Topic: "Rodeo, the Pissant Combine Salesman"

[tpe]

He may have, and I think he conceded to his wife.  But that's not what was important to him,  the spiteful thing,  the point that he wanted to make was not to have Jack's ashes brought to Brokeback Mountain, the one place Jack wanted to be.  The old man wanted to prove that Jack was not so G.D special.  The shirts meant nothing to him, the meaning of the shirts meant nothing to him. 

But would you go so far as to say that the ashes meant nothing to him.  I would like to think that even OMT had some dignity in assigning some significance to Jack's ashes and where they would eventually rest. 

Sometiomes, I wonder whether he resented Jack's "rising" above his life in LF, if you would call marriage to the richer Newsome family a step up.  Perhaps he resented this? 

[tpe]

Don't think OMT knew about the shirts. I feel the secret of them was only between Jack and his mom. She knew they were there, hidden away in a place where they would remain in all likelyhood.. undisturbed. I doubt OMT would snoop around Jack's room  looking for hidden shirts, and they were  not in plain view. Mrs. Twist is the one who prompted Ennis to go up to Jack's room and look around. Only Jack, moms and Ennis knew the real significance of the shirts imo.
 I'd hate to think that OMT knew of them, and maybe he'd destroy them or not allow them into the house because it was something Jack cherished. I just feel that if the old man knew, he would take them as an opportunity to hurt Jack and Ennis, cause Mrs. Twist problems etc... Apply his own brand of disapproval on them. He only glanced at what Ennis had in his hands. It would not dawn on him that two shirts from Jack's room had any significance to him imo, maybe as said above that perhaps  he thought it was clothing  Jack had borrowed from Ennis.
Mrs. Twist knew to keep this secret between her and Jack until they found their rightful intended owner. When Ennis drove  up, it was she who came outside to greet him. Not the old man. She knew who he was and no doubt was releived to finally meet him. She could finally give him a gift from Jack, beyond death.

I like the way she just basically cut OMT off when he mentioned Randall to Ennis, perhaps to hurt him. Sent Ennis up to Jack's room to find the truth of the matter despite Randall and what OMT was implying , ....the truth and redemption for Ennis was in the shirts. Jack must have confided in his mother who loved her son. After all is said and done, it's Ennis he loved.

I feel the same way -- about OMT not knowing about the shirts.

You know, all the disrespect and resentment Jack got was terrible -- but perhaps what hurt the most was the lack of confidence OMT had with his son.  I think Jack was constantly trying to prove himself to others as a way of showing his old man that he was deserving of his attention.  Very very sad.

[myprivatejack]

Interesting point, MPJ.  So you would think that if OMT took the shirts from Ennis, it would be out of pure spite?  I am biased in thinking that OMT probably didn't care that much for what his son did or wanted -- but I may be wrong in this...

I don't understand completely what "to be out of spite" means, ;although I get it for the context.What I think is that OMT didn't know anything about the shirts meaning;but that,even if he knew it,he didn't care absolutely...Maybe he wouldn't arrive to the point of taking the shirts from Ennis,mainly because he really depicted their meaning;and if he didn't know or understand this meaning,then what he depicted indeed was his own son.And,of course,everything he could feel,want or do...

I feel the same way -- about OMT not knowing about the shirts.

You know, all the disrespect and resentment Jack got was terrible -- but perhaps what hurt the most was the lack of confidence OMT had with his son.  I think Jack was constantly trying to prove himself to others as a way of showing his old man that he was deserving of his attention.  Very very sad.

Yes,it's very sad...IMO,Jack was deeply affected for his father's disapproval,so,yes,he constantly tried to show before the others his most valid and capable side.I think that in the innest part of himself,he felt insecure about his own value because his father didn't give him this security,all the contrary.And,of course, Ennis doubts and constant denials during so many years,made this insecurity greater somehow.

[jessicat80]

But would you go so far as to say that the ashes meant nothing to him.  I would like to think that even OMT had some dignity in assigning some significance to Jack's ashes and where they would eventually rest. 

Sometiomes, I wonder whether he resented Jack's "rising" above his life in LF, if you would call marriage to the richer Newsome family a step up.  Perhaps he resented this? 

I've often felt like this, like OMT felt Jack had risen above his roots, and his father couldn't handle be left behind, never acomplishing much...it actually reminds me of Ennis, when he says, "I'm nothing, I'm nowhere"...like he was resentful of Jack, and what he had..."you forget what it's like to be poor, Jack!"

