but in neither the book or movie did he say anything that would lead someone to believe that what happened on the mountain would continue.
Hi everybody :DI too have wondered about those last two days during and after "shove down". I have long wished that Jack had been more agressive and at least asked for a contact number for Ennis, or given him his Dad's address in Lightening Flat. Perhaps his offer of a loan as an indirect attempt at a continuing connection. He didn't count on Ennis's wounded pride, "I ain't in the poor house,you know!".I don't see Jack as entirely nonchalant about the parting.It really hurts to see the pain in Jacks face as he drives away from Ennis and watches Ennis in the rearview mirror. And of course Ennis's brutal reaction to Jack's playing rodeo and later to heaving in the alley show that he had very deep emotions at play. I think the reason neither could make the move to keep a permanent connection alive back in 1963 was their mutual denial. As long as their love was on the mountain top only, a "one-shot thing", they could both deny being "queer". But love is a "force of nature" and they did reconnect!!! And, eventually, if you live long enough you can begin to accept yourself. Perhaps that was the direction in which Jack had moved by the time of his murder in 1983. If only Ennis could have begun the journey while Jack was alive.
First, I shortened the TOTW, since the question is too long for the headline. For the long version see below :).
One scene that long bothered me in the movie is their last day on the mountain. After all this time and discussions, I still can't figure out their (re)actions fully and especially Jacks (seemingly?) nonchalance is an enigma to me.
Did Jack and Ennis misunderstand each other's feelings on their last day on the mountain?
Did Jack underrate Ennis's reaction to the news of "Bring them down"? Did he await to see Ennis soon again, or to not even part to begin with? Did Ennis misinterpret Jack's nonchalance? What about Jack's offer to lend money to Ennis? Do you think everything from Ennis coming into the camp to Jack driving away and Ennis crouching down in the alley took place in one day at all? Or maybe in two days?(http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m47/Penthesilea06/TOTW/Week13abmp.jpg)
I don't see Jack as entirely nonchalant about the parting.It really hurts to see the pain in Jacks face as he drives away from Ennis and watches Ennis in the rearview mirror.
He first tells about his uncle and only casually mentions that Aguirre said "Bring 'em down". Even when Ennis clearly is upset about it and asks why, he stays unconcerned (storm moving in from the Pacific...).
then is so seemingly in a good and playful mood. Like he had no worry in the world.
I took quite a bit away from that whole scene from where Ennis comes down from watching the sheep and Jack is taking down the tent, and tells Ennis in what seemed rather nonchalant that Aguirre says bring 'em down.
Ennis gets all bent out of shape, not so much about Jacks comment about money, because he knows that he won't be seeing Jack after they leave the mountain. Ennis knows the romantic feelings he has for Jack have no place in the "real world", as he understands it. So when Ennis hears they have to leave early, he thinks it's over.
Jack on the other hand is less upset, because he's under the impression they will continue to see each other somehow, such as "doing this again next summer." Jack was always the optimistic one, he believes, however naively, that what they started and had together up on Brokeback will continue on in the "real world."
Could it be that they are just 19 or 20 years old , and have not fully stepped into the shoes of experienced adult people like ourselves, who are trying to place rational reasons on all of their actions?? Speaking for myself, I did many things at that age that would now seem odd, or impetuous. I think men, especially under their circumstances and in 1963, might well do and say the things that they did. I think Ennis was hurt and confused, and I think Jack was using whatever familiar means he knew (lasso), to reach out and grab Ennis. It was a simple gesture, at first meant to say "I love you and want you to be with me" or, " Hey, its not so bad, we still have each other", and in the turmoil of youthful innocence, turned into the playful brawl of boys. Two men, very young, unable to cope with their feelings, expressing adult emotions, but not yet skilled. Many of us have been through this. I do not see the same hidden meanings in these scenes as others suggest. To me it is very simple. I feel what they feel. They express it as boys do. The simple emotion is still beautiful at this point of the movie. The shirts are a testament to the this youthful innocent bliss. One of the most powerful statements from beginning to end.Hi! Welcome to Bettermost! I hope you love it here as much as I do. I think that what you wrote is on target, you know its been quite a while since I was that age....Gerald Ford was still President when I was 19! Way back in the Paleolithic disco era..... I'm glad you reminded me, you are right, young men would behave that way without many rationalizations on their part. I certainly did.
I'm really not sure if those scenes were doing one or two days. It makes sense that it would be two days, but Jack is taking the tent down so where did they stay that night. The scene where he lassos Ennis and says "Time to go cowboy" suggests that everything occurred during one day.
Jack
Could it be that they are just 19 or 20 years old , and have not fully stepped into the shoes of experienced adult people like ourselves, who are trying to place rational reasons on all of their actions?? Speaking for myself, I did many things at that age that would now seem odd, or impetuous. I think men, especially under their circumstances and in 1963, might well do and say the things that they did. I think Ennis was hurt and confused, and I think Jack was using whatever familiar means he knew (lasso), to reach out and grab Ennis. It was a simple gesture, at first meant to say "I love you and want you to be with me" or, " Hey, its not so bad, we still have each other", and in the turmoil of youthful innocence, turned into the playful brawl of boys. Two men, very young, unable to cope with their feelings, expressing adult emotions, but not yet skilled. Many of us have been through this. I do not see the same hidden meanings in these scenes as others suggest. To me it is very simple. I feel what they feel. They express it as boys do. The simple emotion is still beautiful at this point of the movie. The shirts are a testament to the this youthful innocent bliss. One of the most powerful statements from beginning to end.
Could it be that they are just 19 or 20 years old , and have not fully stepped into the shoes of experienced adult people like ourselves, who are trying to place rational reasons on all of their actions?? Speaking for myself, I did many things at that age that would now seem odd, or impetuous. I think men, especially under their circumstances and in 1963, might well do and say the things that they did. I think Ennis was hurt and confused, and I think Jack was using whatever familiar means he knew (lasso), to reach out and grab Ennis. It was a simple gesture, at first meant to say "I love you and want you to be with me" or, " Hey, its not so bad, we still have each other", and in the turmoil of youthful innocence, turned into the playful brawl of boys. Two men, very young, unable to cope with their feelings, expressing adult emotions, but not yet skilled. Many of us have been through this. I do not see the same hidden meanings in these scenes as others suggest. To me it is very simple. I feel what they feel. They express it as boys do. The simple emotion is still beautiful at this point of the movie. The shirts are a testament to the this youthful innocent bliss. One of the most powerful statements from beginning to end.
It suddenly struck me today: What happened to the pup tent when Joe Aguirre said to "bring 'em down"?? Did it stay up there on the mountain all winter? No wonder it smelled like cat piss or worse!!
Didn't Aguirre tell them to not leave the tent behind?
I'm guessing Ennis brought it down with him.
(i'm too tired now to check the movie)
When Ennis rides into the "base camp" he finds Jack starting to dismantle it. When he asks Jack why, Jack explains that Aguirre had been by and ordered them to bring the sheep down. Presumably, once the dismantling of the base camp had been completed, both of them would have had to return to where the sheep were pastured in order to "bring 'em down". When there, I would assume they dismantled the pup rent and brought that down with them as well. I assume Aguirre supplied the tents and other equipment and wouldn't appreciate part of his property being abandoned way up on Brokeback.