Topic: Pretty good with a can opener

[tpe]

i just found out about this thread... 
and another new thing in english... "open a can".. and how that changes that scene to me.. it's incredible.. 

i always wondered ...
as you rightly all say here..
i mean it wasn't just jack taking ennis' hand and ennis jumping at him.. without ANY built of tension before, going on for some time.. there MUST have been a hinting, gazes, maybe small touches, a play with words, like this one...

well well still learning new things about BBM... 

The attempt of Jack to be a good camp-tender does seem to echo those innocent/unaffected games that we as children play -- am I correct?   There is an innocence in the attempt to please and do good for the sake of the one he loves.   The can opener scene certainly hints at all this.

And yes, we are still learning. 

[orangetruck]

And the can-opener scene is emblematic of what you say about the character -- he is approachable and "faulty" in a way that calls our sympathy and affection.  It is the GENTLENESS of Jack (free of any sentimentality and self-pity) that we love -- and together with it is a gentle humor that we do see in this very scene.

 

True, that's Jack. On the other hand there's Ennis, a stoic. There are layers there, and although it takes longer we eventually find he's just as awfully human, don't we?

[tpe]

True, that's Jack. On the other hand there's Ennis, a stoic. There are layers there, and although it takes longer we eventually find he's just as awfully human, don't we?

Stoicism is by nature not gentle; nor is it even "human", in the sense of vulnerability.  Stoicism has an almost superhuman quality to it -- and hence, a sense of aloofness.  If there is anything the can opener scene tells us, it is that Jack is never aloof.

 

[orangetruck]

Stoicism is by nature not gentle; nor is it even "human", in the sense of vulnerability.  Stoicism has an almost superhuman quality to it -- and hence, a sense of aloofness.  If there is anything the can opener scene tells us, it is that Jack is never aloof.

 

Well I also see Jack using his can opener on Ennis. Of course.. not literally. But it's a start.

Which I think, for me, is partly how 20 years of Jack led Ennis to quite a reflection in the closet. He indeed looks a smidget vulnerable from that point on especially, no? Before Jack, would we have seen him stand before something like two shirts with tears in his eyes? I do think we see a very human Ennis there in his trailer, whereas before we saw first the stoic.

I even go as far as to wonder what Ennis' reaction to the dead sheep would have been had there been no sex with Jack beforehand. What's up with that?

[tpe]

Well I also see Jack using his can opener on Ennis. Of course.. not literally. But it's a start.

Which I think, for me, is partly how 20 years of Jack led Ennis to quite a reflection in the closet. He indeed looks a smidget vulnerable from that point on especially, no? Before Jack, would we have seen him stand before something like two shirts with tears in his eyes? I do think we see a very human Ennis there in his trailer, whereas before we saw first the stoic.

I even go as far as to wonder what Ennis' reaction to the dead sheep would have been had there been no sex with Jack beforehand. What's up with that?

You imply that the can opener is a metaphor.  And I love that. 

How apt it is that you bring this out.  I had not thought about this before, and I must say that I am impressed...

[orangetruck]

You imply that the can opener is a metaphor.  And I love that. 

How apt it is that you bring this out.  I had not thought about this before, and I must say that I am impressed...

Thanks, tpe. Those can openers do come in handy.

[atalley]

Thanks for the new insights, guys.  I just thought that Jack was so distracted by Ennis' stripping that he almost spilled the beans.  Never thought he might be braggin' on his prowess.  I think Ennis was much more upset about the sheep because he stayed w/ Jack that night onstead of guarding the sheep.  He felt like it wss his fault.

[tpe]

Thanks, orangetruck.

And thanks also, atalley.  You know, I do agree that a large part of Jack's clumsiness in that scene had to do with his being distracted by Ennis stripping in front of him.  In fact, I think this also explains why in the next scene, I also feel on edge.  We see Jack peeling potatos, while trying to look clam as Ennis washes himself in the background.  I get the feeling that he might cut himself accidentally, because it was clear that his mind was focused elsewhere.

[nagsheadsea412]

I thought the scene of Jack with the potato peeler was brilliant on his part...his two small gulps magnified into a deep frustration...so little movement but it told it all in spades...

[tpe]

I thought the scene of Jack with the potato peeler was brilliant on his part...his two small gulps magnified into a deep frustration...so little movement but it told it all in spades...

Exactly.  Well, I would even go further and say that then two small gulps magnified into deep desire or hunger...