I feel like Jack spent his whole adult life trying to make the men he loved in his life believe he didn't think he was better then them.

[manhattangirl]

But would you go so far as to say that the ashes meant nothing to him.  I would like to think that even OMT had some dignity in assigning some significance to Jack's ashes and where they would eventually rest. 

Sometiomes, I wonder whether he resented Jack's "rising" above his life in LF, if you would call marriage to the richer Newsome family a step up.  Perhaps he resented this? 

The overriding feeling I get a sense of disappointment, all of Jack's talk came to nothing in the old man's eyes.  He listed them to Ennis.  Jack was going to bring Ennis Del Mar home, build a house,  whip the ranch into shape ,  then it was the Ranch Foreman, but what happened nothing. 

[tpe]

I don't understand completely what "to be out of spite" means, ;although I get it for the context.What I think is that OMT didn't know anything about the shirts meaning;but that,even if he knew it,he didn't care absolutely...Maybe he wouldn't arrive to the point of taking the shirts from Ennis,mainly because he really depicted their meaning;and if he didn't know or understand this meaning,then what he depicted indeed was his own son.And,of course,everything he could feel,want or do...

Yes,it's very sad...IMO,Jack was deeply affected for his father's disapproval,so,yes,he constantly tried to show before the others his most valid and capable side.I think that in the innest part of himself,he felt insecure about his own value because his father didn't give him this security,all the contrary.And,of course, Ennis doubts and constant denials during so many years,made this insecurity greater somehow.

Well, what I meant was that even if he didn't care, he may yet disallow Ennis to take the shirts -- just to show Ennis who is boss or who calls the shots.  Or else, he may just want to do it "out of spite" -- for no good reason but to make Ennis unhappy, just because OMT himself didn't feel any happier about the situation.

And this goes back to OMT NEVER being pleased with anything Jack did -- I have a feeling that for him, nothing Jack would do would ever be good enough.  Hence, he resented Jack making special plans on where he wanted his ashes to be scattered.   I suspect that Jack was used to never getting any form of affirmation from his dad, but continued trying to get it anyway...

[tpe]

I've often felt like this, like OMT felt Jack had risen above his roots, and his father couldn't handle be left behind, never acomplishing much...it actually reminds me of Ennis, when he says, "I'm nothing, I'm nowhere"...like he was resentful of Jack, and what he had..."you forget what it's like to be poor, Jack!"

I feel like Jack spent his whole adult life trying to make the men he loved in his life believe he didn't think he was better then them.

Yes, I felt it as some form of insecurity on OMT's part.  This is just my opinion, of course.  And we know that insecurity breeds contempt.

And your last senetece hits the mark -- IMO.  He was constantly battling their preconceptions and a lack of faith in himself.  It must have hurt him deeply, even as it bred its own form of insecurity within Jack...

[tpe]

The overriding feeling I get a sense of disappointment, all of Jack's talk came to nothing in the old man's eyes.  He listed them to Ennis.  Jack was going to bring Ennis Del Mar home, build a house,  whip the ranch into shape ,  then it was the Ranch Foreman, but what happened nothing. 

Yes, other people have said that I have been particularly harsh on OMT and that I should see his great disappointment in Jack at the root of his behavior.  I have no doubt that there was a sense of great disappointment in OMT when Ennis visited LF.  But I should also note that in a way, he brought all this upon himself and his family.  I feel that he was never affirming enough -- perhaps he was even mocking of Jack's dreams.  One can forgive other people like the 2 clients who made the disparaging comments about Jack that is the title of this thread.  But for his won father to join them in this -- it is sad.

[myprivatejack]

Yes, other people have said that I have been particularly harsh on OMT and that I should see his great disappointment in Jack at the root of his behavior.  I have no doubt that there was a sense of great disappointment in OMT when Ennis visited LF.  But I should also note that in a way, he brought all this upon himself and his family.  I feel that he was never affirming enough -- perhaps he was even mocking of Jack's dreams.  One can forgive other people like the 2 clients who made the disparaging comments about Jack that is the title of this thread.  But for his won father to join them in this -- it is sad.

Yes,it's sad,specially when his great disappointment in Jack comes,not from seeing how his son was as he didn't like,but from the very beginning.It seems as he couldn't have any clue about how Jack would be in the future,what was in a great extent in his father's hands and responsability,but he never got satisfied with what he did or thought.What's more,it seems as if OMT didn't want really any babies,so he was willing to depict them no matter how they be...

