Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
When Jack falls in love... and lets Ennis go
OldeSoul:
--- Quote from: littlewing1957 on June 27, 2006, 11:08:15 pm ---I think if anything, Jack gave up the will to live. I truly believe that Jack didn't care whether he lived or died when he realized that Ennis would never build a life with him.
--- End quote ---
I agree- I always see the post-divorce scene where Jack gets the (wrong) message that Ennis sends as a turning point; the point where Jack really dies (i.e. his spirit).
I have heard it said, though, that if you love someone you let them go. And I think that even though Jack kept prodding Ennis to live that "sweet life" with him, he ultimately understood that this was the way Ennis always would be- running away from him and coming back. Jack lets him go, Ennis always returns. Ennis even tried to come back that November.
Midnight24:
--- Quote from: littlewing1957 on June 27, 2006, 11:08:15 pm ---I don't think Jack let Ennis go. Actually, I don't think anything really changed between them, but I could be wrong. In the short story, and I'm not saying the movie has to parallel the story in every sense, but Annie P. says, and I paraphrase,
They torqued things to where they had been, for what was said was nothing new. Nothing ended, nothing begun, nothing resolved.
I think if anything, Jack gave up the will to live. I truly believe that Jack didn't care whether he lived or died when he realized that Ennis would never build a life with him.
--- End quote ---
I absolutely agree with saying that Jack did not care if he lived or died once he realized he could never build a life with Ennis.
RouxB:
I agree-and disagree.
I agree that the relationship did not significantly change at the lake-Neither said anything that wasn't already known and they did indeed "torque" things almost back to how they had been. I think Ennis' statement "Jack, I can't stand this no more" was very meaningful in showing his frame of mind. Ennis, who is completely black or white, either fixes it or stands it. What happens when he can no longer stand it? Does he try to fix it? This is the direction in which I see him heading (the open space between what he knew and what he tried to believe) and had Jack not died-and not given up on him-Ennis would have made that journey.
I disagree that Jack gave up the will to live. I read that face as frustration, sadness, and awareness that what he had with Ennis was what he had with Ennis. It would never be what he wanted yet he was completely trapped by his love. I too see this as moment of letting go-of the dream-and final acceptance of the reality.
O0
saucycobblers:
:'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
*Sniff* *Blows nose*
Seriously... reading these made me a bit tearful... and it's not even 'that' time of the month! :-\
--- Quote from: RouxB on June 30, 2006, 01:16:51 am ---This is the direction in which I see him heading (the open space between what he knew and what he tried to believe) and had Jack not died-and not given up on him-Ennis would have made that journey.
--- End quote ---
Gotta disagree with you RouxB. I don't think Ennis would have ever made that journey if they'd both lived to be 80. The fact that Jack dies just as Alma Jr is getting married and becoming independent of her parents, and presumably Jenny / Francine is coming up to 18 since they were born close together - thereby freeing Ennis of his financial obligations to them - might be significant, but even if there were no financial barriers to Jack & Ennis setting up home together I don't think Ennis would. I think it'd be a step too far for him emotionally in 'leaving' his daughters (product and signifier of his heterosexual family) - as signified in the place of Alma Jr's sweater above Jack's shirt in Ennis's wardrobe. Ennis gives his daughters as a reason for not moving to Texas, but I think it's more than a geographical move he can't make - it's also an emotional one.
Luvlylittlewing:
To Saucycobblers, I agree with you. However, I do believe Ennis would have made some changes for Jack. One step in that direction was breaking up with Cassie, IMO. I don't know, I think Ennis would have tried to see Jack more, be more available to him, but I don't think he would have lived openly with Jack, as Jack wanted.
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