Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
Female Sexuality in BBM
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: LauraGigs on March 17, 2007, 02:30:41 am ---What is an issue of course, is Jack's baffling lack of attention. I agree that by the dance scene she may be in the process of putting pieces together, but is still basically in the dark (thus asking "Why . . . Jack?)
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Though I always hear that line ("Why do you think that is, Jack?") as sort of a tease or taunt. That's why he feigns indifference and brushes it off like stray cigarette ashes.
--- Quote ---People tend to be hard on Lureen for some reason, as if not being primarily a homemaker means she had less of a heart. But she just wanted to be noticed and loved, like anybody else.
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Frankly, I always find it a little sexist when people accuse Lureen of not being a good wife and mother because she is so involved in the business. If the genders were reversed, I doubt anyone would say that. I think part of the reason Lureen throws herself into her work is because she's frustrated in her marriage. But I certainly don't blame -- as some people do -- any of their marital woes on her work habits. If Lureen were to quit her job, stay home to cook and clean and sew curtains, and greeted Jack every night wearing nothing but Saran wrap and holding a pitcher of martinis, they would still have marital problems.
Brown Eyes:
Heya,
Wow, some great points have been raised recently. It's really interesting to note that Jack and Lureen are both only children (or at least as far as we know regarding Lureen... and based on the family gathering at Thanksgiving). It's also interesting that Bobby is an only child. It sort of re-inforces that dynamic in the Twist-Newsome family I think. (by the way, I'm an only child :D... for what it's worth).
Anyway, I really like Lureen and it's probably pretty clear from lots of my posts over time that I think that the marriage between Jack and Lureen was primarily based on a probably quite genuine friendship between them. I like the term symbiosis, it seems pretty accurate. Both Jack and Lureen were existing beyond the conventional gender norms for their times and their environment. And, it is true that the marriage seemed to truly be one of "convenience" for both of them.
It's interesting that other than Jack's suggestion in the motel with Ennis during the reunion, there's no real hint that Jack and Lureen contemplate divorce through the rest of the film. I think that's quite a big clue to something.
Also, Lureen's relative kindness to Ennis on the phone (despite the traumatic circumstances and the major revelation she's having about the situation) is one of the things that makes me really love Lureen.
nic:
I really like Lureen too. However, as with Alma, I can't help a streak of negativity towards the wives relating to divorce. If Alma had divorced Ennis earlier, could it have made a difference in his acceptance of Jack? And likewise with Lureen - even though her & Jack were good friends it was not really an ideal marriage so maybe if she'd suggested a divorce it could have spurred Jack to try harder with Ennis? The endless "what ifs"!
--- Quote from: atz75 on March 17, 2007, 02:39:07 pm ---...It's interesting that other than Jack's suggestion in the motel with Ennis during the reunion, there's no real hint that Jack and Lureen contemplate divorce through the rest of the film. I think that's quite a big clue to something....
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A clue to Lureen covering for Jack? Do tell!
The only child thing (me too btw) - I think that was definitely because Lureen & Jack's physical relationship died away after the early years, & of course once a male heir was produced there would be less familial pressure to reproduce. I do find it odd that Lureen didn't express more dis-satisfaction with the relationship, because she was clearly still young when the physical aspect to the relationship dropped off & very attractive, & she kept an interest in her looks implying she would still be interested in sex etc. Maybe she had affairs & the continuing marriage helped her cover?
LauraGigs:
--- Quote ---If Alma had divorced Ennis earlier, could it have made a difference in his acceptance of Jack? And likewise with Lureen - even though her & Jack were good friends it was not really an ideal marriage so maybe if she'd suggested a divorce it could have spurred Jack to try harder with Ennis?
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I don't think the responsibility would be on the wives to set the men free to chase a dream their wives had no clue about, would it?
The film makes it pretty clear that Ennis was so scarred from his upbringing that no extenuating circumstances in his adulthood would bring him around. After his divorce, he still preferred not to even be seen with Jack.
--- Quote ---I do find it odd that Lureen didn't express more dis-satisfaction with the relationship
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She does it plenty in the dance scene. Remember, this is Ang Lee: he's all about economy and subtlety.
--- Quote ---Maybe she had affairs & the continuing marriage helped her cover?
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She would appear much more blase' if that were the case. IMO the dance scene makes it clear that she's still interested in Jack and mystified in his disinterest.
Brown Eyes:
--- Quote from: nic on March 18, 2007, 02:41:58 pm ---A clue to Lureen covering for Jack? Do tell!
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Heya, well, I probably wouldn't go that far. Or at least it doesn't seem like she probably understands the whole situation until the Ennis phone call. So, she probably wasn't consciously covering for Jack. I don't know what I mean to imply by noting that neither Jack nor Lureen seem to seriously contemplate divorce. I think all I can say, is that on some level their marriage seems to work for both of them (even if it's simultaneously very frustrating on some other levels).
:-\
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