Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
Why Jack Quit Ennis
ednbarby:
--- Quote from: silkncense on July 15, 2006, 01:59:37 pm ---Once again I'm late to the dance & everyone's already paired up...
Anyway - I read elsewhere (was it TOB?) the thread about Jack "quitting" Ennis & posted a response. Since I now have no idea where it was, I would like to offer my Ennisesq response again.
From my observation, I saw that Jack was definitely considering quitting Ennis, thus the conversation the last night at the lake, including "Sometimes I miss you so much I can hardly stand it." Jack was looking for some hope from Ennis & got none.
When Ennis cancelled August, Jack was back to mulling over whether to end the relationship then & there, thus the "I wish I knew how to quit you."
Ennis saying, "Why don't you then..." gave Jack the permission he needed. BUT, when Ennis uncontrollably collapsed (from the thought that the relationship was ending - that Jack had been with other men & all the emotion that that absolute fear brought to him), Jack could not stand it.
Jack came back, emotionally & physically to Ennis. He moved to hold him & despite the perfect opportunity to say "OK" , fought to bring Ennis back to him when Ennis tried denying his feelings w/ "Get the fuck off of me!" And Jack, who was almost there, almost ready to break away, said, "Damn you, Ennis".
The last view of Jack for me is his inner turmoil now. He was almost there. Almost ready to let Ennis go. Now where was he? Hurt & confused and no further resolved than before, remembering how much he loves Ennis.
The conversation Jack had w/ his folks at Ligthning Flat was an attempt to move on. But 'the ranch neighbor' had no name. Unlike Ennis.
And when Ennis came to the Twist ranch, Jack's mother knew this was the love of Jack's life. And that is why she so gently touched Ennis when her husband mentioned the ranch neighbor - to assure Ennis that the ranch neighbor comment should not hurt him - & why she encouraged Ennis to go to Jack's room & KNEW, with that nod & smile, what those shirts meant when she saw Ennis cradling them.
Now, that's more words than I'd wrote all year...
--- End quote ---
Thanks for saving them up for us, Silk. They were well worth the wait.
I think you're absolutely right. Your words are so convincing that you've convinced me my view was wrong. Or at least not quite right. I missed the target but hit the tree. Of course that's what "Damn you, Ennis" means. He was *almost* there. Of course. It makes me feel better and worse for him at the same time. And your observation that Jack never gave "the ranch neighbor" a name like he did with Ennis (and he didn't just stop at Ennis... "Jack used a say 'Ennis del Mar,' he used a say..."). That's right on, too.
Thank you.
And I love your first line in the post and the way you put things in general. Always brings a smile to my face. You don't say much. But you get your point across. Always. :)
jpwagoneer1964:
--- Quote from: silkncense on July 15, 2006, 01:59:37 pm ---Once again I'm late to the dance & everyone's already paired up...
Anyway - I read elsewhere (was it TOB?) the thread about Jack "quitting" Ennis & posted a response. Since I now have no idea where it was, I would like to offer my Ennisesq response again.
From my observation, I saw that Jack was definitely considering quitting Ennis, thus the conversation the last night at the lake, including "Sometimes I miss you so much I can hardly stand it." Jack was looking for some hope from Ennis & got none.
When Ennis cancelled August, Jack was back to mulling over whether to end the relationship then & there, thus the "I wish I knew how to quit you."
Ennis saying, "Why don't you then..." gave Jack the permission he needed. BUT, when Ennis uncontrollably collapsed (from the thought that the relationship was ending - that Jack had been with other men & all the emotion that that absolute fear brought to him), Jack could not stand it.
Jack came back, emotionally & physically to Ennis. He moved to hold him & despite the perfect opportunity to say "OK" , fought to bring Ennis back to him when Ennis tried denying his feelings w/ "Get the fuck off of me!" And Jack, who was almost there, almost ready to break away, said, "Damn you, Ennis".
