Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum

Ennis was playing his part.

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Kajunite:
Much discussion (and it is great!) about the domestic scenes of Ennis, Alma, children, jobs, society, religion, et al in several threads have taken place and there are some wonderful points made.  Correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't the whole point to show Ennis playing these parts as he was taught early on.  The kicking the can; condiments; going to the church social; care of the kids idea was to make him just another ordinary, somewhat chauvanistic straight man trying to live as he was taught.  Ennis and Alma both played their parts well. 

I have a brother-in-law who has played this part well.  Obviously it does not take much intelligence or skill but all of your growing up years are put in training to be this persona.  It took my sister 30 years to finally get my brother-in-law to stop saying, "When are you gonna get married, boy?"
Ennis was trained to look and act like he did and I hope I don't offend, but so was Alma.  She played her part as she was trained. This was the time and setting for that kind of life.  They were trying to play their parts as best they could.

But there was a problem; Ennis had this gay cowboy nipping at his heels like a bad puppy.  The whole point was Ennis trying to play that cowboy part much like he had been trained to do.  He tried so hard to conform the role of Jack into his life like he had learned from early on.  It did not work that way and he ended up not playing any part at all and left alone isolated in a run down trailer out in the middle of nowhere trying to make his mailbox presentable.  Sad. 

The trappings that social cultures put on children growing up are heavy and bundlesome and how the hell do you get rid of them?  This movie has made me aware and even get rid of some of them, but I still have some to go.  And I am 61.  Getting there...

Jeff Wrangler:

--- Quote ---Ennis was trained to look and act like he did and I hope I don't offend, but so was Alma.  She played her part as she was trained. This was the time and setting for that kind of life.  They were trying to play their parts as best they could.
--- End quote ---

I agree, Kajunite. I think another way to say this is that Alma was raised with the same set of cultural assumptions as Ennis.

Brown Eyes:
Welcome to bettermos Kajunite!  Grab a cup of coffee and a piece of cherry cake.
 ;)

Nice post.  Yes, I think Ennis is trying desperately to play a prescribed role (and Alma too) as you very nicely described.  I think the film is also about a series of wake-up calls and realizations by Ennis that this conventional prescription is not right for him and not even honest for him.  I don't think it's even only Jack as the external evidence of this mis-match between Ennis and conventional society in Riverton.  I think the "gay cowboy nipping at his heels like a bad puppy" is as much inside his own head and a part of Ennis himself as it might be a way to describe Jack's persistence.  But, sure, the burdens of Ennis's childhood (including the trauma his father put him through) impact Ennis's actions enormously.  After Jack's death, though, Ennis seems to be a very changed man... I think he wakes up to a great deal and very quickly with the shock of Jack's death.  Ennis wanted the relationship with Jack as much as Jack did... and truly loved Jack all along.  Figuring out a way to deal with in/ honor it was the hard part for Ennis (especially while Jack was still alive).  But, I think within the context of his upbringing and deeply ingrained thoughts about societal expectations he did quite a lot... and probably from his own perspective the best he could for Jack and to preserve the relationship.  Giving up jobs and otherwise arranging his life so that he could continue to see Jack (probably the one spark of excitement in his rather dreary existence) was major for Ennis.  It was only after Jack's death that he realized that maybe more really could have been done.

Oh Ennis.
 :'(

Kajunite:
I agree that a lot of the problem dealing with Jack was in Ennis' head and heart.  Do you think that Ennis started to shed his societal expectations back when he wouldn't go to the church social and got a divorce for example?   Jack's death was as you say a wake up call for Ennis.  Ennis was carrying enough baggage to sink a ship and the poor baby did not deserve that. 

Brown Eyes:

--- Quote from: Kajunite on July 15, 2006, 12:20:53 am ---I agree that a lot of the problem dealing with Jack was in Ennis' head and heart.  Do you think that Ennis started to shed his societal expectations back when he wouldn't go to the church social and got a divorce for example?   Jack's death was as you say a wake up call for Ennis.  Ennis was carrying enough baggage to sink a ship and the poor baby did not deserve that. 

--- End quote ---

Yes, I think the decision not to go to the church social was one sign that he was starting to question certain aspects of conventional Riverton.  I think there are little steps all along the way for Ennis starting from the moment that he sees Jack (probably).  Sure, maybe the rejection of the church social is almost a conscious sign for him that he's not wanting to be part of that crowd as much as he'd probably feel uncomfortable and judged by them (I get this sense from his "fire and brimstone" comment).   

Ennis's baggage is definitely one of the saddest aspects of the movie.  I think that's why that little moment during the "prayer of thanks" camping trip is so sweet when Jack reaches out to touch his face.  It's so nice to see that Ennis has found someone he can unload some of his troubles to.  You get the sense that he's never told anyone the Earl story before.  Talk about a burden to have to live with!  Yikes.  And, this is the first moment that Jack probably understands the complexity of the situation that he's in with Ennis.  He probably had no idea of the level of Ennis's "baggage" and fear until this conversation.  I'm sure the story threw a whole new light on Ennis for Jack here.  Trying to figure out a way to comfort Ennis must have been a challenge for Jack.  But, the simple act of reaching out and touching his cheek somehow seemed just right for Ennis at the moment.  Very sweet.

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