Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
The short story
Front-Ranger:
Good observations, Karen. I felt the same way you did about movie Ennis. His reticence was emphasized more in the story, perhaps to contrast to Jack. The story was like Jack and ENnis together against a cruel world, while in the movie, it was almost like Jack and Ennis against each other. I like the way both the story and the movie were developed but when I think about Ennis and Jack, I prefer to think about them as they were in the story. Thanks for your eloquent post.
karen1129:
I have to say, the book certainly gave me more perpective on these two young mens bond. They both came from undemonstrative homes.... poverty...
really had no prospects....... but most importantly.... neither had EVER had
a friend. Someone that listened and cared. That part where Ennis goes back
to the sheep that one night after talking with Jack at camp..... he felt he could paw the white out of the moon. He had never had that much fun before.
How sad is that !
Karen
mlewisusc:
--- Quote from: Lynne on December 04, 2006, 03:26:35 pm ---
Hey there, Jeff,
I believe that the prologue is in essence an epilogue, regardless of when Annie wrote it or added it, for exactly the reasons you mention. It's apparent to me that Ennis has lived with the pain of being without Jack for quite some time. He seems to have been dealing with the dreams coming to him for a length of time such that he has made peace with them, considering himself fortunate when they're good and he can use them to 'stoke the day.'(?) It's as if he's had enough time to develop rituals, if that makes any sense.
I love talking about the story...wish I had my copy at work - need a 3rd!
Lynne
--- End quote ---
This is the first time I though about this, and to me it's a major insight. The end of the story is pretty bleak, with Ennis alternating between joy and grief from his dreams of Jack. The fact that the prologue assumes that ANY dream about Jack would "stoke" Ennis's day, and that's a revelation to me - but it makes sense, and a lot more sense, if the prologue is several years later than the end of the story. I agree with this opinion. Does that make it much more acceptable to everyone? ;)
fernly:
As far as how many years, just a thought, what if when she wrote the prologue she was setting it in 'real time'? (It is written in present tense.) Close Range was published in '99. If she wrote it in 98, that would put Ennis around 54 or 55.
(and I'm going to repeat part of something I posted in another thread a couple months back) ...I think the fact that the prologue is in the present tense, in contrast to the past tense of the rest of the story (except maybe the very last sentence) underlines... that Ennis... is existing in a 'timeless', ever 'present' state, emotionally. Physically aging, physically moving to his daughter's and then another ranch, but his emotions and inner life always with Jack, even when the wind dies for a moment, leaving a "temporary silence."
karen1129:
--- Quote from: fernly on December 04, 2006, 11:28:11 pm ---As far as how many years, just a thought, what if when she wrote the prologue she was setting it in 'real time'? (It is written in present tense.) Close Range was published in '99. If she wrote it in 98, that would put Ennis around 54 or 55.
(and I'm going to repeat part of something I posted in another thread a couple months back) ...I think the fact that the prologue is in the present tense, in contrast to the past tense of the rest of the story (except maybe the very last sentence) underlines... that Ennis... is existing in a 'timeless', ever 'present' state, emotionally. Physically aging, physically moving to his daughter's and then another ranch, but his emotions and inner life always with Jack, even when the wind dies for a moment, leaving a "temporary silence."
--- End quote ---
Awwwwww. That's beautiful ! So sad.
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