How old was Ennis, when his parents died?

[j.U.d.E.]

I had this thread going on TOB way back in the troll-free times (I think it was then). I think we may never know exactly how old Ennis was, when he lost his parents, but whatever his age, he was young and that fact alone also adds to his personality. With so many feelings he seems to have had to repress during childhood and adolescence, the fact that both his parents die (in a car crash no less) when he was so young (I’m guessing between 11 and 14 -> We see him as 9-year old with his father and brother and in another scene Ennis says he got himself a year of high school, apparently just after his parents died) must have been a total tragedy and devastation emotionally. It did not help to make Ennis a happy man. Also, we don’t know how old his brother (maybe 2/3 years older than Ennis) or sister were, but having lost ones parents so abruptly, growing up poor in a stark and rough area and being raised by your siblings who are barely adults themselves, has surely added to Ennis’ trist character and isolation. I guess that’s where his reluctance to committing to people stems – fear of commitment for fear of loss. But loss strikes again and again. I can’t but help understand Ennis’ way of being. So when we first see Ennis in the film, his parents only just died about 5-7 years ago. I think when it happens so young, you never fully recover and that’s what Ennis is carrying all through the film.

I have a friend (he is 46 now I think) who’s parents died (in a car crash!) when he was 21. He has 2 much older brothers, but he was already married and settled when it happened and I guess he did not grow up as poor and isolated as Ennis. Pretty horrible though.

~ j U d E

[MaineWriter]

I think it was in the story, but I don't have it right here, that his brother was 3 years older than Ennis.

And yes, I'd put it that his parents were killed when he was between 11 and 14, but for some reason, I picture it being closer to 14.

L

[slayers_creek_oth]

And yes, I'd put it that his parents were killed when he was between 11 and 14, but for some reason, I picture it being closer to 14.

As did I Leslie....

[Jeff Wrangler]

I don't have the text with me here at work, but I'd say K.E. was three years older than Ennis.

I don't remember whether Ennis says so exactly in the story, but I do remember him telling Jack a story in the motel about how his father essentially told him to beat up his older brother to stop K.E. from picking on him. What sticks in my memory is that the father told Ennis he had to do something about it or it would still be happening when Ennis "was 90 and K.E. was 93."

The story doesn't say anything about how much older the sister was, but I've assumed she must have been the eldest and at least in her upper teens if not even older to keep custody of K.E. and Ennis after the parents died.

[j.U.d.E.]

I keep forgetting the short story when I start a thread here.. I have to read it again..

Anyway, my guess was too, that Ennis was closer to 14 (or so) when he lost his parents. So that makes it just about 5 years ago, counting from the day 'we meet him'. So it's just perfectly normal, that he is gloom and doom.. well not entirely. But I think it did cast a permanent shadow over his life and though we see him happy with Alma at first and then with Jack, I think Ennis' rough childhood and young adulthood has marked him for life. He seems depressed and repressed most of the time.

Oah, writing this makes me feel gloomy..

~ j U d E  

[Penthesilea]

From the story:

"Ennis, reared by his older brother and sister after their parents drove off the only curve on Dead Horse Road leaving them twenty-four dollars in cash and a two-mortgage ranch, applied at age fourteen for a hardship liscense that let him make the hour-long trip from the ranch to the high-school. "

So I think Ennis must have been 14 or short of 14 when his parents died.
"Shit. That's hard." Jack nailed it.

[Ellemeno]

From the story:

"Ennis, reared by his older brother and sister after their parents drove off the only  curve on Dead Horse Road leaving them twenty-four dollars in cash and a two mortgage ranch, applied at age fourteen for a hardship license that let him make the  hour-long trip from the ranch to the high school."

"I come up under my brother K.E., three years older'n me, slugged me silly ever day.  Dad got tired a me come bawlin in the house and when I was about six he set me  down and says, Ennis, you got a problem and you got a fix it or it's gonna be with you  until you're ninety and K.E.'s ninety-three."

And it looks like in the story he doesn't say how old he was when his father took him to see Earl's body.

[slayers_creek_oth]

And it looks like in the story he doesn't say how old he was when his father took him to see Earl's body.

Doesn't Ennis say in the film that he was 8 or 9 years old...

[MaineWriter]

Doesn't Ennis say in the film that he was 8 or 9 years old...

He says he was 9, "I was just nine years old" but was sounds like warn't which some have interpreted to mean he was younger...but I'm sticking to 9.

[slayers_creek_oth]

He says he was 9, "I was just nine years old" but was sounds like warn't which some have interpreted to mean he was younger...but I'm sticking to 9.

Thats what I thought......I too am stickin to that...