[lauren]

Oh, yes, Jack very much was being sly with this phrase.  He was not talking about kitchen appliances! He was bragging that he was good in the sack... to prove it, look at the scene that follows: he is on his back opening a can of beens and he splashes him self.  He is NOT good with can opener... or at least one kind.... hehehehe

I never saw it that way but now that you mention it, it kind of makes sense. Seeing that the conversation of 'going to hell' comes next...I wonder if Ennis caught the meaning behind his words...

[tpe]

I never saw it that way but now that you mention it, it kind of makes sense. Seeing that the conversation of 'going to hell' comes next...I wonder if Ennis caught the meaning behind his words...

Probably not, but who knows?  Ennis is inscrutable...

[Lobsel-Vith]

Thanks for the new insights, guys.  I just thought that Jack was so distracted by Ennis' stripping that he almost spilled the beans.  Never thought he might be braggin' on his prowess.  I think Ennis was much more upset about the sheep because he stayed w/ Jack that night onstead of guarding the sheep.  He felt like it wss his fault.

It might have been on this forum, or somewhere else, but I read that the sheep's death was symbolizing something. That it was signifying that that's what happens when you 'stray' from the flock. He might have felt that it was his fault, but I think that maybe it also reinforced his past with the death of that one guy. He strayed when he let himself go with Jack, and upon seeing the dead sheep, he realized that if they totally went through with it then one of them would end up dead... Sadly it was his fears that caused their fate...

[vedrana]

It might have been on this forum, or somewhere else, but I read that the sheep's death was symbolizing something. That it was signifying that that's what happens when you 'stray' from the flock. He might have felt that it was his fault, but I think that maybe it also reinforced his past with the death of that one guy. He strayed when he let himself go with Jack, and upon seeing the dead sheep, he realized that if they totally went through with it then one of them would end up dead... Sadly it was his fears that caused their fate...

This could be symbolic! I mean the dead sheep.

On the other side, it didn't bother Ennis too much, cos the same night he enter the tent and made love to Jack!

[babytammy7]

It might have been on this forum, or somewhere else, but I read that the sheep's death was symbolizing something. That it was signifying that that's what happens when you 'stray' from the flock. He might have felt that it was his fault, but I think that maybe it also reinforced his past with the death of that one guy. He strayed when he let himself go with Jack, and upon seeing the dead sheep, he realized that if they totally went through with it then one of them would end up dead... Sadly it was his fears that caused their fate...

Yeah, baby. I'm sure other forums have discussed this too, but here we did it a lot. Lots of brokies share that take on the dead sheep scene....Me too. I think that Ennis thought about Earl in a ditch when he saw the sheep. Lots of bad things happen when you do something that is wrong.....like having sex with a man.....And sure Ennis thought that it was his fault. Ennis felt guilty all his life because of what he was doing with Jack....That's why the shirts scene is so meaningful and important: Ennis quit feeling guilty and ashamed of his feelings for Jack, and found out the joy of love and being loved....even if that was a bit too late...and that's when the guilt turned into regret, when he realized that he could have had all and he lost it because of his fears.... :\'( :\'(

[tpe]

It might have been on this forum, or somewhere else, but I read that the sheep's death was symbolizing something. That it was signifying that that's what happens when you 'stray' from the flock. He might have felt that it was his fault, but I think that maybe it also reinforced his past with the death of that one guy. He strayed when he let himself go with Jack, and upon seeing the dead sheep, he realized that if they totally went through with it then one of them would end up dead... Sadly it was his fears that caused their fate...

This could be symbolic! I mean the dead sheep.

On the other side, it didn't bother Ennis too much, cos the same night he enter the tent and made love to Jack!

Yeah, baby. I'm sure other forums have discussed this too, but here we did it a lot. Lots of brokies share that take on the dead sheep scene....Me too. I think that Ennis thought about Earl in a ditch when he saw the sheep. Lots of bad things happen when you do something that is wrong.....like having sex with a man.....And sure Ennis thought that it was his fault. Ennis felt guilty all his life because of what he was doing with Jack....That's why the shirts scene is so meaningful and important: Ennis quit feeling guilty and ashamed of his feelings for Jack, and found out the joy of love and being loved....even if that was a bit too late...and that's when the guilt turned into regret, when he realized that he could have had all and he lost it because of his fears.... :\'( :\'(

There is a whole thread about the symbolism of the dead sheep, FYI. 

http://www.ennisjack.com/index.php?topic=1225.0

Also related:

http://www.ennisjack.com/index.php?topic=1565.0