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Latjoreme/Katherine
Regarding his homosexuality, would Ennis:
-- Describe himself that way to others? Latjoreme -- Never. Ruthlessly – Agreed, never. Jane - no. Diane – no human way! Penth -- No way Mikaela – No, never ever. Not unless we're talking bizarro-world Ennis.
-- Use the word "queer" or "homosexual" to describe himself to himself? Latjoreme -- Early on in the movie, no. By the end, probably yes. Ruthlessly – Early, agreed. End, slightly, possibly, maybe... but still only with fear and self-loathing. Jane - Early on, not on your f’n life! By the end, still no. Diane - No, no, no! I don’t think he’d even consider admitting to himself he would fit into that category. Penth -- Early on: no. Later: probably yes, and not only after Jack's death, but even before ("You ever get the feeleng...") Mikaela -- Yes, eventually he would use the term "queer" to himself.
-- Reluctantly in his heart of hearts consider the possibility that those words might apply to him? Latjoreme -- Yes, probably, the whole time. Ruthlessly – Agreed. Jane - yes he would consider that those words might apply to him. Diane – He might consider the possibility, but I don’t think he would allow himself to acknowledge that he might be gay. Penth -- Yes, from very early on. Mikaela – Yes, from he was nine years old.-- Notice he's attracted to men? Latjoreme -- Yes, since he was a kid, though he has learned to hide or repress it. Ruthlessly – Agreed. Jane - yes. Diane – Yes … again, I am not sure if he would admit, even to himself that he is attracted to men. Penth -- Yes Mikaela -- Yes, most certainly. One of the reasons he's so painfully shy
-- Wish he weren't? Latjoreme -- Sure. Jane - yes. Ruthlessly – Agreed. Penth -- yes Mikaela -- Yes, or the story and film would not have been the same
-- Convince himself almost 100% completely that he isn’t? Ruthlessly – Absolutely Diane – ABOSULETLY!! No way would he even be comfortable with the fact that he was gay. Latjoreme -- No, I'd say more like 65%. Penth -- No. Mikaela -- Difficult one. Yes, at certain moments in his life, especially in his younger years, I think he actually managed this, to his great relief…. But over the perspective of longer time periods, the percentage was not *anywhere* near 100%.
-- Recognize that his relationship with Jack constitutes a gay relationship? Latjoreme -- Yes, sort of. Jane - no? yes? Ruthlessly – No. No recognition – which signifies to me that it dawns on him, that he becomes aware of it. No. Penth -- Difficult. Recognizes that others would call it a gay relationship, yes Mikaela – I agree with Penth. He recognizes that others would call it a gay relationship. For his own conflicted self, he’d think of it as special and not easily boil it down to that simple term. -- Recognize that his relationship with Jack constitutes a “thing” that he cannot understand or name with its correct, generally-accepted name? Ruthlessly – Yes, 100% Diane – I agree with Ruthless 100% on both of these points. No way can he consider that this is a gay relationship … it is an anomaly. Latjoreme: No, I think deep down he knows what the correct name is, but he would never say it out loud and tries not to say it to himself. Penth -- this is the converse of the question above (kind of). Therefore No, because he knows how it would be called by all the world and his brother. Mikaela – yes and no? He will not let himself name it by it’s generally accepted name, but he does know what that name is.
-- Believe it's a huge exception to the rule, that he's not "really" gay and otherwise would be attracted only to women? Latjoreme -- No. He tries his best to believe that, but secretly knows it's not true. Ruthlessly – I’m not sure if I’ve broken down the question into its intended subparts correctly. Correct me if I’m wrong. “Believe it’s a huge exception to the rule…” – No. The only rules to homosexuality that he believes are that it’s wrong and equals (or deserves) death. “Believe … that he’s not “really” gay …” – Absolutely. He does not believe himself to be gay. “Believe … and otherwise would be attracted only to women” – The word “otherwise” would require him to think of himself as gay, which he does not. He may not be attracted to women sexually, but he believes that he’s supposed to be. Jane - hunh?? Diane – In Ennis’ mind – yes. I think he can not comprehend (or should I say consciously understand) why he loves Jack. IMO, Ennis blames Jack for being the way he is. If it wouldn’t be for that, Ennis would believe that he would be living a “normal” life. Penth -- Probably no. Mikaela -- No. This is what he'd wish for, but deep down he knows he's attracted to other men.
