Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
Would Ennis Commit Suicide?
serious crayons:
Just catching up ...
--- Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on August 02, 2006, 01:55:22 pm --- I am getting a kind of visceral, gut-reaction type of feeling that I understand that Ennis could come to hate "being gay" even more because he believes that Jack's "being gay" has cost him (Ennis) the one person he loved--Jack. It's as though Ennis might see "being gay," rather than a tire iron, as being ultimately responsbile for Jack's death, so that it could increase his own internalized homophobia--his own hatred of "being gay."
--- End quote ---
Hmm. OK, I think I get it. However, I disagree with it. I think Ennis becomes more accepting of his sexuality at the end, not less. That's the message I take from much of the last few scenes, including his breakup with Cassie, his call to Lureen, his relative lack of concern about the Twists' knowing about their relationship, his use of the word "love," and so on.
As a result of Jack's fate and Ennis' belated understanding of how he should have honored their relationship, Ennis becomes a tiny bit less concerned about hiding. His worries about being "queer" or people "suspecting" are far overshadowed by grief. Not to say he's going to come out entirely (the icons of his love are still kept in the closet), but that he overcomes at least part of his internalized homophobia when he realizes what it cost him.
I do think Ennis may have been mad at himself for not being able to protect Jack. But again, to me that would indicate if anything decreased homophobia, not increased. As for anger, I think in Kubler-Ross' scheme it's usually directed at God or some outside cause. I think it's possible to feel anger for the deceased person, and I suppose Ennis' could potentially be angry at Jack for being reckless, but I see no sign of that. To me, he appears to be in one of the other stages (not including acceptance). "Jack, I swear ..." could even suggest a hint of denial or bargaining (something like, I swear things would be different if only you'd come back).
--- Quote from: moremojo on August 02, 2006, 04:53:27 pm ---And as self-destructive as excessive alcohol consumption and smoking (note Ennis's stubby cigarette as Alma Jr. drives up to the trailer) are, I feel I can hardly begrudge these little pleasures that our hardened, lonely ranch hand allows himself.
--- End quote ---
Good point. We see little evidence that he drinks to excess, except I guess the seven beers he consumes while waiting for Jack to show up for the reunion.
Jeff Wrangler:
--- Quote from: moremojo on August 02, 2006, 04:53:27 pm ---I see Ennis's choice of wine here as befitting the occasion--he knows that this is a special moment that calls for something more refined, from a traditional point of view, than beer, whiskey (the two beverages one imagines him consuming the most), or even the coffee or hot tea that Ennis earlier offered his daughter. It was old, cheap wine, to be sure, but it was the best he had on hand.
--- End quote ---
Just as an FYI/aside, according to the screenplay, that wine is a relic of his relationship with Cassie. Must've been in that fridge quite a while. Eeew. ... ;D
bbm_stitchbuffyfan:
After Jack dies, I don't think Ennis will ever be anywhere near as happy as he was with Jack when they would be together. And as much as he loves his daughters, I think he might dwell on suicide, I'm sure he'd passively do it, and it's possible that he could attempt it and succeed.
Regardless, I don't see Ennis living happily once Jack has died. I think he probably felt his day-to-day life to be a waste and then he dies relatively young.
dly64:
--- Quote from: latjoreme on August 02, 2006, 05:04:24 pm ---Hmm. OK, I think I get it. However, I disagree with it. I think Ennis becomes more accepting of his sexuality at the end, not less. That's the message I take from much of the last few scenes, including his breakup with Cassie, his call to Lureen, his relative lack of concern about the Twists' knowing about their relationship, his use of the word "love," and so on.
--- End quote ---
I agree he takes a step in the right direction. But, how much is Ennis really going to change? I do think that Ennis could no longer live a “false life.” In other words, he was not able to masquerade as a heterosexual anymore when he knew he could never love anyone other than Jack. He also began to understand the toll his denial took on the women previously in his life. Which leads me to ….
--- Quote ---As a result of Jack's fate and Ennis' belated understanding of how he should have honored their relationship, Ennis becomes a tiny bit less concerned about hiding. His worries about being "queer" or people "suspecting" are far overshadowed by grief. Not to say he's going to come out entirely (the icons of his love are still kept in the closet), but that he overcomes at least part of his internalized homophobia when he realizes what it cost him.
--- End quote ---
I completely agree that Ennis received a “wake up call” after Jack died. Ennis understood what he could have had and the price he paid for his impassivity. However, it was his grief that caused him to become more withdrawn and bitter. He was taught to hate homosexuals. In other words, he was taught to be self-deprecating. Ennis had an enormous amount of guilt and self-loathing. He turned the anger inward and became averse to his sexual orientation. He hated the “thing” that caused Jack to die.
--- Quote ---I do think Ennis may have been mad at himself for not being able to protect Jack. But again, to me that would indicate if anything decreased homophobia, not increased. As for anger, I think in Kubler-Ross' scheme it's usually directed at God or some outside cause. I think it's possible to feel anger for the deceased person, and I suppose Ennis' could potentially be angry at Jack for being reckless, but I see no sign of that. To me, he appears to be in one of the other stages (not including acceptance). "Jack, I swear ..." could even suggest a hint of denial or bargaining (something like, I swear things would be different if only you'd come back).
--- End quote ---
You are right that in the stages of grief, anger is usually directed towards God. In this case, however, I think Ennis’ anger was turned inward. The whole “what if ….” scenario would be a painful mantra in Ennis’ life.
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: dly64 on August 02, 2006, 09:40:05 pm --- He hated the “thing” that caused Jack to die.
--- End quote ---
I think I agree with everything you say :o ;) except the above sentence.
Yes, he was taught to hate homosexuality and therefore was guilty and self-loathing. Yes, his anger was turned inward. Yes, "What if" would be a painful mantra. And yes, Jack's death prompted him to take a step in the right direction and quit living a false life.
But if you're saying "the thing" he hated as a result of Jack's death was homosexuality, I disagree. Not that he didn't still hate homosexuality to some degree, I'm sure. But I think he became more accepting of it in himself and Jack as the movie went on, and especially at the end.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version