Author Topic: Ennis's last words "Jack, I swear . . . " (Read 164706 times)

lamusica · « **Reply #120 on:** Jun 27, 2006, 02:46 PM »

I think Ennis is saying "I swear...I never meant for things to turn out this way, with you dead and us separated forever." I think he was sorry for not going along with Jack's early idea of ranching together, but it's all too late now. I think this is his last avowal of his true feelings for Jack and he says what he neveer said to Jack's face; i.e. I love you and I was wrong to keep us apart.
What's so great about every scene in this movie is that there are so many interpretatiions. All of us can see the same scene and never see it the same way. That's the true "art" of BBM, I think. That's why it is so interesting to read what others think on this forum. Great ideas, guys. IMO, those who don't like this movie have no imagination and no desire to think about emotions and their affects on our lives. I feel so sorry for them!!!

shieldmaid · « **Reply #121 on:** Jun 27, 2006, 05:47 PM »

I love all these ideas and am so glad I came back to this thread again.

I especially cherish the idea that Ennis is making the vows to Jack here that he never could during his lifetime. He swears to honor, protect, and love him--but way beyond "till death do us part." He swears that his shirt will always cradle Jack's, that he'll look at the love that his daughter has for her family and remember his love with Jack, that he'll remember and love and dream about Jack always.

Breaks my heart.

Valandil Eluch · « **Reply #122 on:** Jun 30, 2006, 08:58 PM »

Quote from: lamusica on Jun 27, 2006, 02:46 PM

I think Ennis is saying "I swear...I never meant for things to turn out this way, with you dead and us separated forever." I think he was sorry for not going along with Jack's early idea of ranching together, but it's all too late now. I think this is his last avowal of his true feelings for Jack and he says what he neveer said to Jack's face; i.e. I love you and I was wrong to keep us apart.
What's so great about every scene in this movie is that there are so many interpretatiions. All of us can see the same scene and never see it the same way. That's the true "art" of BBM, I think. That's why it is so interesting to read what others think on this forum. Great ideas, guys. IMO, those who don't like this movie have no imagination and no desire to think about emotions and their affects on our lives. I feel so sorry for them!!!

:\'( :\'( :\'( :\'(

tpe · « **Reply #123 on:** Jul 01, 2006, 08:25 PM »

Quote from: Carlos_H82 on Jun 30, 2006, 08:58 PM

Quote from: lamusica on Jun 27, 2006, 02:46 PM
I think Ennis is saying "I swear...I never meant for things to turn out this way, with you dead and us separated forever." I think he was sorry for not going along with Jack's early idea of ranching together, but it's all too late now. I think this is his last avowal of his true feelings for Jack and he says what he neveer said to Jack's face; i.e. I love you and I was wrong to keep us apart.
What's so great about every scene in this movie is that there are so many interpretatiions. All of us can see the same scene and never see it the same way. That's the true "art" of BBM, I think. That's why it is so interesting to read what others think on this forum. Great ideas, guys. IMO, those who don't like this movie have no imagination and no desire to think about emotions and their affects on our lives. I feel so sorry for them!!!

:\'( :\'( :\'( :\'(

This thread keeps on coming back to haunt us...

welshwitch · « **Reply #124 on:** Jul 02, 2006, 06:27 AM »

It suddenly occurred to me that this is probably the only time Ennis has ever said this - although the marriage service involves promises, it doesn't use the word " swear" which to me at least has all sorts of legal connotations. I wonder if Ennis used it as the strongest form of affirmation he could ?

Glynn · « **Reply #125 on:** Jul 02, 2006, 07:51 AM »

hiya

does it mean I swear I am sorry....that Ennis is filled with guilt that he blames himself for his death...had he taken Jack up on his offer he might still be with him....

welshwitch · « **Reply #126 on:** Jul 02, 2006, 08:12 AM »

Implicit in the unspoken rest of the sentence is any other valid interpretation we want - that's why BBM is a work of art. Art loves ambiguity and leaves the possibliities to the interpretatio of the reader/viewer.

tpe · « **Reply #127 on:** Jul 02, 2006, 10:54 AM »

Quote from: welshwitch on Jul 02, 2006, 08:12 AM

Implicit in the unspoken rest of the sentence is any other valid interpretation we want - that's why BBM is a work of art. Art loves ambiguity and leaves the possibliities to the interpretatio of the reader/viewer.

