TOTW 27/08: Do you think Ennis would have asked Lureen for Jack's ashes?

[brokeplex]

Brokeplex, in the film and in the short story, I believe Lureen says something to the effect of "half his ashes was interred here, and the rest I sent up to his folks".  Why would we question her using the word "interred", which according to Webster means, 'to put into a grave; bury'.  What's your premise/theory for us not believing her?

By the way, I voted No, and I agree very much with Chrissie as to why.  Lureen would have been mortified beyond belief is those ashes had to be dug up, and some explaining had to be done.  I think if Lureen had actually ever met Ennis or spoken to him on the phone, even, before Jack's death, that things might have been different, and she might have been a bit more sympathetic to Ennis's grief.  But that wasn't the case.

I also voted No because Ennis was never a man who needed many material objects in order to survive and live his life (or the semblance of the life that he led, more correctly).  Why would he need an urn of ashes to remind him every minute of every day for the rest of that life, of Jack?

its the odd usage of the word "interred" that caused a question flag to pop up in my consciousness. I don't believe that is it is a word Lureen would use in her ordinary conversations. I am confident that she knew how to correctly use the word, but I am not confident that she would use "interred" over "buried", unless special conditions applied. I also noticed that she said to Ennis that "we put up a stone", that also triggered some questions in my mind, as a grave marker stone is implied and didn't need to be stated unless special conditions applied. If Lureen buried Jack's ashes in a local cemetery I can see her saying it much more plainly : as in "We buried half of Jack's ashes down here, and sent the rest up to his folks in Lightening Flat". But, she doesn't say that, she qualifies it too much.

So, I have a doubt that all of Jack's ashes in Lureen's possesion ended up in the ground. 

3 dictionary results for: interred
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
in·ter      /ɪnˈtɜr/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[in-tur] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–verb (used with object), -terred, -ter·ring. 1. to place (a dead body) in a grave or tomb; bury. 
2. Obsolete. to put into the earth. 
[Origin: 1275–1325; ME enteren < MF enterrer, prob. < VL *interrāre, deriv. of terra earth; see in-2]
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary

[Penthesilea]

its the odd usage of the word "interred" that caused a question flag to pop up in my consciousness. I don't believe that is it is a word Lureen would use in her ordinary conversations. I am confident that she knew how to correctly use the word, but I am not confident that she would use "interred" over "buried", unless special conditions applied. I also noticed that she said to Ennis that "we put up a stone", that also triggered some questions in my mind, as a grave marker stone is implied and didn't need to be stated unless special conditions applied. If Lureen buried Jack's ashes in a local cemetery I can see her saying it much more plainly : as in "We buried half of Jack's ashes down here, and sent the rest up to his folks in Lightening Flat". But, she doesn't say that, she qualifies it too much.

Thank you for saying this! Her specific wording always rang strange to me. But being not a native speaker, I always shrugged it off as something probably rooted in her time and location.
I will think some more about it, but what instantly comes to my mind are Ang Lee's words: "... she's lying. Lureen is clearly lying on the phone..." (citing from memory).

[brokeplex]

Thank you for saying this! Her specific wording always rang strange to me. But being not a native speaker, I always shrugged it off as something probably rooted in her time and location.
I will think some more about it, but what instantly comes to my mind are Ang Lee's words: "... she's lying. Lureen is clearly lying on the phone..." (citing from memory).

  excellent observation! and I agree, Lureen's word choices in her conversation with Ennis reflects that something is amiss in Childress. I did some Fanfic a while back that has takes this as an issue.

I'd like to comment on your question about Lureen's usage of the word being rooted in her time and location. I grew up in a small town in TX back in the 60's and 70's that is similar in size and population to Childress, and my opinion is she would have used the more commonly used word "buried". Perhaps the local mortician might use "interred", but I don't see Lureen, even though she is an intelligent college educated woman, using the word "interred", unless unusual circumstances apply that we are not aware of.

[Artiste]

Brokeplex, if indeed Jack is dead, then maybe Lureen has went to Brokeback Mountain to place some of his ashes?

Could that possibly be ?

Au revoir,
hugs!

[brokeplex]

Brokeplex, if indeed Jack is dead, then maybe Lureen has went to Brokeback Mountain to place some of his ashes?

Could that possibly be ?

Au revoir,
hugs!

I am doubtful that Lureen would travel to Brokeback in 1983 to fulfill Jacks wishes. however, in the future, maybe if she met Ennis and dealt fully with the all of the implications of the murder of Jack, well then maybe she might journey up to WY and fulfill Jack's request - maybe.

[Artiste]

Merci Brokeplex!

It could be as you say, in your post.

I tend now to think that Lureen had to hide Jack from the criminals that she had seen who wanted her husband's death !!

That would change the ball game, would it not ? In that line of thought as an issue and considering the ashes, Lureen also needs to protect the ashes, if Jack is dead; she has to do so also from criminals, but will not from Ennis but just for now, she does likely temporarily !

Au revoir,
hugs!