Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum

trying to make sense of Jack

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Front-Ranger:
Notice how Jack was always talking about his dad, and the only mention of his mother was that she "believes in the Pentacost." Even there he didn't absorb her beliefs or even understand what the Pentacost was about. He was continually talking about going to help his "daddy" through the winter. This is one of the earmarks of a neglected or abused child who feels somehow that he or she is to blame rather than the parent, and is always striving to meet up to impossible expectations.

jpwagoneer1964:
Just had this thought about Jack as I was writing some Fanfic and found the perfect thread. I think what kept Jack going was that Ennis never rejected him, in the sense he never wanted to end the ralationship. He never gave Jack what he really wanted, but he still was there for the fishing trips. I think that is why Jack waited four years to contact Ennis, a very real fear that Ennis wouldn't answer or tell him to leave him alone, so by not contacting him he was keeping hope alive. Jack could not have stood that. He was able to accept all the other rejections as long as he had Ennis.

ednbarby:

--- Quote ---Notice how Jack was always talking about his dad, and the only mention of his mother was that she "believes in the Pentacost." Even there he didn't absorb her beliefs or even understand what the Pentacost was about. He was continually talking about going to help his "daddy" through the winter. This is one of the earmarks of a neglected or abused child who feels somehow that he or she is to blame rather than the parent, and is always striving to meet up to impossible expectations.
--- End quote ---

Excellent point.  It's true - you really don't mention the parent whose love you never questioned in those types of situations.  We always got around to our childhood horror stories when we got hanging out and drinking in college.  And we would almost try to out-do one another with things like, "Oh, yeah?  Well, one time, my Dad..." or ", my Mom..."  We never tried to out-do each other on whose parent(s) loved them the most or did the most loving things.  Hopefully, though, that's because the unforgiving moments were much less constant than the all-abiding love - we remember those moments distinctly because there were fewer of them than the other.  I like to hope that, anyway.



--- Quote ---Just had this thought about Jack asI was writing some Fanfic and found the perfect thread. I think what kept Jack going was that Ennis never rejected him, in the since he never wanted to end the ralationship. He never gave Jack what he really wanted, but he still was there for the fishing trips. I think that is why Jack waited four years to contact Ennis, a very real fear that Ennis wouldn't answer or tell him to leave him alone, so by not contacting him he was keeping hope alive.. Jack could not have stood that. He was able to accept all the other rejections as long as he had Ennis.
--- End quote ---

Another excellent point - it explains perfectly why Jack waited for four fuckin' years.  Thanks, JP.

ekeby:
I agree that Jack compartmentalizes . . . and he manipulates; it's a little hard to figure out where one trait ends and the other begins. I realized last time I watched that Jack lies to Ennis in the motel room when he neglects to mention that Aguirre knew what they were up to. It's like he's put that information in a lock box somewhere, because some part of him knows if he reveals it, Ennis could end what they have. And this is well before Ennis gives the I told you it's not gonna be like that speech . . . .

coffeecat33:
Here's a line from the short story by A. P. that I like, Without getting up, he threw deadwood on the fire, the sparks flying up with their truths and lies,..." I don't think Jack always intentionally lied, but I think Jack wanted Ennis so bad he walked on egg shells around him, trying not to upset him or send him into a rage. Jack did not want to get rejected by Ennis, so he skirted around some issues (been to Mexico, seeing the rancher's wife) in order not to incur Ennis' wrath. Ironically Jack's worst fears of being rejected by Ennis occurred anyway.

Some people are born with what's called, "resiliency." Even though they have a childhood of deprivation and are at risk of not succeeding, they still manage to. Jack took a lot of chances. He left home, left the state, hit on men he didn't know, asked Ennis to live with him, etc. I don't see Jack as hidden or having in outer & inner Jack. (At any rate, most of us have outer & inner selves.) I don't think he compartmentalized very well ("He drank a lot.") - he couldn't stop himself from talking about Ennis, even to his dad. I always felt Jack got married because Lureen had money (he finds that out before she approaches him), she was aggressive and (being Jack) he went along for the ride and probably mainly because they got pregnant. Not telling Ennis about Aguirre's observations was to protect Ennis I think. Ennis would freak if he knew Aquirre knew they were gay and had seen them having sex, wouldn't he?

I am so biased in Jack's favor, I can't be that objective but this is an interesting thread. cc33

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