The last view of Jack for me is his inner turmoil now. He was almost there. Almost ready to let Ennis go. Now where was he? Hurt & confused and no further resolved than before, remembering how much he loves Ennis.
The conversation Jack had w/ his folks at Ligthning Flat was an attempt to move on. But 'the ranch neighbor' had no name. Unlike Ennis.
And when Ennis came to the Twist ranch, Jack's mother knew this was the love of Jack's life. And that is why she so gently touched Ennis when her husband mentioned the ranch neighbor - to assure Ennis that the ranch neighbor comment should not hurt him - & why she encouraged Ennis to go to Jack's room & KNEW, with that nod & smile, what those shirts meant when she saw Ennis cradling them.
Now, that's more words than I'd wrote all year...
--- End quote ---
Hi. Very well written and very heartwarming. I knew Jack wouldn't quit Ennis.
dly64:
--- Quote from: silkncense on July 15, 2006, 01:59:37 pm ---From my observation, I saw that Jack was definitely considering quitting Ennis, thus the conversation the last night at the lake, including "Sometimes I miss you so much I can hardly stand it." Jack was looking for some hope from Ennis & got none.
--- End quote ---
I have to disagree with you on this one. We don’t see Ennis saying anything. What we do see is Ennis and Jack sleeping in the tent with Ennis’ arm around Jack. This is not insignificant. It is extremely powerful since it is usually Jack we see comforting Ennis, not the other way around.
--- Quote ---When Ennis cancelled August, Jack was back to mulling over whether to end the relationship then & there, thus the "I wish I knew how to quit you."
Ennis saying, "Why don't you then..." gave Jack the permission he needed. BUT, when Ennis uncontrollably collapsed (from the thought that the relationship was ending - that Jack had been with other men & all the emotion that that absolute fear brought to him), Jack could not stand it.
Jack came back, emotionally & physically to Ennis. He moved to hold him & despite the perfect opportunity to say "OK" , fought to bring Ennis back to him when Ennis tried denying his feelings w/ "Get the fuck off of me!" And Jack, who was almost there, almost ready to break away, said, "Damn you, Ennis".
--- End quote ---
Again, I am not sure that I agree. I think Jack was frustrated. He had a lot of physical needs that were not getting met. When Jack said “I wish I knew how to quit you” … it was not because he really wanted the relationship to end. Same with Ennis’ statement … “why don’t you?” These two couldn’t quit each other even if they tried. They were intertwined. They were dependent upon each other. Jack knew that Ennis was not giving him permission to leave. Ennis was speaking out of hurt and, yes, betrayal. But everything they said was not a surprise. They both knew the truth.
--- Quote ---The last view of Jack for me is his inner turmoil now. He was almost there. Almost ready to let Ennis go. Now where was he? Hurt & confused and no further resolved than before, remembering how much he loves Ennis.
--- End quote ---
The more I think about it, the more I think that the look on Jack’s face is one of sadness because he knows what could have been. The expression is seen after Jack’s recollection of a time when it was the two of them … when they were not subjected to societal expectations and fear. It is also important to note that it is Ennis who is comforting Jack, not the other way around. Jack is fully aware that Ennis loves him as Jack loves Ennis. Jack could not have a life without Ennis. IMO, even if Jack would have moved in with Randall, he would have continued to see Ennis. Jack is drawn to Ennis as Ennis is drawn to Jack.
--- Quote ---The conversation Jack had w/ his folks at Lightning Flat was an attempt to move on. But 'the ranch neighbor' had no name. Unlike Ennis.
And when Ennis came to the Twist ranch, Jack's mother knew this was the love of Jack's life. And that is why she so gently touched Ennis when her husband mentioned the ranch neighbor - to assure Ennis that the ranch neighbor comment should not hurt him - & why she encouraged Ennis to go to Jack's room & KNEW, with that nod & smile, what those shirts meant when she saw Ennis cradling them.
