Topic: The Shirts, the meaining

[Matt Nasty]

Thanks Matt.  I do think the shirts in the end become more than a symbol to Ennis.  They become a kind of living embodiment -- if we disregard the fact that they are inanimate.  I think the blood (and the fact that they were worn) is central to this view.

i think the blood is very significant indeed... the blood is a remeinent of the time on brokeback absorbed by the shirts which are rememnants of brokeback in there own right.

[tpe]

i think the blood is very significant indeed... the blood is a remeinent of the time on brokeback absorbed by the shirts which are rememnants of brokeback in there own right.

Very Poetic, Matt.  BBM is in their blood, and so it is the other way round.

[myprivatejack]

i think the blood is very significant indeed... the blood is a remeinent of the time on brokeback absorbed by the shirts which are rememnants of brokeback in there own right.

  Beautiful,Matt¡ A sweet memories made into a tangible object...

[atalley]

A couple of questions:  Do you think you would have thought of keeping the shirts?  Also, I wonder how Jack's mom knew about them.  Do you think he showed them to her and talked about their relationship or did she possibly find them after Jack's death?

[manhattangirl]

Me personally I've always thought Jack's mother knew everything, and knew her son was in love with this man.  That's why she made it a point for Ennis to visit Jack's room. 

As for the blood, it was the only physical part of Ennis Jack could take with him, he'll always have Ennis with him. 

[LuvJackNasty]

Would I have thought to keep the shirts? More than likely. If it was me up there and I wasn't 100% sure I'd remain with this person, I'd probably have taken some reminder.

I think the same way MG does- I think Jack's mom knew, if not the true meaning of the shirts, then that they were special and significant to Jack and that is why they were left untouched, unwashed and why she sent Ennis up there.

[LauraLovesLedger]

Me personally I've always thought Jack's mother knew everything, and knew her son was in love with this man.  That's why she made it a point for Ennis to visit Jack's room. 

As for the blood, it was the only physical part of Ennis Jack could take with him, he'll always have Ennis with him. 

I concur, Manhattangirl; I also believe that Jack's mother knew of her son's love for this Ennis Del Mar, whether that was at the conscious plane, or whether she intuited it at some deeper level.

The Ma Twist character was one that really touched me.  She may have been a relatively peripheral character, but she was a special one.

[lancecowboy]

I concur, Manhattangirl; I also believe that Jack's mother knew of her son's love for this Ennis Del Mar, whether that was at the conscious plane, or whether she intuited it at some deeper level.

The Ma Twist character was one that really touched me.  She may have been a relatively peripheral character, but she was a special one.

I've always loved Ma Twist. She is the source of the compassionate and loving part of Jack's soul that is the best part of Jack. Her love for her son, so strong and apparent in the few scenes, is central to Jack's optimistic and emotionally mature character. Without her, I think Jack would have been another Ennis...fearful and beaten down by the bully of a man. They may still have their Brokeback Mountain in the summer of '63, but there'd never be the Jack who'd redline 14 hours from Texas to Riverton.  Those twenty years of patiently waiting, hoping, loving.... all embodied by Jack's lovingly preserving those two shirts for twenty years...and by Jack's Ma lovingly kept it a secret from John Twist...and then generously giving 'em to Ennis, the man who her son loved so much, and whose love for her son, allowed him to share with her, the grief of losing one so young, so full of dreams. She knew exactly what those two shirts meant. As she put them in the paper bag, the tiniest moment of hesitation, as if she was trying to say good bye to Jack one last time, as if she was giving her blessing to the shirts, as they find a loving new home, knowing, suspecting, hoping, that they will no longer be hidden in the dark recess of a closet, but embraced and cherished in the open arms of her son's lover.

