now why it was cut in the final film - I'd say it has more to do with film pacing and Ang Lee's love of ambiguity, wanting to make the cause of Jack's death ambiguous - than any wish to indicate Jack was involved with someone else than Randall).
So. Jack was talking of Randall to his parents. And in all likelihood he came directly from his last meeting with Ennis when he did that (He was going up to see his folks then for a day or two; and I don't think he went up to his folks many times if at all without having a meet-up with Ennis at the same time). I think he mentioned Randall not because he necessarily believed in it, nor because he and Randall had made any sort of final decision about it - but because he needed to officially start "quitting" Ennis as soon as possible, while his decision held firm. To make it as much of a road of no return for himself as possible. And where better to do that than the place where he had indulged in speaking his daydreams of ranching up with Ennis out loud? Once he'd said that it was over out loud too, it would be so much more real. And no better way to say it is over than to introduce the new guy at the same time. Makes it sound that much more final.
(Plus, for the sake of the film and the story, Jack needed to say that about the new guy to his parents, for Ennis to hear it from OMT. I still think Heath Ledger should have gotten that Oscar on the basis of his reaction to that piece of news from OMT alone - imagine what that part of the film (and the following scene of Ennis finding the shirts) would have lost if the news to Ennis that Jack was leaving him hadn't been there....)
ETA: I sent a PM with my response to Katherine concerning the "arrogance" issue yesterday. Suffice it to say, my sentiments completely echo what has already been expressed here by others. :-*
Jeff Wrangler:
Bravo, Mikaela!
Enjoyed reading your points about Randall! Ver' good! :)
It is kind of sleazy for him to put the moves on Jack right in front of their wives--not that LaShawn would have noticed! She never shut up long enough to notice! I"m still finding it difficult to wrap my mind around the notion that Randall ultimately wanted more from Jack than a couple of weekends a year at his boss's croppie house on Lake Kemp.
Funny as it may seem to some, though, I do think the look on Jack's face when Randall makes his proposition indicates that this is the first time Jack's felt himself the pursued instead of the pursuer--wakes him up to the notion that there might be someone out there besides Ennis, even if it didn't turn out to be Randall.
ednbarby:
--- Quote ---So. Jack was talking of Randall to his parents. And in all likelihood he came directly from his last meeting with Ennis when he did that (He was going up to see his folks then for a day or two; and I don't think he went up to his folks many times if at all without having a meet-up with Ennis at the same time). I think he mentioned Randall not because he necessarily believed in it, nor because he and Randall had made any sort of final decision about it - but because he needed to officially start "quitting" Ennis as soon as possible, while his decision held firm. To make it as much of a road of no return for himself as possible. And where better to do that than the place where he had indulged in speaking his daydreams of ranching up with Ennis out loud? Once he'd said that it was over out loud too, it would be so much more real. And no better way to say it is over than to introduce the new guy at the same time. Makes it sound that much more final.
--- End quote ---
Bravo, Mikaela, from me, too. I think this is spot on accurate. Or at least exactly how and why I'd picture Jack mentioning Randall to his parents on his next (and probably last :'() visit to them.
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