Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
Why Jack Quit Ennis
jpwagoneer1964:
--- Quote from: ruthlesslyunsentimental on July 14, 2006, 07:32:53 pm ---
If he had forgotten them, wouldn’t there have to be a diminishment of their significance to Jack? Do you think there’s any reason to believe this? I’m not sure. Jack didn’t take them to Texas could be used as an argument… he didn’t take them to Texas because they weren’t that significant to him or he had forgotten about them. But, I’ve always felt that he didn’t take them to Texas because how would he *really* hide them? On another thought, would he *really* have to? He could have taken the shirts to Texas and had Lureen found them and asked about them, Jack could have simply said he had a friend once, they got in a fight, and parted, and this was Jack’s way of remembering a lost friend. He wouldn’t have to connect them with Ennis at all. And it seems as if Lureen probably wouldn’t have given a second thought… after telling Jack that that’s silly. I dunno. Good question. You’ve created a coffee pot handle for which I’m circling around trying to find.
--- End quote ---
I don'tr think Jack had forgotten the shirts at all. They were best protected at lightning Flat where his room was kept as he was a boy. His main thoughts about them were he was secure know that the symbol of HIm and Enni's was safe. In Childress they likely could have fallen victim to Goodwill drive.
ruthlesslyunsentimental:
--- Quote from: Mikaela on July 14, 2006, 02:41:43 pm ---As long as those shirts were hidden in the back of his closet, it proved Jack still loved Ennis. As long as Jack loved Ennis, he'd hold on to the shirts and keep them safe. Even if he "quit" Ennis, as discussed in this thread; - stopped seeing him, set Ennis free - he'd still safeguard the shirts for remembrance, because he still loved.
--- End quote ---
I agree 100%. In fact, after quitting Ennis those shirts would take on an even stronger significance to Jack – in the little bit of life he had left to live.
Unless of course, Jack stole something else from Ennis at the final lake scene. Maybe something he could take to Texas -- like Ennis' creel case... or his fishin' rod... maybe his wallet? In fact, maybe that’s why Jack looks so distressed as Ennis drives away… Jack *tried* to take a remembrance of Ennis but wasn’t able to pull it off this time…
I wonder if Jack stole candy from the five-and-dime when he was a little boy?
ruthlesslyunsentimental:
--- Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on July 14, 2006, 03:22:51 pm ---I guess what is provoking in me the idea that he might have forgotten about the shirts is the thought that if Jack had truly--truly--decided to "quit" Ennis, and if those shirts were still prominent in his consciousness, it would have been logical for him to get rid of them on his final trip to Lightning Flat.
--- End quote ---
But, once again, “quit” doesn’t mean “stop loving.” It means “let be.” I would think that after quitting Ennis the shirts would take on an even more significant role in Jack’s life.
--- Quote ---All we really know is that in the end, the shirts were still there.
--- End quote ---
We sure do. And this is a good thing.
ruthlesslyunsentimental:
--- Quote from: jpwagoneer1964 on July 14, 2006, 07:57:09 pm ---I don'r think Jack had forgotten the shirts at all. They were best protected at lightning Flat where his room was kept as he was a boy. His main thoughts about them were he was secure know that the symbol of HIm and enni's was safe. In Childress they likely could have fallen victim to Goodwill drive.
--- End quote ---
Absolutely! I agree. And a great big LOL for the last line! :laugh:
dly64:
--- Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on July 14, 2006, 02:18:19 pm --- Actually, I think Jack made all those trips to Lightning Flat over the years because, regardless of his poor relationship with his father, I think he felt an admirable sense of responsibility to his parents. I never bring the texts with me to work, but I remember, in the story anyway, how Annie Proulx has Jack's mother make such a point of telling Ennis that Jack came back every summer to help out on the ranch, mowing (hay, for winter feed), and mending gates, and so forth.
I guess it's a measure of how far I've fallen from the true faith, but I've even begun to wonder whether it's possible Jack had forgotten that those shirts were stuck in the back of that closet. ...
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--- Quote from: ruthlesslyunsentimental on July 14, 2006, 07:10:13 pm ---
This confuses me. Jack told Ennis that he was going up to Lightning Flat. Then they argued. Then Jack went up to Lightning Flat. Right? I’m not seeing a distinction here.
