Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
The short story
CarlaMom2:
I agree about Alma getting marries because that's what people did. I also think like Cassie she wished she could bring more out of Ennis and change him to the man she needed him to be. As we know there was no changing him. Eveb Jack only got so far.
Jeff Wrangler:
--- Quote from: injest on December 06, 2006, 02:05:02 am ---yes, and we know nothing of her home life...her childhood. she may have wanted to be married because that was what you did...especially in that era. Before women's lib hit she had few options.
--- End quote ---
That's kind of how I've felt about Ennis, too--he got married because that's what people did.
serious crayons:
My impression is that both Ennis and Alma got married and started having kids because that's what young people in their culture did automatically. Maybe their siblings got them together or they met at the church picnic, but I don't think it would have taken much beyond that, on either side, to set the ball in motion. Not because either was particularly enthusiastic, but because what else would they do? Once they started seeing each other, marriage would come next on the agenda, and then a home and children. Really their only alternative in them days would have been finding different people, not a different lifestyle. Not getting married at all would have been unthinkable.
As for why they picked each other specifically, well, they were both, as Alma Jr. said in the movie, "good enough."
In a town that small, they probably didn't have a very wide choice. Neither one was thinking too hard at that point about whether this person was a good match, whether their hopes and reams were compatible, whether their financial future would be secure.
As for saving for a ranch, I get the impression that was sort of automatic, too. A 19-year-old probably doesn't plan on working as a ranch hand most of his life. Especially if his parents owned a ranch of their own. So he naturally thinks in terms of saving for a ranch, however unrealistic that might be given his income and the family he soon has to support.
southendmd:
I agree, Katherine.
A small town in a sparsely populated state: do the math! A little like musical chairs, hurry up and partner up before you're an "old maid", or a "confirmed bachelor". Neither of which would have been easy to deal with.
Front-Ranger:
Just a small interruption here: Congratulations katherine on your 2200th post! Also see my message in "Introduce Yourself."
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