-- Ever have been involved with another man if not for Jack? Latjoreme -- Probably not. Ruthlessly – Agreed. Unless someone came along and led him to it in the same way Jack did – build a friendship, build an intimacy, give Ennis his moment to let it all come bursting out, etc. Jane - maybe, if he was attracted to and picked up in the right way. Diane – I find it highly improbable. Penth -- Yes, if the other man would be Jack-like: leading him. I'm with Ruthlessly on this question Mikaela -- No, or at least chances are very, very slim. It would require alignment of special circumstances akin to what he and Jack had, including someone to lead him into it – and time enough alone to get comfortable. -- Blame Jack for him (Ennis) being gay? Latjoreme -- Not in his sexuality. See above -- he knows he already was. Not in his behavior, either; he implies this in the lakeside scene, but he's upset. Ruthlessly – I dunno. Even if Ennis recognized early on that he is attracted to men, it took Jack to bring Ennis to the point of acting on it. So, because Ennis does not believe himself to be gay, he very well could blame Jack for bringing Ennis to the point of acting on Ennis’ attraction to other fellas. Jane - no. Diane – as I said above, yes. Penth -- No Mikaela -- No. -- Blame Jack for keeping him nothin and nowhere? Latjoreme -- Not really. Again, he's lashing out in anger. He does not actually resent Jack for the way his life has gone. R
uthlessly – Half and half. Ennis knows that he’s nothin’ and nowhere because he has put his “get somewhere” and “be somebody” on the back burner so that he could be available for Jack. Ennis knows that’s what he’s done. But, he probably doesn’t accept responsibility for his actions; thus, he blames Jack for it. For the simple fact that Jack was there, Ennis just couldn’t help himself. Jane - no, not Jack, but his relationship with Jack? Yes. Diane – as I have stated before, yes. I think he sees the relationship as something that has somewhat derailed his life. If not for Jack, he would probably still be married to Alma and living a blissful lie of a life. Penth -- Partly yes. "...because he has put his “get somewhere” and “be somebody” on the back burner so that he could be available for Jack." But this alludes on the extern circumstances (poverty for example). But not in the way that Ennis would earnestly believe Jack had ruined his life. Mikaela -- No. It's difficult to generalize. Now and then Ennis may have thought along those lines in his continuous despair over his own siuation, and once he lashes out at Jack in fear of Jack leaving him, but overall I think he felt himself to be someone and to be somewhere only when together with Jack
-- Blame his feelings for Jack for keeping him from leading a normal life? Latjoreme -- Yes. Ruthlessly – Agreed. He knew he had feelings for Jack, and Ennis called those feelings a “thing,” and he knew that those feelings, that “thing” kept Ennis from leading a normal life – what Ennis would perceive as normal. Jane - yes Diane – same as what I just said above ... .i.e. Yes! Penth -- yes Mikaela -- Yes -- Wish he had never gotten involved with Jack in the first place? Latjoreme -- No way. Ruthlessly – I don’t agree. If Ennis is like 99% of other people who fall in love (as some people have said ), then there are certainly times when he has wished he’d never gotten involved with Jack. Wished it as an overall defining characteristic of himself? No. But gone through long periods of trying to forget, get over, avoid, regret… then, yes. Jane - no f'n way! Diane – No way …. He was his one-in-a-lifetime love. Jack was the one person who could understand him. Penth -- No way Mikaela -- No. Not on your life. No. Regarding love, does Ennis-- Use that word when talking to Jack? Latjoreme -- No, obviously. Ruthlessly – Agreed. Jane - no. Diane – no way … that’s completely out of his character Penth -- No Mikaela -- No, certainly not. More's the pity. -- Use that word when talking to himself? Latjoreme -- No. Ruthlessly – Agreed. But he did try to get personalized vanity plates on his truck that say “E (heart) J.” Unfortunately, the Wyoming DMV doesn’t allow a heart character on their plates. Jane - no. Diane – No. Penth -- Hm, no. But.... Mikaela -- No, not until the very end. He's learned to use the word by then - he would have used it to himself, not only to his daughter. -- Notice that he exhibits the feelings and longings and behavior that the rest of us would associate with the word "love"? Latjoreme -- Yes. Ruthlessly – “Notice?” Yes, occasionally, but quickly dismisses it as “Can’t be… it’s a “thing.”” Jane - no. Ennis is all about submersing his feelings. I don't think he even lets them breathe. Diane – Possibly. He is so cut off from his feelings and others’ perceptions, I don’t know that he would be capable of
