Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
Would it have worked? Merged with "Would a SWEET LIFE ever have been possible?"
jpwagoneer1964:
I think Ennis and Jack would have worked. Their compatability was established in the first few days in their relationship. They may not have been able to be together until after their kids were grown and had Jack managed to keep himself alive they would have ended up together.
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: Scott6373 on September 14, 2006, 02:31:29 pm ---We are talking about 1983. I am gay and in 1983, there was no way I could have been in any kind of openly gay relationship (and I was out then), and I lived in Boston. Gay men and women and those with transgender issues, were tolerated, but still hidden, and still considered socially deviant. "Will and Grace" was a long way off.
It is a tough thing not to impose out modern day sensibilites on the situation back in 1983, either for me or for the fictional Ennis and Jack in their rural setting, which no doubt was far more oppresive than where I was.
--- End quote ---
I'm glad you said this, Scott. I think people tend to criticize Ennis for not accepting Jack's plan, as if it would have been a simple, carefree decision had he not been so obstinate and selfish and inconsiderate and unable to appreciate what he had.
Ennis did, indeed, struggle with internalized homophobia, and that is sad. But when we disregard the real obstacles they would have faced as a couple, and Ennis' pragmatic awareness of them, we are applying our contemporary attitudes to a very different time and place.
ednbarby:
--- Quote from: latjoreme on September 14, 2006, 03:37:45 pm ---I'm glad you said this, Scott. I think people tend to criticize Ennis for not accepting Jack's plan, as if it would have been a simple, carefree decision had he not been so obstinate and selfish and inconsiderate and unable to appreciate what he had.
Ennis did, indeed, struggle with internalized homophobia, and that is sad. But when we disregard the real obstacles they would have faced as a couple, and Ennis' pragmatic awareness of them, we are applying our contemporary attitudes to a very different time and place.
--- End quote ---
I agree. We can't be too hard on poor Ennis. He was not merely being selfish or foolish. He was fearing for his life and Jack's and had every reason to do so - even more reason than anyone else, including Jack, given his experience. And the time and place, of course.
My answer here assumed that they lived in a much more perfect world than they really did. It was really entirely hypothetical. I looked at it like this: if the (very formidable) obstacles were removed, would their love have been as intense, or were the obstacles part of what made their love so intense?
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: ednbarby on September 14, 2006, 03:56:58 pm ---My answer here assumed that they lived in a much more perfect world than they really did.
--- End quote ---
Where bluebirds sing and there's a whiskey spring? :)
Under those conditions, I bet their love would be like most couples'. The obstacles probably did intensify the brilliant charge of their infrequent couplings. If they were together for the long haul, the love probably wouldn't be as intensely passionate, but could easily be strong and secure and lasting.
opinionista:
--- Quote from: latjoreme on September 14, 2006, 03:37:45 pm ---I'm glad you said this, Scott. I think people tend to criticize Ennis for not accepting Jack's plan, as if it would have been a simple, carefree decision had he not been so obstinate and selfish and inconsiderate and unable to appreciate what he had.
Ennis did, indeed, struggle with internalized homophobia, and that is sad. But when we disregard the real obstacles they would have faced as a couple, and Ennis' pragmatic awareness of them, we are applying our contemporary attitudes to a very different time and place.
--- End quote ---
IMO Ennis turns Jack down for several reasons. His internal homophobia was just one of those reasons, perhaps the strongest one but certainly not the only one. Despite of his internal turmoils, Ennis was a down to earth person, unlike Jack who was more of a dreamer.
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