Hi to you all!!
Just discovered with joy this thread!! And was happy to read all comments!!
Concerning Jack and Ennis about the harmonica, since I consider that they both were maligned infairly... in different ways and degrees, that instrument shows them both as shy!! To me, when I think about it!
My father played the harmonica, when he could. At times at small parties, to spark them. Even when we had to go moose hunting, he played it... then too, maybe to scare away wolves or to celebrate the hunt success since we often did nearly starve and had to go into the forest to survive!! But I had never realized that he was extremely shy and that that he was hidding in a way behind the harmonica!!
It seems to me that Jack hides with his harmonica as his shyness, and also rings hope or happiness at other times with it. AS in my paintings I create, there is a duality about harmonica playing!! ??
The bad persons or wolves (if I may use those words) who senses or sees that Jack is shy, pry on him and want to hurt him in different ways, even bash or murder him easily!! So, at time(s), Jack realizes that and protects himself!! With or without his harmonica! Many types of persons maligns Jack unfairly!!
As for Ennis, he senses Jack true nature: shyness!! Since, Ennis is extremely shy too. Maybe much more so that Jack?? And accepts Jack shyness via harmonica... tunes more and more, even applauding him for it!! Since Ennis is helped that way, as one way, to open up to life, more and more!!
Harmonica or playing other instruments are also beautiful past times, right?? Being up there in the mountains, such effort at time are delights for both (Ennis and Jack)!!
But where did Jack learn or get his harmonica? From his father? From his mother? Or? Any clues?
It remains that Jack in many ways unmentioned yet maybe, that he was maligned unfairly in the Brokeback Mountain movie since he was a shy charactor? And therefore pried (is that the right word?) upon?
Hugs!!