I think Jack went up to Lightning Flat to see his folks and help out a bit. When he said to Ennis that he was going up to Lightning Flat, why would the reason be to see the shirts when Ennis was standing right in front Jack? Because the shirts were more special to Jack than the man himself? I’m sure you didn’t mean that. But I am confused.
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Okay you guys …. Let me clarify. This is one of those cases where I knew what I was talking about, but didn’t express it very clearly.
First of all … Jeff … I think it is completely impossible to think that Jack ever forgot about those shirts. It symbolized the two into one … a metaphor of marriage vows … “the two shall become one.” Ennis then responded by making his vow to Jack … “Jack, I swear …”
Now … what I meant by Jack going to Lightning Flat. I am not saying that when Jack went there he didn’t help out around the ranch. What I am saying is that Jack’s primary motivation is not to go there to mow and fix gates, etc. I think Jack tended to go up to Lightning Flat after he had just been with Ennis … not because he wanted to see the shirts instead of Ennis. Rather, he went to see the shirts to be close to a part of Ennis after Ennis left. I am not sure if I am explaining this very eloquently … let me break it down another way ….
There is a theme of Ennis leaving/ disappointing Jack:
• Ennis leaves Jack to go up to the sheep after TS1
• Ennis leaves Jack post mountain
• Ennis makes it clear that he and Jack will never “ranch up” together after their reunion
• After Ennis’ divorce and Jack drives up 14 hours because he thinks Ennis has decided to have a life with him … Ennis turns him away
• After the “dozy embrace” … Ennis rides away
• After the row, Ennis drives away
Every time Ennis leaves, it reminds Jack of what he could have had. Jack misses Ennis to the point he can hardly stand it. When he goes to Lightning Flat … the shirts are a reminder of what they had on the mountain; freedom from rural homophobia and from their own internal fears and struggles. They could be free to love each other openly. They could be free from glares and speculations. It was just the two of them.
--- Quote ---Oh, no. Not more confusion! :laugh: This is exactly why I hope they never put out a special edition DVD.
--- End quote ---
NO! NO! NO!!! A Special Edition would be great … not to change the actual movie, but to see deleted scenes and hear commentaries. I’m telling you … It would be KICK BUTT!!
--- Quote ---But is this the kind of man that Jack is portrayed to us as? Meaningless sex, on-going with one individual, for a period of years, and yet no feelings for the individual? Jack probably had meaningless sex with different individuals over a period of years in Mexico. But, Randall was Jack’s “one and only” in Childress. I think…
--- End quote ---
I tend to state, a bit too strongly, that Jack and Randall primarily have a sexual relationship. I am not saying that Randall isn’t a companion. However, Jack’s reason for getting involved with Randall in the first place, IMO, was to meet Jack’s sexual needs. Randall was no Ennis.
--- Quote ---I have a hard time wrapping myself around this one. Would you still say the same thing in light of the fact that at the breakdown Jack became acutely aware of the destructive effects on Ennis due to his inability to keep his worlds in harmony? This is the part I have the hardest time coming to grips with: Jack loving Ennis so much that he chooses to keep Ennis in suffering. I don’t see Jack that way.
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Doesn’t Ennis keep the relationship going with Jack even though he knows Jack is suffering? Ennis is acutely aware of the toll that their relationship has taken on Jack, but is unable to let him go. IMO, this is the same thing with Jack. It isn’t that either one wants to see the other in turmoil and pain. However, their relationship has been hard. It has been difficult. It has been painful. It has been separate. Despite all of this, they are part of each other. They complete each other. They represent the yin and the yang … two opposites becoming a whole.
--- Quote ---Why? Why were they unable? My argument has been that it’s the great love that exists between them that not only makes Jack “able,” but makes it impossible to do anything else. I very well may be missing something, but I don't understand a love that keeps your lover in agony, turmoil, chaos – in chains created by an inner conflict that goes to the very core of Ennis’ being.
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You have a compelling argument. I just can’t see Jack being able to release Ennis, as Ennis is unable to release Jack. They are too enmeshed. It is not that either one is selfish. It is because they love each other to the core that makes it impossible to let each go free. That is why Jack’s death is so profound. Even in death, Ennis cannot let Jack go. He swears his love for Jack …. even in death, they do not part.
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