--- End quote ---
I agree with most of what you have said, with the exception of Jack’s attempt to move on. I think Jack had needs that were not being met with Ennis on a regular basis. Randall could fill those basic needs. Ennis, however, could only satisfy the closeness, the “shared and sexless hunger” that Jack craved.
ednbarby:
--- Quote from: dly64 on July 24, 2006, 03:56:06 pm ---I have to disagree with you on this one. We don’t see Ennis saying anything. What we do see is Ennis and Jack sleeping in the tent with Ennis’ arm around Jack. This is not insignificant. It is extremely powerful since it is usually Jack we see comforting Ennis, not the other way around.
--- End quote ---
Ah, but does Jack know Ennis has his arm around him? And if he could see his troubled brow and restless sleep with that arm around him, would it comfort him or make him feel further alienated from him?
--- Quote from: dly64 on July 24, 2006, 03:56:06 pm ---Again, I am not sure that I agree. I think Jack was frustrated. He had a lot of physical needs that were not getting met. When Jack said “I wish I knew how to quit you” … it was not because he really wanted the relationship to end. Same with Ennis’ statement … “why don’t you?” These two couldn’t quit each other even if they tried. They were intertwined. They were dependent upon each other. Jack knew that Ennis was not giving him permission to leave. Ennis was speaking out of hurt and, yes, betrayal. But everything they said was not a surprise. They both knew the truth.
The more I think about it, the more I think that the look on Jack’s face is one of sadness because he knows what could have been. The expression is seen after Jack’s recollection of a time when it was the two of them … when they were not subjected to societal expectations and fear. It is also important to note that it is Ennis who is comforting Jack, not the other way around. Jack is fully aware that Ennis loves him as Jack loves Ennis. Jack could not have a life without Ennis. IMO, even if Jack would have moved in with Randall, he would have continued to see Ennis. Jack is drawn to Ennis as Ennis is drawn to Jack.
I agree with most of what you have said, with the exception of Jack’s attempt to move on. I think Jack had needs that were not being met with Ennis on a regular basis. Randall could fill those basic needs. Ennis, however, could only satisfy the closeness, the “shared and sexless hunger” that Jack craved.
--- End quote ---
I think that when Jack said "I wish I knew how to quit you," he really was just thinking out loud, as he always did, that he wished he could find a way to let Ennis go because holding on was killing him. Then, as Silk (and Ruthlessly) said, Ennis ironically showed him how. But I agree with you and now, Silk, that ultimately he never fully could, not like he wished he could. And I see Jack going up to Lightning Flat, mentioning "the ranch neighbor" to his parents/Dad (but not giving him his name because deep down he's not serious) out of frustration, then going back to Childress and drinking himself unconscious every day from then on. I don't even see him getting together any more with Randall - at least not seriously - because he doesn't respect him enough (again, if he did, he'd have mentioned his name, as Silk so laser-sharply pointed out). And like David, I see him getting himself into trouble one way or the other while under the influence because he can't quit Ennis ("Damn you, Ennis").
:'(
dly64:
--- Quote from: ednbarby on July 24, 2006, 04:10:30 pm ---Ah, but does Jack know Ennis has his arm around him? And if he could see his troubled brow and restless sleep with that arm around him, would it comfort him or make him feel further alienated from him?
--- End quote ---
I think it is no coincidence that we go from the “Tell you what …. the truth is …. sometimes I miss you so much I can hardly stand it” straight to the tent scene with Ennis’ arm around Jack. Jack is fully aware that Ennis’ arm is around him. IMO, they had just made love and fell asleep while Ennis was comforting and holding Jack.
I am not sure that I understand the second part of your statement. Are you saying that Ennis has the troubled brow or Jack? Let me just put it this way …. Ennis’ arm around Jack is reminiscent of the “dozy embrace” flashback we see later. That memory is one of warmth and comfort. I think that is what Jack is feeling in the tent.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version