When I think of how some people feel that it was a weakness - and proof of lesser love - on Jack's part to consider finding a secure - albeit less fulfilling - secondary relationship, it occurs to me that they aren't seeing the big picture here. It was relatively "easy" - in a paralyzing, denial state, sort of way - for Ennis, to live the way he did those 20 years with Jack, considering that he knew he had the power to change things whenever - if ever - he wanted. He knew that all he had to do was whistle and Jack would come a'runnin'! Jack, on the other hand, didn't have such luxury. With Ennis' lack of verbalization, Jack was in a constant state of worry and stress. It was all on Ennis' timing. Ennis had the security of knowing that if he felt he needed to see Jack every month (every week, every day, even!), he could; therefore, it was a safety net that lulled him to sleep, allowing him to set the one to three times a year limitations, without feeling any of the "losing Jack" anxiety. He could adjust it anytime. And throughout it all, Jack had to wait and wish and hope and wonder, compounded by the lack of confirmation given him from Ennis. To think anyone could stand on such shaky ground for so long is seriously unrealistic. It's amazing he lasted as long as he did - especially after Ennis divorced! - which is truly where everything started taking a turn for the worse. The thing some seem to miss is that his wandering is not about love, it's about companionship. They both knew what they had was the absolute love of their lives (Ennis not quite getting the "love" part just yet, but he did know it was something so INCREDIBLE that nothing else could reach it!). This would not change. But, with this lack of balance, it is simply unfair to put the judgment on Jack for something (the relationship) he certainly had no control over, whatsoever. And let's not forget two very important factors here: First, as much as Jack wanted one, there was no actual "commitment" between the two. Ennis shied away from that like there was no tomorrow. You could argue that there was an unspoken commitment, but like everything else unspoken, that just proved to confuse and frustrate Jack further. It was like, Ennis didn't want a commitment, but he didn't want Jack looking elsewhere, either. A serious sabotage. And second, they were now setting steadily into in the mid-life crisis range. The future was looking mighty bleak, indeed! This was no time to be lacking in a steady foundation!! Having said all that, however, let it be noted that I stand firmly on the fact that Ennis and Jack would have ended up making it no matter what Jack did. If Jack ever did try to leave, it would have only been because he was trying to stop the terrible pain that he and Ennis were in, ultimately realizing that no pain could possibly compare to that of being without eachother (No doubt why Jack became careless in the end, no longer caring about anything without Ennis, subconsciously preferring death, inadvertantly setting his path towards that end), and Ennis wouldn't have lasted long without the knowledge and security that Jack was there and readily available, whenever needed. It would have slapped him awake, but good! Put to the true test, Ennis would have come through, just as he did in the regretful end. It is an absolute fact that this was a love that would - and did - withstand it all -- even death... and I'll even go as far as to add, a love that will last throughout eternity.
