Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Fan Fiction & Poetry

An interpolation, with love

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moremojo:

--- Quote from: jpwagoneer1964 on June 09, 2006, 05:47:55 pm ---
The look on Jack face to me expresses sadness that this may be the only way he may ever have Ennis and acceptence of things as they are and always have been.

--- End quote ---
I do think there is sadness in Jack's face here, but also anger. Even during the moments he is comforting Ennis, his anger does not entirely dissipate ("Damn you, Ennis!"). He is certainly unhappy in that final screen glimpse we see of him, and there is nothing in his mien to suggest the tenderness of his look in the flashback sequence (a deliberate contrast, to be sure). I do get the impression that Jack realizes here that Ennis is unlikely to ever change, but I also have the fearful sense that we may see a glimmer of resolve here to leave Ennis, knowing that Ennis cannot fulfil him in the way he really desires. It saddens me greatly to think of Jack quitting Ennis, but I think one can argue that his facial expression alone intimates this possibility (without even invoking Mr. Twist's story of Jack's relationship with the foreman).

Jeff Wrangler:

--- Quote from: moremojo on June 09, 2006, 06:00:46 pm ---I do think there is sadness in Jack's face here, but also anger. Even during the moments he is comforting Ennis, his anger does not entirely dissipate ("Damn you, Ennis!"). He is certainly unhappy in that final screen glimpse we see of him, and there is nothing in his mien to suggest the tenderness of his look in the flashback sequence (a deliberate contrast, to be sure). I do get the impression that Jack realizes here that Ennis is unlikely to ever change, but I also have the fearful sense that we may see a glimmer of resolve here to leave Ennis, knowing that Ennis cannot fulfil him in the way he really desires. It saddens me greatly to think of Jack quitting Ennis, but I think one can argue that his facial expression alone intimates this possibility (without even invoking Mr. Twist's story of Jack's relationship with the foreman).

--- End quote ---

A long time ago back at IMDb some of us had a discussion on this very topic, the look on Jack's face as he watches Ennis drive away, and I, for one, sorrowfully came to the conclusion that it does, indeed, indicate a resolution that he needs to move on because Ennis is never going to change. Jack then goes up to Lightning Flat, just as he told Ennis he was going to do, and this is when he starts talking to his parents about the "ranch neighbor down in Texas," presumably Randall. Then Jack goes back to Texas and, one way or another, dies before he can try to put this new plan into action.

It's this understanding that informs the conversation between Ennis and Jack that I wrote in "Some Sweet Life," where I have Ennis ask Jack about this business of the "ranch neighbor."

moremojo:

--- Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on June 13, 2006, 11:40:19 pm ---
It's this understanding that informs the conversation between Ennis and Jack that I wrote in "Some Sweet Life," where I have Ennis ask Jack about this business of the "ranch neighbor."

--- End quote ---
That is such a beautiful story, Jeff, and is actually the first fanfic I encountered. You conveyed there how Jack didn't stop loving Ennis, despite his resolution to move on, and also indicated how Jack even came to regret his action.

Ya know, I think we can be pretty certain that Jack never did stop loving Ennis, for the simple fact that he wished his ashes to be scattered on Brokeback Mountain. If he only harbored bitterness and rancor towards his Wyoming cowboy, he would surely have informed Lureen of a change of plans before his death (note also how he preserved the shirts in the Lightning Flat closet even after the final quarrel). He knew that Ennis was the love of his life, and Brokeback Mountain would forever be the scene of his greatest happiness.

Jeff Wrangler:

--- Quote from: moremojo on June 14, 2006, 06:43:56 pm ---That is such a beautiful story, Jeff, and is actually the first fanfic I encountered. You conveyed there how Jack didn't stop loving Ennis, despite his resolution to move on, and also indicated how Jack even came to regret his action.

Ya know, I think we can be pretty certain that Jack never did stop loving Ennis, for the simple fact that he wished his ashes to be scattered on Brokeback Mountain. If he only harbored bitterness and rancor towards his Wyoming cowboy, he would surely have informed Lureen of a change of plans before his death (note also how he preserved the shirts in the Lightning Flat closet even after the final quarrel). He knew that Ennis was the love of his life, and Brokeback Mountain would forever be the scene of his greatest happiness.

--- End quote ---

Absolutely, I agree with you, "hunderd percent," that Jack never stopped loving Ennis. He would have had an opportunity to get rid of the shirts on his final visit to his folks after the confrontation with Ennis, but he didn't.

And thank you very much for your kind comment about "Some Sweet Life." That's the story that's closest to my own heart because it's how I gave myself some closure after from film.

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