Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
Lies and deception
southendmd:
Thought I'd put my two cents in:
Jack's question "all this time and you ain't found no one else to marry", Ennis' casual response about Cassie, and Jack's lie about sneaking around with a ranch foreman's wife all are part of their pact. This pact goes back to the exchange on the mountain so many years ago: "you know I ain't queer", "me, neither". They agree to be real men, and so it's okay to talk about women; in fact there's no obvious jealousy. They have been conspiring in this lie. They just have "this thing" they do.
So, I think Jack's question is more than about bitterness; 20 years later he's still lying to please Ennis and keep their pact.
Jack breaks the pact in two ways:
1) the "I miss you so much I can hardly stand it" is pretty darn close to "I love you" and that's too queer. Ennis simply can't respond, and even withdraws the next day, with his "not til November" line.
2)Admitting to Mexico is admitting being queer and that's way too threatening to Ennis: if Jack is queer, so is Ennis. Ennis then threatens to kill Jack over it, because he cannot face this possibility in himself. All the truth comes out, and Ennis says he doesn't think he can stand it anymore.
I think the film shows how tragic it is when people lie to themselves.
Front-Ranger:
You are so right, Paul. I recall there's one time when Jack breaks the pact and gets away with it. When he whispers into Ennis's ear at the motel, "I didn't think we'd get into this again...Yeah, I did, redlined it all the way here from Texas." Even then, Ennis turns somber right after that comment.
ednbarby:
--- Quote ---I think the film shows how tragic it is when people lie to themselves.
--- End quote ---
Ah. Truer words have never been written.
Thanks, Paul and Lee. And everyone else here. Again, just when I think I've wrung it out a hundred times and that's enough to get all the meaning out of it I'll ever need, ... , I'm at a loss as to how to finish this thought without mixing metaphors. You get the gist.
southendmd:
Yes, Lee. Great example. Jack lies and then undoes the lie.
In fact, Jack then says "what about you" and Ennis simply mumbles "me, I dunno".
I also noticed in the post-divorce surprise meeting, when they man-hug, Jack's hand lingers tenderly at the back of Ennis's head, Ennis quickly pulls his hands away before introducing him to his girls.
The closest Ennis ever gets to tender is the "sending up a prayer of thanks", but he has to make a joke out of it. And when Jack goes further with his cow-and-calf operation, Ennis puts on his hat on defensively and closes up more.
And Barb, be careful with wringing it out and all...
coffeecat33:
--- Quote from: southendmd on July 31, 2006, 05:24:29 pm ---So, I think Jack's question is more than about bitterness; 20 years later he's still lying to please Ennis and keep their pact.
Jack breaks the pact in two ways:
1) the "I miss you so much I can hardly stand it" is pretty darn close to "I love you" and that's too queer. Ennis simply can't respond, and even withdraws the next day, with his "not til November" line.
2)Admitting to Mexico is admitting being queer and that's way too threatening to Ennis: if Jack is queer, so is Ennis. Ennis then threatens to kill Jack over it, because he cannot face this possibility in himself. All the truth comes out, and Ennis says he doesn't think he can stand it anymore.
I think the film shows how tragic it is when people lie to themselves.
--- End quote ---
Ennis does withdraw the next day but 'Christ, Ennis had a fuckin week to say some little word about it.' Ennis is like a kid in this scene, scared of Jack's anger, biting his nails, scuffing his boots in the dirt and not looking Jack in the eye. He cries like a little kid, snuffling and rubbing his eyes, blaming it on Jack, ain't nothin, goin nowhere.
"... if the coffee pot is true, then so is the other."
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