[LauraLovesLedger]

I've always loved Ma Twist. She is the source of the compassionate and loving part of Jack's soul that is the best part of Jack. Her love for her son, so strong and apparent in the few scenes, is central to Jack's optimistic and emotionally mature character. Without her, I think Jack would have been another Ennis...fearful and beaten down by the bully of a man. They may still have their Brokeback Mountain in the summer of '63, but there'd never be the Jack who'd redline 14 hours from Texas to Riverton.  Those twenty years of patiently waiting, hoping, loving.... all embodied by Jack's lovingly preserving those two shirts for twenty years...and by Jack's Ma lovingly kept it a secret from John Twist...and then generously giving 'em to Ennis, the man who her son loved so much, and whose love for her son, allowed him to share with her, the grief of losing one so young, so full of dreams. She knew exactly what those two shirts meant. As she put them in the paper bag, the tiniest moment of hesitation, as if she was trying to say good bye to Jack one last time, as if she was giving her blessing to the shirts, as they find a loving new home, knowing, suspecting, hoping, that they will no longer be hidden in the dark recess of a closet, but embraced and cherished in the open arms of her son's lover.

Lance, you are so correct in your analysis of Ma Twist.  I love all of your posts I come across...you have such a a beautifully eloquent way of articulating exactly how I feel about facets of Brokeback myself, things I cannot convey remotely as thoroughly as you do. 

Thank you, beautifully put, as always. 

[tpe]

The Ma Twist character was one that really touched me.  She may have been a relatively peripheral character, but she was a special one.

I've always loved Ma Twist. She is the source of the compassionate and loving part of Jack's soul that is the best part of Jack. Her love for her son, so strong and apparent in the few scenes, is central to Jack's optimistic and emotionally mature character. Without her, I think Jack would have been another Ennis...fearful and beaten down by the bully of a man. They may still have their Brokeback Mountain in the summer of '63, but there'd never be the Jack who'd redline 14 hours from Texas to Riverton.  Those twenty years of patiently waiting, hoping, loving.... all embodied by Jack's lovingly preserving those two shirts for twenty years...and by Jack's Ma lovingly kept it a secret from John Twist...and then generously giving 'em to Ennis, the man who her son loved so much, and whose love for her son, allowed him to share with her, the grief of losing one so young, so full of dreams. She knew exactly what those two shirts meant. As she put them in the paper bag, the tiniest moment of hesitation, as if she was trying to say good bye to Jack one last time, as if she was giving her blessing to the shirts, as they find a loving new home, knowing, suspecting, hoping, that they will no longer be hidden in the dark recess of a closet, but embraced and cherished in the open arms of her son's lover.

I really think she was party to a deeper knowledge of the shirts.  The shirst became the bond that connected the two of them -- mother and lover -- now that Jack was no longer living.

[myprivatejack]

I've always loved Ma Twist. She is the source of the compassionate and loving part of Jack's soul that is the best part of Jack. Her love for her son, so strong and apparent in the few scenes, is central to Jack's optimistic and emotionally mature character. Without her, I think Jack would have been another Ennis...fearful and beaten down by the bully of a man. They may still have their Brokeback Mountain in the summer of '63, but there'd never be the Jack who'd redline 14 hours from Texas to Riverton.  Those twenty years of patiently waiting, hoping, loving.... all embodied by Jack's lovingly preserving those two shirts for twenty years...and by Jack's Ma lovingly kept it a secret from John Twist...and then generously giving 'em to Ennis, the man who her son loved so much, and whose love for her son, allowed him to share with her, the grief of losing one so young, so full of dreams. She knew exactly what those two shirts meant. As she put them in the paper bag, the tiniest moment of hesitation, as if she was trying to say good bye to Jack one last time, as if she was giving her blessing to the shirts, as they find a loving new home, knowing, suspecting, hoping, that they will no longer be hidden in the dark recess of a closet, but embraced and cherished in the open arms of her son's lover.

As always,you have found the rights words to define Mrs.Twist sensations and the special connection between she and Ennis,Andrew¡. Yes,I tend to believe that she,with this sixth sense of all the mothers,guessed what these shirts meant and Ennis's choose only confirmed her suspicions.And she knew perfectly well that his son and this man-who now she knew that had loved Jack so much-were going to be bonded forever by means of these shirts,and,somehow,both of them from that moment onwards to honour Jack's memory.

[lancecowboy]

Thanks, mpj, Laura, tpe.

The last few scenes have always carried significant meaning for me. They represent the most powerful moments in the movie. I am always touched and grateful that what I post receive so much response from others. It is why I love this place, to know that I am not alone in how I feel about Brokeback Mountain, about Ennis Del Mar, about Heath.

