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

Jack and Alma

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Brown Eyes:
So, I just rewatched my DVD tonight and got to thinking about a subject that's been discussed once in a while on the big board.  I'm increasingly noticing Jack's competitiveness with Alma.  In the "prayer of thanks" campfire scene when Jack says "you and Alma, that's a life?" and Ennis defends Alma, there's this incredible exchange of intense gazes between Jack and Ennis.  And, just tonight I noticed that when Jack and Ennis are about to leave the apartment after Ennis has introduced Jack to Alma, as Jack is backing out the door he looks up and seems to lock eyes with Alma for a second.  I feel like once Jack is back on the scene in Ennis's life he's determined from this new beginning to "stake his claim" with Ennis.

Not only was Jack first to make love to Ennis (based on the "opportunity" conversation, we glean that Alma and Ennis were *innocently* engaged), on Brokeback they had already set up their version of domestic happiness.  The fact that we see Jack washing Ennis's clothes (then mirrored later by Alma washing clothes in the sink) and Jack and Ennis cooking for each other, and taking care of each other must make it seem from Jack's point of view that Alma is the usurper. It's interesting that he's so eager to propose to Ennis that they live together again.  And, it's amazing how self-aware Jack is throughout the film.  He recognizes through to the end ("all we've got now is Brokeback mountain, everything's built on that") that they were only ever truly content when they were living together.

Alma clearly feels the rivalry right away too.  And, much of the rest of her story seems to show Alma gradually acquiescing to the rival.  It's interesting because Ennis doesn't seem to feel jealousy or competitiveness when it comes to women and Jack, only when he imagines Jack with other men.

bbm_stitchbuffyfan:
Ennis, I think, does not get jealous when Jack is with other women because he knows that Jack is gay and that women, for these two men, are merely conveniences and used to hide their true sexual orientations (society expected them to marry women). He knows Jack doesn't care about Lureen or the rancher's wife.

I have heard your theory before and I remember Jack saying "You and Alma, that's a life?" I guess the timing must be right or else the way you presented it just made it click; as I read your post, I really liked your take on that. Ennis may have met and dated Alma before he met Jack but Jack and Ennis built their domesticity together before Ennis did so with Alma. I like the idea that Jack saw Alma as competition... :) It's romantic.

RouxB:
I don't see that Jack in competition with Alma per se, I think he is in competion who/whatever Ennis is putting ahead of him. The scene with Alma during the reunion scene was just Jack being a bundle of nerves-I didn't detect any type of hostility. I think the only thing he was thinking about was getting out of there with Ennis to continue the re-union.

 O0

juneaux:

--- Quote from: atz75 on April 11, 2006, 12:23:19 am ---So, I just rewatched my DVD tonight and got to thinking about a subject that's been discussed once in a while on the big board.  I'm increasingly noticing Jack's competitiveness with Alma.  In the "prayer of thanks" campfire scene when Jack says "you and Alma, that's a life?" and Ennis defends Alma, there's this incredible exchange of intense gazes between Jack and Ennis.  And, just tonight I noticed that when Jack and Ennis are about to leave the apartment after Ennis has introduced Jack to Alma, as Jack is backing out the door he looks up and seems to lock eyes with Alma for a second.  I feel like once Jack is back on the scene in Ennis's life he's determined from this new beginning to "stake his claim" with Ennis.

Not only was Jack first to make love to Ennis (based on the "opportunity" conversation, we glean that Alma and Ennis were *innocently* engaged), on Brokeback they had already set up their version of domestic happiness.  The fact that we see Jack washing Ennis's clothes (then mirrored later by Alma washing clothes in the sink) and Jack and Ennis cooking for each other, and taking care of each other must make it seem from Jack's point of view that Alma is the usurper. It's interesting that he's so eager to propose to Ennis that they live together again.  And, it's amazing how self-aware Jack is throughout the film.  He recognizes through to the end ("all we've got now is Brokeback mountain, everything's built on that") that they were only ever truly content when they were living together.

Alma clearly feels the rivalry right away too.  And, much of the rest of her story seems to show Alma gradually acquiescing to the rival.  It's interesting because Ennis doesn't seem to feel jealousy or competitiveness when it comes to women and Jack, only when he imagines Jack with other men.



--- End quote ---

Very interesting point as I never thought of Alma as Jack's rival.  :o (I don't get out much.)  Your observation adds weight to the scene where Jack drives to Wyoming after learning of Ennis' divorce.  Not only could he be happy about the idea of having a life with Ennis, with this new discussion it could be the elation that comes with a victory or winning.  This also adds to the contrast when Ennis corrects Jack's assumption and the devastation sends him to seek solace in Mexico.


As if I needed *another* topic about which to think... :P

bbm_stitchbuffyfan:
I did like watching Jack and Alma together on screen, just because their characters had such an interesting connection to each other (Ennis). Maybe I subconsciously noticed a slight degree of competition because I remember enjoying Jack interacting with Alma. It was just interesting to see those two sides of Ennis' life collide.

I also liked when Ennis talked to Lureen. Of course, that scene was absolutely mind-blowing and devastating but behind that, I have wondered about what Lureen and Ennis meeting would be like, and hearing them meet each other, over the phone, was so interesting (and depressing as well).

I am *not* speaking romantically here but I think Ennis/Lureen and Jack/Alma are more interesting than Ennis/Alma and Jack/Lureen, just to watch on screen...

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