[manhattangirl]

Yes, other people have said that I have been particularly harsh on OMT and that I should see his great disappointment in Jack at the root of his behavior.  I have no doubt that there was a sense of great disappointment in OMT when Ennis visited LF.  But I should also note that in a way, he brought all this upon himself and his family.  I feel that he was never affirming enough -- perhaps he was even mocking of Jack's dreams.  One can forgive other people like the 2 clients who made the disparaging comments about Jack that is the title of this thread.  But for his won father to join them in this -- it is sad.

I also have to admit that I've been just as harsh.  But did you think that it wasn't Jack's sexuality a point of contention for the old man.  Like it was almost an accepted fact.  Jack wanted to bring Ennis, then Randall to openly live together right there in LF, build a house and run the ranch.  And that the old man didn't have problem with it, just the fact that Jack never follow through on  his plans.

It sounded as if the old man was actually disappointed that it never happened.  tpe brings up a point it was the old man that created the rift between himself and Jack, and has himself to blame for that.

Do any of you think that that Jack's father would have accepted his son living there with Ennis, as lovers, life partners, if Ennis relented and did live with Jack? 

[jessicat80]

Do any of you think that that Jack's father would have accepted his son living there with Ennis, as lovers, life partners, if Ennis relented and did live with Jack? 

Wow, that's really interesting MG. Maybe. Jack's dad did seem to stress his annoyance when he said Jack didn't follow through with his plan. I don't think he would of been happy-go-lucky accepting of Jack living with a man, and likely would have made a sarcastic comment any chance he got, but maybe in time, he might have come to accept it.

But mainly I think his annoyance comes from the fact that he's talking about Jack saying he might come back home, but never did, and I think the annoyance in his voice comes more from jealousy that Jack escaped to a (perceived by his dad) better life, not so much from really wishing he had come home...with man in tow

[tpe]

Yes,it's sad,specially when his great disappointment in Jack comes,not from seeing how his son was as he didn't like,but from the very beginning.It seems as he couldn't have any clue about how Jack would be in the future,what was in a great extent in his father's hands and responsability,but he never got satisfied with what he did or thought.What's more,it seems as if OMT didn't want really any babies,so he was willing to depict them no matter how they be...

Perhaps he never intended to be satisfied with anything Jack achieved.  This may partly explain why Jack kept on chasing "impossible" dreams.

[tpe]

I also have to admit that I've been just as harsh.  But did you think that it wasn't Jack's sexuality a point of contention for the old man.  Like it was almost an accepted fact.  Jack wanted to bring Ennis, then Randall to openly live together right there in LF, build a house and run the ranch.  And that the old man didn't have problem with it, just the fact that Jack never follow through on  his plans.

It sounded as if the old man was actually disappointed that it never happened.  tpe brings up a point it was the old man that created the rift between himself and Jack, and has himself to blame for that.

Do any of you think that that Jack's father would have accepted his son living there with Ennis, as lovers, life partners, if Ennis relented and did live with Jack? 

I sense that he probably knew or at least had an inkling.  But I sometimes question his motive in bringing up the subject of Jack bringing someone back to help them on the ranch.  For one, I sense that he never really believed that Jack would do this.  (This answers your question, I think -- OMT assumed that Jack was never really talking about reality.)  Secondly, I think he brought this up (perhaps) to spite Ennis -- rub it in: that Jack was bringing someone else.  I sense that this was his primary intention, although it's only my opinion.

[tpe]

But mainly I think his annoyance comes from the fact that he's talking about Jack saying he might come back home, but never did, and I think the annoyance in his voice comes more from jealousy that Jack escaped to a (perceived by his dad) better life, not so much from really wishing he had come home...with man in tow

I boldface what I think hits the mark -- dead center!

[jessicat80]

I sense that he probably knew or at least had an inkling.  But I sometimes question his motive in bringing up the subject of Jack bringing someone back to help them on the ranch.  For one, I sense that he never really believed that Jack would do this.  (This answers your question, I think -- OMT assumed that Jack was never really talking about reality.)  Secondly, I think he brought this up (perhaps) to spite Ennis -- rub it in: that Jack was bringing someone else.  I sense that this was his primary intention, although it's only my opinion.

I definitly got that impression...like OMT was so angry with who Jack was and all those times he would talk about bringing Ennis there...and I'm sure with the fact that Jack would visit his folks right after he saw Ennis, likely would have given him a sad tone in his voice when saying Ennis' name, possibly making it obvious to his father that he wasn't just talking about some "fishn buddy"...I definitly think his father brought up "another fellow" just to hurt Ennis and try and break a perfect image of Jack he might have had....which I think is how Jack's father saw him, the outter image of perfect, but really not.

