Our BetterMost Community > Chez Tremblay
Jack and Ennis: ECONOMIC DIVIDE, HELPING HAND?
serious crayons:
What I wish Jack would have done is buy himself a place to live near Riverton.
rtprod:
Yes, lat, now that is a good idea. Why not? Or even his own cabin so there would be somewhere other than the "friggin cold" to be together in.
Nice one.
rt :)
MaineWriter:
Putting a whole different spin on this...Jack correctly saw, especially at the end, that they had no relationship. Yes, they were in love but their "relationship" was "a couple of high altitude f3cks once or twice a year." For him to offer Ennis money, no matter how nicely or tactfully done, could be perceived by both as paying for sex. Jack as the John, Ennis as the prostitute. Not a nice image at all.
L
MaineWriter:
--- Quote from: nakymaton on April 26, 2006, 03:08:43 pm ---
I've only read about half of the other stories in Close Range, but it strikes me that Annie Proulx writes a lot about characters who are tied, in some way that they don't understand and don't choose, to the landscape. There's a sense of being unable to escape Wyoming in her stories, and I think Ennis in particular fits in with those characters quite well. (Except that Ennis and Jack are much more likeable than her other characters -- I like her writing, but Ennis and Jack are the only ones of her characters that I really ache for.)
--- End quote ---
It's not just the landscape. I think it is very hard for a person with limited education, no economic advantage, and no worldview to break away from what exists as reality. Certainly this is impossible for Ennis to do, as we see. Even his daughter is basically heading down the same path.
Interesting, in my own life: my son is a senior in HS. He and all his friends have all made the decision about college for next year. Back in the fall, they were talking about Hawaii, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts...you name it, anywhere but Maine. Now that the dust has settled, guess what? The vast majority are staying right here. Some are going to Orono, but quite a few are choosing the local option and plan to live at home and commute. The process has been interesting too--and the roles the parents have played. One girl desparately wanted to go out of state--she was basically bribed by her parents with a new car to stay put. Another kid was bribed by his grandparents with money for tuition.
You'd think these are kids with some advantage (education and money) but it looks like many of them will end up in Westbrook, ME for the rest of their lives. Yes, they will have better jobs than Ennis and hopefully a bit more money, but is the situation all that different?
BTW, my son is leaving...heading a private, liberal arts college in New York. And I'll probably be working for the rest of my life to pay for it. LOL!
L
xo
Jeff Wrangler:
--- Quote from: lnicoll on April 26, 2006, 03:44:51 pm ---
--- Quote from: nakymaton on April 26, 2006, 03:08:43 pm ---
I've only read about half of the other stories in Close Range, but it strikes me that Annie Proulx writes a lot about characters who are tied, in some way that they don't understand and don't choose, to the landscape. There's a sense of being unable to escape Wyoming in her stories, and I think Ennis in particular fits in with those characters quite well. (Except that Ennis and Jack are much more likeable than her other characters -- I like her writing, but Ennis and Jack are the only ones of her characters that I really ache for.)
--- End quote ---
It's not just the landscape. I think it is very hard for a person with limited education, no economic advantage, and no worldview to break away from what exists as reality. Certainly this is impossible for Ennis to do, as we see. Even his daughter is basically heading down the same path.
Interesting, in my own life: my son is a senior in HS. He and all his friends have all made the decision about college for next year. Back in the fall, they were talking about Hawaii, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts...you name it, anywhere but Maine. Now that the dust has settled, guess what? The vast majority are staying right here. Some are going to Orono, but quite a few are choosing the local option and plan to live at home and commute. The process has been interesting too--and the roles the parents have played. One girl desparately wanted to go out of state--she was basically bribed by her parents with a new car to stay put. Another kid was bribed by his grandparents with money for tuition.
You'd think these are kids with some advantage (education and money) but it looks like many of them will end up in Westbrook, ME for the rest of their lives. Yes, they will have better jobs than Ennis and hopefully a bit more money, but is the situation all that different?
BTW, my son is leaving...heading a private, liberal arts college in New York. And I'll probably be working for the rest of my life to pay for it. LOL!
L
xo
--- End quote ---
Perceptive and enlightening, Leslie! Great contribution to the discussion! ;)
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