It is an artful, intentional ambiguity. IN this case, less is indeed more...

rane99 · « **Reply #128 on:** Aug 05, 2006, 11:44 PM »

Though we may not know Ennis rest of the sentence, his feelsing are not ambiguous. He loved Jack.

aintfoolin · « **Reply #129 on:** Aug 08, 2006, 06:00 AM »

To me this scene is the "deepest" It goes deep into the heart of the veiwer, When Jack and Ennis were on Brokeback one thing Ennis seemed to love about Jack was his practical joking. Now don't get me wrong, but the irony of the whole thing! Wow...Who would"ve believed Jack Twist WOULD'NT be around at the end of the movie? He was so full of life. I think Ennis was in awe of this and loved Jack more for it , so for Jack ,the, teacher, the guider,the lover, the one who opened up a whole new world of possibilty for Ennis would be "first to go", and push him into "if only I.....scenerios. Him saying " I swear" means that he swears that Jack really got him this time.It's a sad thing but Jack did leave the shirts as a testament of his love. Only then did Ennis know how much.

EnnisTwist · « **Reply #130 on:** Oct 19, 2006, 07:22 AM »

Has anyone ever viewed the "Jack I swear" part as a sort of commitment / maybe even marriage vow? With Alma Jr. just telling him she's going to marry and him therefore reflecting his life with Jack and particularly the summer up on brokeback it would make sense..

tpe · « **Reply #131 on:** Oct 19, 2006, 07:42 AM »

Quote from: EnnisTwist on Oct 19, 2006, 07:22 AM

Has anyone ever viewed the "Jack I swear" part as a sort of commitment / maybe even marriage vow? With Alma Jr. just telling him she's going to marry and him therefore reflecting his life with Jack and particularly the summer up on brokeback it would make sense..

Yes, it was discussed in one of the earliest threads. I shall give you the link if I can find it.

tpe · « **Reply #132 on:** Oct 19, 2006, 07:59 AM »

Quote from: tpe on Oct 19, 2006, 07:42 AM

Quote from: EnnisTwist on Oct 19, 2006, 07:22 AM
Has anyone ever viewed the "Jack I swear" part as a sort of commitment / maybe even marriage vow? With Alma Jr. just telling him she's going to marry and him therefore reflecting his life with Jack and particularly the summer up on brokeback it would make sense..

Yes, it was discussed in one of the earliest threads. I shall give you the link if I can find it.

I am sure there are many references throughout the forum. At least I can remember mine.

My second post (I first hinted this here):

http://www.ennisjack.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=ffd58bd4b64b627b77cdac60a789ebab&topic=1056.msg1439#msg1439

and more explicitly here:

http://www.ennisjack.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=ffd58bd4b64b627b77cdac60a789ebab&topic=304.msg78278#msg78278

welshwitch · « **Reply #133 on:** Oct 19, 2006, 08:25 AM »

And it's so typical of ennis that his feelings are so inchoate that he can't put them into words but leaves the sentence hanging in mid-air.

Mars · « **Reply #134 on:** Oct 20, 2006, 12:37 PM »

Quote from: welshwitch on Oct 19, 2006, 08:25 AM

And it's so typical of ennis that his feelings are so inchoate that he can't put them into words but leaves the sentence hanging in mid-air.

Ditto!

aintfoolin · « **Reply #135 on:** Nov 05, 2006, 12:14 AM »

Or he could be saying Jack, I swear to give love and take love in honor of what we had. I've learned to love unconditionally because of you. Damn I'm tearing up damn. Deep!

tpe · « **Reply #136 on:** Nov 06, 2006, 08:52 AM »

WHat a marvelous ending for the movie. Yes, it is deep.

lamusica · « **Reply #137 on:** Jan 06, 2007, 04:44 PM »

This week I watched Lonesome Dove -- all four parts. Twice, there were scenes in which a character just said, "I swear...." Nothing more. Both times that avowal could have meant: good-bye; I'll miss you. I am leaning to believe that "I swear" was sort of a generic phrase meaning just that -- good-bye and I'll miss you. This hit me hard since we have discussed this phrase from Ennis so thoroughly. Here it was again. Again it was out west, spoken by cowboys who were on the point of leaving others to go their way. Just caught my interest.

tpe · « **Reply #138 on:** Jan 08, 2007, 11:27 AM »

Quote from: lamusica on Jan 06, 2007, 04:44 PM

This week I watched Lonesome Dove -- all four parts. Twice, there were scenes in which a character just said, "I swear...." Nothing more. Both times that avowal could have meant: good-bye; I'll miss you. I am leaning to believe that "I swear" was sort of a generic phrase meaning just that -- good-bye and I'll miss you. This hit me hard since we have discussed this phrase from Ennis so thoroughly. Here it was again. Again it was out west, spoken by cowboys who were on the point of leaving others to go their way. Just caught my interest.