[babytammy7]

What hurts the most is that OMT not only was insulting his son once again not even stopping now he was death, but he also wanted Ennis, the most precious person for Jack, to hate his son, or at least to think bad about him (that Jack was good for nothing) like he did all his life. OMT was like "don't you dare to think that my son was worth all the pain, that my son love you; don't you dare to love him or to mourn him, because you was nothing for him; Jack was a f*** up, and he already was planning another stupid dream with another man, and it was not you".

[jessicat80]

Totally Tammy, OMT couldn't stand how much his son was liked by people. Jack had such an outgoing personality, you know everyone that meet him just loved him...so OMT probably had to hear about how great and funny and outgoing his son was by everyone around him......which was likely followed by "where'd he get that from?" ....it just made him bitter cause he had the personality of a dead fish

[aintfoolin]

I feel telling Ennis about Randall was a direct reference to what he felt about Jack and Ennis, A dig, About men like his son, gay men. Jack was not only gonna leave his wife, and bring a guy home to LF, he was gonna "build a cabin". That meant Jack and whoever Randall or Ennis, were gonna live in the cabin together while helping around the place. Year after year Jack went home to visit his folks, with no Ennis in tow. Then it turns into some ranch neighbor from Texas, Randall, coming up to LF and he never shows either.  Yrs. went past  and neither of these guys ever materialized. Jack could'nt fullfill the promises he made to the old man, so imagine his anxiety everytime he went home. No doubt the old man let Jack know about it, chided Jack about it  Ennis keeps sayin  no way, and Randall, well...who knows.

 Now his son is dead, and here is Ennis Del Mar....finally. Finally he gets  the opportunity to meet Ennis face to face and take one last swipe at Jack, even in death, with the added bonus of having Ennis there to hear it. "like most of Jack's ideas" ,  ( he had no idea how bad it got either, how his son was struggling with love), but he was gonna surely make sure that Jack's last wish/idea  about the ashes would not be carried out. He gets to keep the ashes ( symbolic of Jack)  and manage to  attempt to sully the relationship in the face of the one Jack cared for the most, But I think Ennis and OMT understood each other.

 Sometimes I've wondered if it were not for the shirts, would Ennis have fought harded to get the ashes rather than leave empty-handed  Two stoics battling it out ? gawd! If anyone could go toe toe with OMT it would be Ennis. Not pysically mind you, but both stubborn as mules, strict, set in their ways calculatingly cold as ice when they chose to be. Ennis could melt Ironman with one cold stare alone. Scary..

 Thank goodness for Mrs. Twist who led Ennis to the shirts despite what the old  man thought. She made sure after all was said and done, and behind the old man's back, Jack had the last word on the matter. Two shirts, displayed in a way that said what Ennis so desperatly needed to hear. *I love you, and I,ve always loved you, always will, * right under the old man's nose! Love, Jack ... Ennis  could always track the ashes down later , Mrs. Twist invited him back, with winks and nods, but the knowledge that it was he , not Randall or anyone else, He was the one Jack never stopped loving and that's priceless imo. OMT did'nt  know jack...(pun intended)  IMO. Thanx.

[manhattangirl]

Jack was I don't how you would say it but a lot more clever, a dreamer or more of a realist than we think.  Unlike Ennis, Jack was able to juggle two separate lives, and did this for twenty years. 

His life in Texas on the surface could have been picture perfect.  Married into a successful family, worked in the business, had a son, if he wanted to rub the old man nose in it he would have brought them there years before,  he never did.  His life in  LF , he lived was by all appearances openly gay, or an open secret, letting it be know there was someone he wanted to bring home with him, Ennis.    Ain't that a "twist".

He made the trip faithfully to BBM, to see the man he loved, but never not once brought Lureen to LF.   How could the old man be jealous at something he never saw but only heard about, like he never saw Ennis until after Jack died. 

Jack for some reason kept his two lives separate and apart, and patiently waited for Ennis.  We think Ennis  was complicated, Jack was just as complicated or more in love, or both. 

