Topic: Quote: The Short Leash You Keep Me On

[welshwitch]

Yes, MississaugRed, you're right - self-forged chains are the strongest and the ones we're least likely to break.I think. Ennis was starting to break the ones he ( and his father) had imposed on him, but too late; of course Jack had kept Ennis on a short leash in the sense that he'd created in Ennis a paralysing terror that prevented him from responding fully to Jack.
Perhaps that's part of BBM's message, that we shouldn't chain ourselves down by fear and hate?

[MississaugaRed]

Yes, MississaugRed, you're right - self-forged chains are the strongest and the ones we're least likely to break.I think. Ennis was starting to break the ones he ( and his father) had imposed on him, but too late; of course Jack had kept Ennis on a short leash in the sense that he'd created in Ennis a paralysing terror that prevented him from responding fully to Jack.
Perhaps that's part of BBM's message, that we shouldn't chain ourselves down by fear and hate?

Very good point, Welshwitch ..  and maybe also that we should be gentle and patient with those we forge our chains of connection with?? 

Now you're got me thinking of "Maker Makes" from the ST, and how it might relate to the "short lease" line we're discussing here.  I'm sure there are many connections we can make to that if we thought on it.  Maybe later ....

[donnaread]

The thing that us particularly sad to me is that the quarrel begins because of creature comforts.  Jack wants to be with Ennis in August, when it's warm.  He just doesn't want to freeze his ass off in November.  Allan

IMO, that's not the point at all.  I think they were planning to meet in August and AGAIN in November.  But, like I said, IMO.  Jack just doesn't want to have to wait until November to see Ennis again. 

[donnaread]

I've been in a relationship like Ennis's with Jack - I was kept on a short leash, because the other person knew that whenever I was offered a chance to come running, I would. Like me, I think, Jack has come to resent this - as much as Ennis, now able to see how much he hasn't got, resents what he's sacrificed for Jack. and the Mexico thing may well provoke him - while he has nothing, is no-one, Jack has been in Mexico with other men.... Love can co-exist with brief bursts of absolute loathing.
And I think Ennsi is quite capable of seeing himself in two ways, one as the straight hardworking guy who doesn't want to know about "boys like you" and unable to conceive of being in the same category, but at the same time loving Jack, which to him is something out of time, out of society, part of that other world of the mountain, where he was almost someone else.

Wonderfully said, welshwitch.

Donna

[MississaugaRed]

I've been in a relationship like Ennis's with Jack - I was kept on a short leash, because the other person knew that whenever I was offered a chance to come running, I would. Like me, I think, Jack has come to resent this - as much as Ennis, now able to see how much he hasn't got, resents what he's sacrificed for Jack. and the Mexico thing may well provoke him - while he has nothing, is no-one, Jack has been in Mexico with other men.... Love can co-exist with brief bursts of absolute loathing.
And I think Ennsi is quite capable of seeing himself in two ways, one as the straight hardworking guy who doesn't want to know about "boys like you" and unable to conceive of being in the same category, but at the same time loving Jack, which to him is something out of time, out of society, part of that other world of the mountain, where he was almost someone else.

Wonderfully said, welshwitch.

Donna

Yes, wonderfully said!

When you put it that way, being forced into a situation whereby he had to acknowledge that Jack may have been seeing other men meant that Ennis's two worlds collided, hence the explosion.  Makes since to me, 'cause as you say, love and loathing (self and otherwise) can co-exist, but I don't imagine they do so restfully.  :-\  Thanks for the great insight!