From Katherine
Your use of the phrase "tying himself into knots" made me think of a double meaning to Jack's line, "Let's get, unless you want to sit around tying knots all day." That sort of summarizes their future relationship too, doesn't it?
Yes it does - it's a double meaning line if there ever was one. Wonderful observation.
I think my using the "tying himself in knots" line bears testament to how all these double meaning lines actuallly work their subtle ways on the viewers. That is not an expression I use very often - and it just seemed so appropriate there. No doubt Jack's line and its deeper significance helped me along though I'm not sure I was consciously aware of that at the time!
From Meryl
But as so often happens in a really great character, the opposite quality is also present--fragility--and I think that makes those who love Ennis want to reach out to him, much as they would to a hurt child, and be a comfort and help to him. [ ] ....suddenly there is the most beautiful soft, benevolent, cherishing look that comes into his eyes, coupled with a blindingly beautiful smile.
**Takes time out for a mini Ennis swoon**Meryl, what a lovely, perceptive post.
Oh, the fragility - the fear of not measuring up, the loneliness, the self-doubt, - not to use stronger words....
I do wonder though whether Cassie and Alma realizes there's that fragile side of Ennis. He doesn't consciously *let* them see it, but female intuition and all....they should sense it. Somehow I don't think they ever see the depth of it, though.
But Jack certainly sees it, has seen it all the while since their first meeting. And just as importantly, as time goes by, Ennis *allows* Jack to see it. That stricken look of Ennis's after he's related the story of Rich and Earl - those little puffs of breath as he exhales after having kept himself tightly in check during that dreadful tale..... Jack reaching out gently to stroke his cheek...... still leaving Ennis space, but understanding, and showing he understands. Meep.
After all this time and so much discussion, this is still immensely powerful.
There's another scene and line where that fragility is apparent, where the double meaning stands out epecially because of the different reactions from the movie audience and the listener in the film: When Ennis says
"Hell, that's the most I've spoke in a year", the cinema audiences have never failed to laugh heartily whenever I've seen the film. Heartily, but not long. It's a funny comeback, and there haven't been too many of those! Ordinarily, you'd expect the listener in the movie to laugh as well, because it's a joke, right? Ennis made a joke - wooo-wee! Or...did he? Jack's reaction, contrary to the audience's, is pensive, serious, compassionate, fond..... he knows that there's too much truth to what Ennis says, and that's not something to laugh about. He senses the overwhelming loneliness in the line. Because of that difference in reactions, the truth about the "joke" hits the audience quickly, and the laughter dies.......