Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
the Earl flashback
alec716:
--- Quote from: TJ on April 29, 2006, 07:30:26 pm ---Ennis even states in the motel room in 1967 "Dad made sure I seen it. Took me to see it. Me and K.E. Dad laughed about it. Hell, for all I know he done the job. If he was alive and was to put his head in that door right now you bet he'd go get his tire iron. Two guys livin together? No. All I can see is we get together once in a while way the hell out in the back a nowhere -- "
--- End quote ---
As someone who has worked with physically and emotionally abused children for 15 years, I can only imagine the psychic impact upon Ennis from witnessing the body AND believing that, even if his father didn't commit that killing, that he was capable of doing so. As a former gay child (the chlid part is former, the gay part remains curent!) who paid careful attention to the few adult gay role models available, I can only imagine young Ennis' horror at the killing regardless of who committed it. Sometimes, as frustrated as I have felt that Ennis could not move past his inhibitions and fears during Jack's lifetime, I am amazed that Ennis could function in a relationship at all with Jack. He must have loved that man something powerful to set his fears aside, even to the limited extent that he did. That's why I believe that "I swear" ends with ... and I would be braver and be with you more if I had another chance.
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: alec716 on June 09, 2006, 08:10:26 pm --- Sometimes, as frustrated as I have felt that Ennis could not move past his inhibitions and fears during Jack's lifetime, I am amazed that Ennis could function in a relationship at all with Jack. He must have loved that man something powerful to set his fears aside, even to the limited extent that he did.
--- End quote ---
I know. That's why I don't like it when people "blame" Ennis for not acting differently -- by his standards, from his point of view, in the context of what he knew, he took some big risks for love.
alec716:
--- Quote from: latjoreme on June 13, 2006, 02:28:16 am ---I know. That's why I don't like it when people "blame" Ennis for not acting differently -- by his standards, from his point of view, in the context of what he knew, he took some big risks for love.
--- End quote ---
Yes, and I think that the risks were very large, in light of Ennis' lifelong emotional and financial disempowerment. He was willing to take time away from his wife and daughters, bargain with employers (which he was not willing to do to please Alma, as the grocery store scene shows), quit jobs, and (I believe most significantly of all) confront the violent and fearsome ghost of his hateful father in order to be with Jack to a larger extent than others in his shoes might have been willing or able to do. He NEEDED Jack, and he knew it, and he never tried to deny it. He was simply, tragically unable to act on the need as much as he wanted to.
I wonder just how much of a flashback to his own father Ennis had when confronted with the Stud Duck's venom across the kitchen table after Jack's death. Just as his own father metaphorically spit on young Ennis' dignity by ingraining a homophobic self-loathing, Mr. Twist literally spit at the mention of Ennis' relationship with Jack. In a similar vein, given that we see Ennis' father place a hand on or around his young shoulder to ensure that Ennis saw the horror that was Earl's defiled body -- I cannot help hoping that Jack's mother's hand on his shoulder in the Twist house was a healing parental touch for Ennis.
and that's my rant for tonight...! :)
serious crayons:
And a very well expressed rant it was, Alec! :)
Especially this part:
--- Quote from: alec716 on June 13, 2006, 09:27:10 pm ---Yes, and I think that the risks were very large, in light of Ennis' lifelong emotional and financial disempowerment. He was willing to take time away from his wife and daughters, bargain with employers (which he was not willing to do to please Alma, as the grocery store scene shows), quit jobs, and (I believe most significantly of all) confront the violent and fearsome ghost of his hateful father in order to be with Jack to a larger extent than others in his shoes might have been willing or able to do. He NEEDED Jack, and he knew it, and he never tried to deny it. He was simply, tragically unable to act on the need as much as he wanted to.
--- End quote ---
I always feel bad when people criticize Ennis for not simply ignoring that violent and fearsome ghost -- the one permanently lodged in his mind -- and getting on with a sweet life. Of course I wish he would have. But what amazes me is not that he didn't cure himself of his homophobia for the sake of Jack, but that he was able to love Jack as well as he did despite his homophobia.
Brown Eyes:
--- Quote from: alec716 on June 09, 2006, 08:10:26 pm ---I am amazed that Ennis could function in a relationship at all with Jack. He must have loved that man something powerful to set his fears aside, even to the limited extent that he did. That's why I believe that "I swear" ends with ... and I would be braver and be with you more if I had another chance.
--- End quote ---
Alec, I really like the way you put this. It's really touching!
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