It's not strange at all, this parallel use of the phrase, no? Proulx and McMurty probably understood that something lay deeper underneath the convention.

aintfoolin · « **Reply #139 on:** Jan 09, 2007, 03:10 PM »

I look at it as in sort of a "confirming" sense. The phrase "don't that just beat all I've ever seen " is another way of looking at it, expressing one's opinion of a whole set of circumstances or series of events. I think Ennis was expressing himself this way over the irony of events that took place in his life concerning Jack including his death. "never thought I'd see the day" also applies. In my experiences these are terms mostly used in the southern states or people who come from a predominatly country or western background. Am I making sense?

welshwitch · « **Reply #140 on:** Jan 09, 2007, 03:18 PM »

Yes, they also come from a pre-mass-media era before even rural people's habits of speeh were affected by TV and to some extent radio. For some reason the digital/mass-communication era doesn't like things left hanging and unfinished - it likes definte answers and neatly tied-off endings.

There are other phrases too - "Well, if that don't beat all..." or "Well, I don't know.." - many that have the same sort of lack of conclusion about them.

tpe · « **Reply #141 on:** Jan 09, 2007, 03:22 PM »

I think it was as much an affirmation as a confirmation. There is a subtle difference.

aintfoolin · « **Reply #142 on:** Jan 09, 2007, 03:38 PM »

I totally agree with you tpe on this and also WW you are also so right about these phrases being "oldschool" and inconclusive, but you only have to look at Ennis's sad demeanor to understand what he means when he says this. It's obvious that he's learned a valuable , sad but important lesson.

tpe · « **Reply #143 on:** Jan 09, 2007, 03:44 PM »

Quote from: aintfoolin on Jan 09, 2007, 03:38 PM

I totally agree with you tpe on this and also WW you are also so right about these phrases being "oldschool" and inconclusive, but you only have to look at Ennis's sad demeanor to understand what he means when he says this. It's obvious that he's learned a valuable , sad but important lesson.

Will he be able to apply it again? Probably not, no? He will be faithful to Jack. It was perhaps a conscious choice to suffer -- a form of penance. By suffering, he will never forget. By never forgetting, he will suffer till death.

aintfoolin · « **Reply #144 on:** Jan 09, 2007, 03:53 PM »

And this my freind ,is the essence of Ennis. To punish himself is natural and easy for him to do. I agree wholeheartly.

tpe · « **Reply #145 on:** Jan 09, 2007, 03:57 PM »

If Ennis were not as faithful to Jack, perhaps he would have led a happier life, trying to apply the lesson learned. Alas, he could not be unfaithful. That is why he is great.

manhattangirl · « **Reply #146 on:** Jan 16, 2007, 06:22 AM »

With his shirt on the outside, and Jack's shirt on the inside. Jack will always be inside him, in his heart, soul and his dreams, and I like to think that's what he swears to.

Manhattangirl

tpe · « **Reply #147 on:** Jan 16, 2007, 08:32 AM »

Quote from: manhattangirl on Jan 16, 2007, 06:22 AM

With his shirt on the outside, and Jack's shirt on the inside. Jack will always be inside him, in his heart, soul and his dreams, and I like to think that's what he swears to.

Manhattangirl

THat's right. The shirts are a physical manifestation of the vow.

welshwitch · « **Reply #148 on:** Jan 16, 2007, 09:58 AM »

And perhaps a demonstration of the fact that he'd have liked to protect Jack but in the end couldn't.

tpe · « **Reply #149 on:** Jan 16, 2007, 10:19 AM »

Quote from: welshwitch on Jan 16, 2007, 09:58 AM

And perhaps a demonstration of the fact that he'd have liked to protect Jack but in the end couldn't.

So true. It was perhaps a symbol of remorse at not having been able to protect him...

Author Topic: Ennis's last words "Jack, I swear . . . " (Read 164706 times)

Glynn

manhattangirl