 

[babytammy7]

 Now his son is dead, and here is Ennis Del Mar....finally. Finally he gets  the opportunity to meet Ennis face to face and take one last swipe at Jack, even in death, with the added bonus of having Ennis there to hear it. "like most of Jack's ideas" ,  ( he had no idea how bad it got either, how his son was struggling with love), but he was gonna surely make sure that Jack's last wish/idea  about the ashes would not be carried out. He gets to keep the ashes ( symbolic of Jack)  and manage to  attempt to sully the relationship in the face of the one Jack cared for the most, But I think Ennis and OMT understood each other.
 

Yeah, and that's what I hate the most. Jack never had a change to make his dreams come true, and now his father is making sure that he doesn't got the last one, not even in death. 

Sometimes I've wondered if it were not for the shirts, would Ennis have fought harded to get the ashes rather than leave empty-handed  Two stoics battling it out ? gawd! If anyone could go toe toe with OMT it would be Ennis. Not pysically mind you, but both stubborn as mules, strict, set in their ways calculatingly cold as ice when they chose to be. Ennis could melt Ironman with one cold stare alone. Scary..

 Thank goodness for Mrs. Twist who led Ennis to the shirts despite what the old  man thought. She made sure after all was said and done, and behind the old man's back, Jack had the last word on the matter. Two shirts, displayed in a way that said what Ennis so desperatly needed to hear. *I love you, and I,ve always loved you, always will, * right under the old man's nose! Love, Jack ... Ennis  could always track the ashes down later , Mrs. Twist invited him back, with winks and nods, but the knowledge that it was he , not Randall or anyone else, He was the one Jack never stopped loving and that's priceless imo. OMT did'nt  know jack...(pun intended)  IMO. Thanx.

Beautiful, AF. Love your post. 

[aintfoolin]

 Thank you Baby Tammy.,

 I never understood how Lureen could just sit there and allow her husband Jack to be called a pissant by a coupla idiots. Says alot about her. Sure, I know they were clients or potential clients, but why allow these jerks to get away with this? She was in rodeo herself, but she did'nt stick up for Jack . Obviously they did'nt know Jack was her husband out there doing his job as a combine salesman, a darn good one at that. She should've set the record straight and defended Jack if she loved him. No wonder he was willing to leave Childress at the drop of a hat if Ennis said so . People were so judgemental of him, and not in a good, positive way.

[tpe]

Thanks friends.  I do agree with  ost of your comments, although I must say for the sake of balance that many other members didn't see OMT as particularly vindictive.  As some of you had stated, many other members in previous threads (i.e., the one about OMT) thought that OMT was more disappointed about Jack not being able to help out in the rance.

Whatever we believe in, I think it is safe to say that OMT -- like most of the other people in the film -- looked down at or was condescending to Jack.  It was clear that most of the people didn't think that much of him -- Lureen included.

[jessicat80]

I know it seems like people are a bit hard on OMT after just seeing him in one scene, but I think a lot of our feelings come from things Jack said, and things in the short story also. Our feelings tend to mirriors Jack's feelings...he felt his father looked down on him, and never supported him in his activities("never came to see him ride").

It's not just from that one scene, in fact I feel sometimes that OMT's harsh reaction when talking about Jack to Ennis came from his own dissapointment and regrete. He knew he treated Jack wrong, and he had to live through one of the worst fates in life...out-living your child.

He was bitter....and mad...most likely at himself...but he had to punish someone; enter Ennis, with nothing left but Jack's memory.

[tpe]

I know it seems like people are a bit hard on OMT after just seeing him in one scene, but I think a lot of our feelings come from things Jack said, and things in the short story also. Our feelings tend to mirriors Jack's feelings...he felt his father looked down on him, and never supported him in his activities("never came to see him ride").

It's not just from that one scene, in fact I feel sometimes that OMT's harsh reaction when talking about Jack to Ennis came from his own dissapointment and regrete. He knew he treated Jack wrong, and he had to live through one of the worst fates in life...out-living your child.

He was bitter....and mad...most likely at himself...but he had to punish someone; enter Ennis, with nothing left but Jack's memory.

Very interesting thoughts, Jess.  You may be right -- that there was also an element of guilt in OMT.  And perhaps the reaction was to find a scapegoat, for what he should be pinning on himself?

[manhattangirl]

After all those years,and after Jack's death,  Ennis was bought into Jack's world.  Jack lived long enough in Ennis's world,  in the wake of the legacy his father left him, Alma, the girls, the divorce.   Jack was introduced to every part of Ennis life, but how much did Ennis understood Jack's life, really, not much.   Ennis saw the first time the reality of Jack's world, and it wasn't until Jack died. 