Thank you all for being here, and it is always a pleasure and a privilege sharing how I feel. 

[tpe]

IN those last scenes that you refer to, the shirts emerge as a character in their own right.  They not only stand proxy to jack -- they also stand proxy to Ennis: proxy to all the things he could no longer say and no longer touch.  The shirts make the final scenes so memorable and so moving.

[myprivatejack]

Thanks, mpj, Laura, tpe.

The last few scenes have always carried significant meaning for me. They represent the most powerful moments in the movie. I am always touched and grateful that what I post receive so much response from others. It is why I love this place, to know that I am not alone in how I feel about Brokeback Mountain, about Ennis Del Mar, about Heath.

Thank you all for being here, and it is always a pleasure and a privilege sharing how I feel. 

You know this is the greatness of this place,Andrew...But also it's its greatness having such a beutiful members; and in this sense,it's always a pleasure and a privilege too reading your posts.

[myprivatejack]

IN those last scenes that you refer to, the shirts emerge as a character in their own right.  They not only stand proxy to jack -- they also stand proxy to Ennis: proxy to all the things he could no longer say and no longer touch.  The shirts make the final scenes so memorable and so moving.

Yes,I agree.The shirts are really like another character from the movie; the invisible but firmly felt bond that joins Ennis and Jack forever,beyond death,beyond life...

[atalley]

   Andrew...wonderfully put, as usual!   

[exnapan]

I'm not sure where it was, but I think I was the first one to ask if the horse was the same one that Ennis carved.  At the time I first saw the movie there was no question in my mind that the answer was yes.  The more I  think about it, though, I think it was more of a symbol of their love for the rodeo.  The most important remembrance was the shirts...that's the whole reason for him to be in Jack's room.  To see that Jack loved him from day 1 on the Mt. and never wavered in 20 yrs.  :\'( 

I was thinking that too the first time I watched BBM. But when I watched again I noticed what appears to be the horse that Ennis carved UNDER the desk. Watch again and let me know what you think.

[bluemountainsky]

I always wondered why Jack chose the shirts, specifically, as the symbol for his love for Ennis. When I first saw the movie, I think it was probably the most touching and romantic thing I have ever seen a film. I don't think I ever would have thought of keeping two shirts, folded into each other like that, so I think it was so sweet on Jack's part, and lovely that he thought of that. I also believe that Jack's mother knew everything. I think Jack confided in her, he must have told her they have a special meaning, because she kept them just like they were. I think it was after that very first summer, when Jack goes and spends the fall/winter with his parents. He probably hung the shirts up in his room, and one day when his mother tried to wash them, he told her to keep them the way they are because they were not just any shirts, they had a very deep meaning behind them. It's at that time he would have told her about Ennis, and felt comfortable talking to his mother about that topic for the first time in his life. When Ennis comes to visit after all those years, she knows exactly who he is and what he meant to her son. This was the Ennis Del Mar, the one, the other half of Jack's soul, and the way she treated him with such respect and kindness tells that she knew that he was not just a buddy of Jack's, but the love of his life.

[rimasworld]

I loved Jack's mom and the actress who portrayed her in the movie. The fact that she knew who her son loved and understood why is touching. She must have also ached for him too knowing that he never could have the one person who he truly loved. When Ennis came to see them the love and ache was visible on her face. I loved that scene and even OMT couldn't suppress the feelings going on between her and Ennis.

[bluemountainsky]

I loved Jack's mom and the actress who portrayed her in the movie. The fact that she knew who her son loved and understood why is touching. She must have also ached for him too knowing that he never could have the one person who he truly loved. When Ennis came to see them the love and ache was visible on her face. I loved that scene and even OMT couldn't suppress the feelings going on between her and Ennis.

The inclusion of that character in the story was definitely very important. Her character turned out not like what I expected. She's the only one in the story who accepts them for who they are. They lived their lives always afraid of what people would think (well at least Ennis did), and obviously no one in that community was accepting of their relationship, but in the end, we see this elderly woman, Jack's mother, and she accepts it. She is happy that her son truly loved another human being in such a profound way and that he was loved in turn by that person. She doesn't care that the person is a man, and doesn't see their love as wrong.