picking up on something like that. Penth -- A very sure Yes Mikaela -- Yes, he is aware of the feelings and longings and behaviour -- Recognize only after the pie scene that all those acts and feelings add up to quote-unquote love? Latjoreme -- Hmm ... maybe. (I'm a little on the fence about this, and open -- believe it or not -- to persuasion.) Ruthlessly – Getting’ there… plus the other interactions that follow. Pie’ll do it to ya every time! They shoulda bin eatin’ pie up on ol’ Brokeback ‘steada beans. Jane - yes, that is when he starts to realize it, but the pie scene was not the illuminating moment. He had started to realize it after the Lake Scene confrontation. That is why he dropped Cassie.. Diane – No … I think he realized that he loved Jack after their confrontation. The pie scene illustrates how cut off and onely Ennis has become and it is used as a way to close his relationship with Cassie. Penth -- I'm with Diane and Jane here: after the lake scene Mikaela -- No. I think he knows earlier. Is the use of that specific word the point of this question? Then not much earlier. Ennis doesn't use the word "love" till very late. -- Not recognize it until his conversation with Alma Jr.? Latjoreme -- No, I think he recognizes in the closet at the very latest. Ruthlessly – Fully recognizes it in the closet at the very earliest AND at the very latest. Was there pie in that there closet? Jane - No, he starts to recognize it after his breakdown and Jack’s speech. Diane – No … same as what I have said above. Penth -- No, see above. He took a step forward: he is able to talk about it. Not about his love for Jack, but able to admit how important it is. Mikaela -- No. -- Recognize only in the end that, given that he and Jack were in love, that he should have made honoring that love his first priority, rather than being afraid to do so? Latjoreme -- Absolutely. Ruthlessly – Recognize … that he should have … rather than…? No. Change it to “After the closet scene, especially during his talk with Jr., and given that Ennis now understands that he and Jack were in love, did Ennis wish that he would have been able to have overcome his fears and made his love for Jack his first priority while, after Jack’s death, still not actually dealing with overcoming his fears because there is no longer a reason to with regard to his relationship with Jack?” Then, yes. There ain’t that much pie in alla Riverton. Jane - Yes. Diane – Yes, absolutely. I think that is why he has such bitter longing … knowing what could have been and knowing that, since Jack is gone, it will never happen. Penth -- Yes, yes and yes. This makes it so poignant. What might have been. And he knows it. Recognizes after Jack's death. Latest after he found the shirts, but I believe even before the shirts. Mikaela – I realize I have no easy answer for this one. I have to think about it. I’m not certain Ennis ever reaches a point where he truly believes he could have managed to “honour the love” if that meant actually living Jack’s “sweet life “ together. The shirts still in the closet at the end remain a very compelling image – but one that can be interpreted more than one way. (See answer to the question 2 points further down). I think if Ennis recognizes one thing, it’s that he should have made sure of showing and telling Jack straight out how he felt about him - he should have made absolutely sure that Jack did not have to die in any sort of doubt about that. -- Does Ennis think homosexuals deserve death? Latjoreme: No. He might think his dad was right that homosexuality is shameful and wrong. But I don't think he believes that if his dad did the job he was right in that case. Ruthlessly -- I dunno, again. He did tell Jack that if he came to know certain things, he'd kill him. And I don’t believe for a minute he's talking about jealousy here. His father taught him well. Diane – I agree completely with your point of view, Katherine. Penth -- No way. Agree with Diane and Katherine. Mikaela -- No. He thinks homosexuality is shameful and wrong. His upbringing taught him he should speak as if he thinks they deserve death. -- After Jack dies, will Ennis' homophobia and fears and shame remain intact, now that there's no longer any reason to overcome them?
Latjoreme: Partly. He has learned a lesson, suggested by his decision to attend the wedding and his swearing to Jack. On the other hand, I don't see him so enlightened that he'd go on to have other relationships with men (though he wouldn't anyway, because he'd still be grieving Jack). Ruthlessly -- I think so. Wouldn't Alma, Sr. be the only one who would confront him? Without his relationship going on with Jack, and without Alma to confront him, I don’t think he'd make any forward steps. In fact, this may shut him down completely as far as intimate, relationship love goes. Diane – Yes … If anything, I see him becoming more bitter and homophobic. In his eyes, Jack was murdered for being gay. Jane - Here is a quote I transcribed from a intro to the song "The Maker Makes" written by Rufus Wainwright for the movie Brokeback Mountain. The song is the very last song played during the film, as the credits are just winding down. Hell most of the people will have left the cinema by the time this song will have started to play!
Rufus Wainwright:
"It's called The Maker Makes 'cause it's, it's just about, it's
it's sorta a, a the flip side of someone who, who instead of y'now discovering
their homosexuality, y'know moves to NY, and y'now gets y'know a haircut,
um, they decide to sort of stay, where they are and really forsake their uhm,
their sexuality."
Penth -- I think he just doesn't care anymore. So my anwser would be both: yes and no. I think he is not ashamed anymore (to himself) that he loved Jack and about their relationship. But admitting it to another person - no. And for other possible relationships: I think there are no other possible relationships, so there's no need for any progress in overcoming his fears, because his fears are not important anymore. Mikaela -- Yes and No. He has changed, in that he has reached a level of inner peace and acceptance about what he had with Jack, that part of the conflict in him is gone. But he has no reason to "come out" to the rest of the world any more. Quite the opposite, perhaps: Keeping silent on the subject gives him insurance that nothing or noone will have the opportunity to sullly or disparage his memories of what he had with Jack.