That's a really nice summary, Fiona. I think you've hit on one of the central tragedies of the story here - that none of Jack's dreams ever did come to pass because of homophobia, both external and internal.
People like to debate whether Jack really does remain hopeful to the end.
I think I see in Jack's gaze after the flashback to the dozy embrace, watching Ennis drive away, an extinguishing of his hope for their sweet life together. The idea that Jack's father knows about the 'ranch neighbor' lends support to this idea for me - Jack had transferred his optimism to Randall.
It's tragic anyway you look at it. 
I agree 100%
It's why I put he remained hopeful, almost to the end.That scene which you refer to is just so poignant.It is like watching the candle which has once burned so brightly,just flicker and die.Even in the s.s it says perhaps "they'd never got much further than that."
There is something truly desperate about watching the hope go out of someones eyes.
A book my younger son is reading about WW2 and the holocaust, has a mother saying to her children, "for as long as there is life there is hope"
In the case of Jack I think the reverse was true, for as long as there was hope,there was life.
He almost had to die, after that heartbreaking meeting..Because inside I think he had just died anyway. The physical death was only a matter of when.The truly soul destroying death, was watching that last little flicker of hope die.
Perhaps that is why Proulx leaves the means of death open to interpretation.It almost seems unimportant.
Jack the eternally optimistic dreamer, for whom hope springs eternal,has just lost all hope.
I have seen that look in someones eyes.I put it there, and I would give anything to go back and rewind the tape.It is one of the reasons that BBM destroys me every time I watch it.It is like some nightmare groundhog day.
