Ainfoolin' great post,
My problem is the word "implying" Jack read the implications of Ennis's words, and his actions. Assuming one thing then finding it was something else. Ennis shuffling his feet, his mumblings, Jack's frustrations.
The end of the first summer, Ennis stating to Jack, he's going to marry Alma, not saying a word about what they had, "see you around" slings his bag over his shoulder and walks away, and this after a summer of incredible love, and being bounded physically and emotionally that something neither man experience before, with Ennis acting as if was just a summer thing. I know about Ennis reaction after Jack drives off, but Jack has no idea.
The reunion, Ennis's reaction when he saw Jack again, but stating to Jack while in bed, after Jack asks him, "what do we do now" Ennis "There nothing we can do, I'm stuck with what I got here", The divorce, Jack going to him, Ennis telling him how sorry he was for the misunderstanding, after Ennis writes Jack about it. Implications big time, painful as it was.
We can excuse Ennis, he had his reasons, but Jack has his reasons too, for loving this man, and going back year after year, because he believed in this power of love. Even though Ennis had his doubts about, fears about it, denial about it.
You take exception to the word control, that Jack was implying a lot which contributed to choices he made, why not, after the reunion we all know Ennis was never going to let Jack go, but he wasn't going to live with him either. He knew that, we knew that, but Jack with hope upon hope couldn't see that this was never was going to happen until the final confrontation.
And Jack said those words that finally shot Ennis in his heart, "I wish I knew how to quit you", thats when Ennis realized that this was real possibility, and broke down in Jack's arm. Jack see the depth of Ennis's pain for the first time, he had no idea before then. When Ennis drove off and Jack look at his truck driving away, IMO, he might have been thinking of letting go, it cost Ennis a lot, and him too.
Ennis only implied certain things though. He never implied a willingness to live with Jack. Jack just assumed that Ennis would eventually give in.
His " aint no reins on this one" confession is as close as Ennis got to verbally saying " Jack, I love you" ,but he never agreed to live with him. In fact he explained that they could only meet out in the middle of nowhere, still after that intense reunion scene!
Jack is a hopeless romantic . He lived on the hope factor, the wish factor. He hoped and wished for Ennis to agree with him with all his heart. and I hoped and wished right along with him, the first time I watched the film. but Ennis just did'nt know how to shake his fear and shame once they left BBM.
Ennis iplied many things. He imlpied he had feelings on BB, expressing his feelings for Jack only through actions, never words, but in any case Jack "got it" , Implied he missed and wanted Jack after 4 years by his actions and behavior. Jack took all Ennis's *implictions for what they showed him and he was correct to believe what Ennis was putting out there, but never did Ennis promise Jack a future life together as partners ranching up together.
He said it in the motel bed when he said he was stuck with Alma and again, the next night when Jack actually proposed the idea.
As for the divorce scene Ennis sent a postcard stating his situation. As far as I know he never said." Ok Jack you can come up now and we'll live happily ever after. Did'nt call Jack on the phone crying and begging Jack to drive hours from Texas to comfort him. (though I believe Jack would have came if he had), but Jack ASSUMED that Ennis was going to agree to them being together then. It is a heart-breaking scene to watch. He thought it was Ennis marriage to Alma that stood in their way. His assumption was wrong. It was Ennis himself. This is the time when even I wanted to slap Ennis upside his head, but I was limited to yelling at him through the TV screen.
Jack allows Ennis to get away with this by not utilizing the aces up his own sleeve. He had em, cuz Ennis could'nt live without him. This is what frustrated me the most about Jack. He never challenged Ennis . Not till he;d almost givin up and was looking to just quit Ennis . Comon Jack, don't appear to be a door-mat! explain it to em! He had it in him to do so cuz we saw saw him do it with his father-in-law right? He must make ennis see that he was worthy of better treatment, that he was not going to be played like a grand piano! The situation or set of circumstances begged for it. Why not confront Ennis then and there? Why let him off the hook like this.?
1. Ennis's girls were there.- solution---Should'nt have left town till he talked with Ennis.
2. He had his own fear of spooking Ennis away forever.- solution.--- Ennis kept the upper hand cuz Jack never called his bluff. Ennis was playing his cards, Jack should have played his. Give Ennis something to think about.
3. If Ennis bolts? He's only off analyzing and what-iffing himself to death. This is Ennis. He always comes back to Jack's sweet love. It's an established pattern with him after some unexpected traumatizing event like this.
4. The reunion scene? --I thought he'd never let Jack go again. This was Jack's lasting clue. Ennis had been there done that . "Aint no reins on this one. " Jack shoulda put it to the test. Ennis loved him deeper than even he himself realized. ....These are only suggestions and possible options I see for Jack , just alternatives to what was the status quo. Nothing's guaranteed.!
To sum it all up Jack was responsible for his own happiness. He had Ennis and loved him, but to me he just was'nt aggessive enough in matters of his own heart. I 've often said jokingly that Jack bitched his way into Ennis's heart! LOL ...but it worked. Lasting relationships don't thrive if there is a lack of honest communication and fear, This way both parties feel equal in this thing. My opinions.
Again, maybe we don't agree with what Ennis did or how he did it, but his is who Jack loved faults , and false implications and all. As in the last confrontation ,afterwards Ennis still needed to meet with Jack just like Jack said " I'll see ya next month"
They loved each other and this showed , even these trying tests of their love .
