Was Ennis foolin when he threatened Jack?

[serious crayons]

This just came up on another thread, and turns out disagreement about it, so we might as well hash this one out, too. When Ennis says in that final argument that Jack's activities in Mexico could get him killed if Ennis came to know them, was he really not foolin?

Or was that just something he came up with in the heat of anger?

I'm in the latter camp. Ennis may be upset about Jack straying, he might be hot-tempered and prone to impulsive violence, but no way would he seriously hurt Jack.

What do you all think?

[nakymaton]

I think that the last time Ennis hit Jack, Ennis spent four long years regretting it.

Ennis may have a short fuse, but I don't think he would be able to hurt Jack again without remembering how much he hurt himself as well, the last time.

[moremojo]

Agreed. I just can't see Ennis ever intentionally hurting Jack. This is a guy who has only ever let his emotions come out in passionate outbursts, and I think he says these words in the heat of anger.

Now, I wonder if Jack feels that Ennis could never hurt him. He certainly doesn't back down when Ennis confronts him, though he is obviously hurt by what he hears--note the mixture of anger and sadness on his face. My feeling is that Jack did not fear Ennis (at least by this point in their relationship), but was definitely very vulnerable to how Ennis's choices and actions affected him.

[JCinNYC2006]

I think it's definitely possible.  Maybe not likely, but he does show a violent side here and there, even the punch on their last day on the mountain.  He almost punched Alma even and she was pregnant.  It's not a very attractive or appealing side to him, but sad to say it's there.

Juan

[Jeff Wrangler]

God, I hope not.

I don't think he would ever do something "premeditated," but depending on the context of how and when he came to learn the specifics, I have to agree with Juan. I think Ennis was capable of losing control and getting violent, though, again, I hope it would stop short of actual murder.

I've seen Ennis react to stressful situations with violence too often in this film not to entertain the possibility.

[MaineWriter]

Victoria had a wonderful post 1000 years ago (over on TOB or the old CT) where she analyzed the conversation as a lover's quarrel and said, "this is how lovers fight." Understood exactly why each one said just what they did when they did. It made perfect sense to me. Vic, you reading this? Any chance you have that post saved somewhere on your hard drive or wherever??

Leslie

[FuzzyChanny]

I definitely think it was something he just said in the heat of the moment, because Jack did admit to it, and I didn't see Ennis running for his hunting rifle...

[delalluvia]

It was all talk spoken in anger.  Ennis couldn't possibly have killed Jack.  Just another show of his impotency/powerlessness in life.  As it is, Ennis can hardly stand to live without him.

[RouxB]

No he didn't mean it! He was just lit up and talking trash. It was just his way of emphasizing his point and he you when Ennis gets heated, he is none to subtle. I love him.

 

[Flashframe777]

Yeah, he was foolin'.  Couldn't you see how much he loved Jack?