"I was supposed to control the weather"... Jack and the Wind

[Front-Ranger]

Very interesting observations, Amanda and Fernly.

[serious crayons]

When Jack gets thrown he never mentions it until days(?) later and then only says his harmonica got flattened, nothing about any hurt to himself.

That's true. Course, he never walked into the camp bleeding, either.

Years later, Ennis tells Jenny that he only stayed on that saddle bronc for three seconds, while Jack had ridden bulls (an even more demanding and dangerous event), and, regardless of what those two customers said, he had done more than tried to ride them.

Good point.

Clearly, though, Ennis is a better shot than Jack. Symbolically, what could that imply? Maybe one interpretation, least as far the coyotes are concerned, could tie back to the sign on Aguirre's trailer that trespassers will be shot, and survivors will be shot again.

That's really interesting, Fernly. I never even connected the "trespassers" in the sign with the "trespasses" in the wedding. I like your interpretation.

I always thought of trespasses, in the wedding/Lord's prayer context, as meaning breaking the "rules" -- i.e., having sex with a man. And in that sense, the sign could read:

Tresspassers (Jack) will be shot (killed). Survivors (Ennis) will be shot again (left alone and grieving).

[Front-Ranger]

Shit, that's hard. But absolutely true. Good observations!

[Brown Eyes]

Yup, fernly, that was one excellent post.
 

[Andrew]

...Jack Wind, Ennis Earth...

"Why do I love" You, Sir?
Because --
The Wind does not require the Grass
To answer -- Wherefore when He pass
She cannot keep Her place.

Because He Knows -- and
Do not You --
And We know not --
Enough for Us
The Wisdom it be so --

The Lightning -- never asked an Eye
Wherefore it shut -- when He was by --
Because He knows it cannot speak --
And reasons not contained --
-- Of Talk --
There be -- preferred by Daintier Folk --

The Sunrise -- Sir -- compelleth Me --
Because He's Sunrise -- and I see --
Therefore -- Then --
I love Thee --

                                   Emily Dickinson

[Front-Ranger]

Watching the movie again after a month away from it, I was struck by the scene where Jack, on the left, is peeling potatoes in the foreground while Ennis, naked and blurry in the background, is washing. The smoke from Jack's cigarette swirls in front of Ennis as Jack exhales forcefully, and the smoke obscures Ennis even more, just as we hear the sound of the water as Ennis swishes his washrag in it and uses it to wash "everything he can reach."

[Front-Ranger]

A "mirror" of this is when Ennis's truck is seen travelling toward the miserable little ranch house and Alma, swathed in a veil of mist, during the early years of their marriage.

[Brown Eyes]

Hey Bud,

It's fun to see this thread here at home with the other "deep analysis" threads.

 

[Front-Ranger]

I like that "deep analysis." For some time I've thought of you and the other posters on this forum as my sister vestal virgins of Brokeback, either that or the Banditas, according to my mood! Glad Jack and his wind blew in here!!

[Front-Ranger]

In addition to Jack and the wind, there are quite a few references in the story and movie to Jack and nautical things. For one, there is a lamp with an anchor on the wall of his room. Also, Jack is described as having a sweet salty smell about him, as of the ocean.