What a condescending characterization!
I don't think that there is evidence one way or the other as to Alma's intellectual abilities or her chioice of reading materials . Just because someone is not quoting
Proust or making up cute Haiku verse on screen, that doesn't make them a dummy.
Didn't say she was a dummy, just said she wasn't any smarter than the average teenage girl. Certainly her actions don't hint at any 'deeper' intelligence. She's just an average small town girl.
Still waters run deep. Hmmmm. Yes, but what does that mean exactly? I never heard it used in describing someone's intelligence. As for getting smarts from her father...Ennis is the one who thought telling his wife he was fishing for years but never bringing any home nor using his reel was a good cover story, don't forget.
She was a reticent young woman who would soon be finding her own way in life. She wanted her Daddy, whom she loved, to be at her wedding. She related to him in a way that convinced him to quit his job cowboying in the Tetons and attend her wedding. I'd say she was a very skillful young lady, even Jack couldn't always get Ennis to quit his job in order to see him!
Give Alma, Jr a break!
Remember, Junior is the oldest daughter. That means her sister is likely still a minor.
Ever heard of child support?
Ennis is not only living in poverty, it's possible Ennis is still paying child support for her sister, yet Junior has no problem with him quitting his job for her wedding. That he's going to have to scramble to get another job in time for his next support payment/rent so he doesn't get behind doesn't bother/occur to her.
Skillful or just typical teenager - self-absorbed and oblivious?
Yes, I believe the dialogue meant he was going to have to quit his job to attend the wedding. In ranching, like Ennis said when the heifers were calving, you
have to be there. Ranchers have to have a certain amount of manpower for a drive. Being short-handed makes it more dangerous and more work for those left behind. So basically they would replace Ennis and then he'd have no place in the drive after the wedding. It isn't a 9-5 job with days off for weddings.