When Ennis made the phone call to Lureen, it was like they were introducing themselves to a Jack they didn't know.   Lureen didn't know that they herded sheep the summer of '63, and Brokeback Mountain was not some place of fantasy.  Ennis didn't know that Jack spoke of Brokeback as a place where he was happy.  When Ennis got in his truck and actually left security of Riverton, and go to Jack's parents.  They knew who he was, that someone Jack wanted to bring home, and to live with.   Ennis wasn't a secret, he was known. 

After twenty years, it was Jack's death, that Ennis saw the life of his Lover, but also saw his faithfulness to him, how important he was to him and how he loved him.

I don't think anyone really took the time to see who Jack Twist really was, but his life changed so many around him. 

JMO.

[rimasworld]

After all those years,and after Jack's death,  Ennis was bought into Jack's world.  Jack lived long enough in Ennis's world,  in the wake of the legacy his father left him, Alma, the girls, the divorce.   Jack was introduced to every part of Ennis life, but how much did Ennis understood Jack's life, really, not much.   Ennis saw the first time the reality of Jack's world, and it wasn't until Jack died. 

When Ennis made the phone call to Lureen, it was like they were introducing themselves to a Jack they didn't know.   Lureen didn't know that they herded sheep the summer of '63, and Brokeback Mountain was not some place of fantasy.  Ennis didn't know that Jack spoke of Brokeback as a place where he was happy.  When Ennis got in his truck and actually left security of Riverton, and go to Jack's parents.  They knew who he was, that someone Jack wanted to bring home, and to live with.   Ennis wasn't a secret, he was known. 

After twenty years, it was Jack's death, that Ennis saw the life of his Lover, but also saw his faithfulness to him, how important he was to him and how he loved him.

I don't think anyone really took the time to see who Jack Twist really was, but his life changed so many around him. 

JMO.

I love how you stated all this..so true.. what Jack was trying to say may have been heard more in death than they were in life.

[tpe]

After all those years,and after Jack's death,  Ennis was bought into Jack's world.  Jack lived long enough in Ennis's world,  in the wake of the legacy his father left him, Alma, the girls, the divorce.   Jack was introduced to every part of Ennis life, but how much did Ennis understood Jack's life, really, not much.   Ennis saw the first time the reality of Jack's world, and it wasn't until Jack died. 

When Ennis made the phone call to Lureen, it was like they were introducing themselves to a Jack they didn't know.   Lureen didn't know that they herded sheep the summer of '63, and Brokeback Mountain was not some place of fantasy.  Ennis didn't know that Jack spoke of Brokeback as a place where he was happy.  When Ennis got in his truck and actually left security of Riverton, and go to Jack's parents.  They knew who he was, that someone Jack wanted to bring home, and to live with.   Ennis wasn't a secret, he was known. 

After twenty years, it was Jack's death, that Ennis saw the life of his Lover, but also saw his faithfulness to him, how important he was to him and how he loved him.

I don't think anyone really took the time to see who Jack Twist really was, but his life changed so many around him.  

JMO.

I love how you stated all this..so true.. what Jack was trying to say may have been heard more in death than they were in life.

So so true.  Jack made a difference in so many lives, but never really got any credit for it.  Sadly, many didn't even credit him anything after he died...

[Matt Nasty]

So so true.  Jack made a difference in so many lives, but never really got any credit for it.  Sadly, many didn't even credit him anything after he died...

:\'( very sad but very true...

[tpe]

:\'( very sad but very true...

I think this made him what he is.  He was more sensitive than most because he knew what it was like being ignored or taken for granted.  It enabled him to dream big, even though "reality" was against most of his plans.  And most of all, I think it taught him tenacity.  We think of Jack as a dreamer.  But he had a lot of tenacity -- much more than your typcal dreamer.

 

[jessicat80]

I think this made him what he is.  He was more sensitive than most because he knew what it was like being ignored or taken for granted. 
 

I agree Thomas

What I love and respect most about Jack is the fact that even while his whole life people had told him that he didn't deserve to have what he wanted and that he just wasn't enough in general, he still believed in himself. He wasn't enough for his father to respect him...he wasn't enough to be a succussful bull riding star.....and most importantly, he wasn't enough for Ennis to ignore his fears and be with him....

But he still insisted that he deserved these things. He never stoped telling Ennis he wanted more, even up until their final conversation, it was Jack standing up for himself saying he deserved more than a couple times a year...he deserved a sweet life.

He put up with the negatives in his life, but he never believed he didn't deserve more.