Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
Would Ennis Commit Suicide?
Bucky:
I just don't believe Ennis would commit suicide because despite Ennis' loneliness from Jack's death Ennis was a survivor. He wouldn't live with Jack because he was afraid that they would both be killed. Also Ennis' philosophy of life was that "if you can't fix it you have to stand it." I think Ennis was a tough old bird who would not do any harm to himself. I agree that Alma Jr. and Kurt and the family they would have and Jenny might not be enough to keep Ennis from doing anything like that but Ennis was a strong individual who grew up very lonely without many friends and with the exception of Jack he didn't have hardly any friends. Somehow I see Ennis going to the bus station diner alone and going to the pool halls alone to watch the younger guys play pool always careful but ready to tackle every day as it came. At times he might have lived with Alma Jr. because of monetary reasons but Ennis was a survivor and I don't think he was the suicide type. Now that is only my opinion of Ennis. I don't have anyway of knowing for sure. I think Ennis was so used to being solitary in his life that it came to him like a second nature.
David:
Well, it is difficult to know what a fictional character was meant to do. Only Anne Proulx can answer that. But we can speculate about his future.
But first. Look where it left off. Ennis is a ranch hand who now lives pretty much near where ever the work is. It is at the end of the book where it says the ranch was sold and he had to move on, perhaps with his daughter. So are we to assume that he can't afford to rent the apartment in Riverton or a small farm house like before? Probably not.
Suicide would be a horrible end to the story, but as pointed out a possible scenario. We can think of other options. He gets a regular blue collar job that pays better and settles into a regular work week. Spending time with his girls and future grandchildren. Would he go back to Cassie? I doubt it. He now knows how unhappy he was with alma and what a mess the situation made of their marriage. I think he'd stay single unless some young buck came along and caught his eye. And that has always been my hope for him. That one day at the General Store he'd bump into a late 30's handsome (and single) black haired Cowboy that would make Ennis gulp hard and take his breath away. And just maybe this new young man would have a thing for the strong silent type.
;)
Jeff Wrangler:
I don't think Ennis would commit suicide--not actively, anyway. That is, I don't think he would have directly killed himself. I just don't think that would be in character for the "can't fix it/got to stand it" kind of guy we know Ennis to be.
On the other hand, Ennis does not lead a particularly healthy lifestyle, despite being an outdoorsman. He smokes too much and drinks too much, undoubtedly has a lousy diet (probably lots of starch and fat and very few fresh fruits and vegetables), and probably has little, no, or poor medical care. I can easily imagine that he wouldn't live much past age 60 (yes, this is the scenario I incorporated in my fanfic, "Some Sweet Life").
I don't believe Ennis would eat his 30.06, but I suppose it's possible to see the smoking and drinking as almost a "passive" form of suicide.
(In reality, a friend of mine chose that route--in addition, adding drugs to the mix. :( )
Mikaela:
Jeff, you took the words right out of my keyboard! I was just gearing up to write exactly what you wrote above.
Completely agree; - Ennis would not commit suicide outright, he's too stoic and inured to his "Can-stand-it" attitude for that. But passively, subconsciously...... his life style goes a way to ensuring that he won't become an old man. And I think that even after he knows that (when it becomes public knowledge how damaging smoking is, for instance) he'll go right on living like he's used to. I don't think he sees any reason or motivation to "prolong" life through healthy living. :'(
Ennis would have been ca. 62 years old by now. I actually have some doubt that he'd still be alive though. I've imagined heart problems or lung cancer might have taken their toll already.
nic:
I read a heartbreaking fan fiction where Ennis went up to Brokeback and took his own life. It was plausible & sensitively written.
However, I agree with Jeff & Mikaela, with the addition that his love for his girls goes a little way in helping to keep him in the world of the living. I can imagine them berating him to stop smoking & drinking so much, to get out more etc Hopefully they would keep him from becoming totally withdrawn all of the time and provide a little light in the rest of his life. He would be so good with grandchildren I think, if he got the opportunity & allowed himself the pleasure.
I get worried thinking of the scenario where they move away and he gets left to his own devices. This "passive" form of suicide (to use Jeff's phrase) would happen a lot more quickly. It's a shame because Jack woulnd't want him to be so miserable without hope for so long, but then again he knew Ennis better than anyone. I think Jack would want him to get the most out of his family and keep working hard on the land and with the animals for as long as he was able, until they were able to meet again.
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