Topic: After The Divorce Scene Question

[christie wood]

I've been reading and enjoying all the posts here, such interesting thoughts.  I find this scene one of the hardest to watch, because I totally feel Jack's pain and rejection and heartbreak.  I find the acting from Jake incredible  here.....the way he gulps in mid sentence when he says "I guess...I thought...this meant that you'd....", knowing as he was even saying the words that what he (Jack) had thought was not the same as what Ennis had thought.  And then when Ennis is trying to explain to Jack, you see Jack, nodding, when really all he probably wants to do is crawl into a hole and die. 

I do find it so hard to not be angry with Ennis here....yes, I know he's had this message ingrained in him since he was a child, from his father who wanted to instil the same homophobic thoughts into Ennis that he had himself - that men who love other men deserve to be punished.  That something bad will happen to you if you have those feelings for another man...I know that...and I understand in other circumstances why Ennis reacts in the way he does....but here, I just want to scream and shake him and say "this man has driven for 14 hours to see you, just give him a bit of your time, dont let him drive away".....but you can see that there is just no way Ennis is going to do that.
 
Its hard for me to say this because I'm an Ennis girl too!

I wonder too why Ennis sent Jack the postcard telling him of the divorce too....but he must have known that Jack would have dropped everything to be with Ennis, despite the fact that Ennis still had his girls.  Jack, of course, never had any paternal feelings for his son, and this is shown clearly in the book as well as in the film, so for him, the children were just a little blot on the landscape that could be sorted out at a later date...and as has been said before, when Ennis said there was no way they'd live together, one of the reasons being cited as his life in riverton with alma and the girls - but now that obstacle had been removed, and then the postcard from Ennis, Jack would have seen that as the green light that he'd been waiting for.   He thought this was it...his chance to be with Ennis for good.   That sweet life he always wanted.  But it just wasnt to be.   :\'(  :\'(  :\'(

Btw, regarding what that postcard said.  I read somewhere, I dont recall where, that that particular postcard was being sold on ebay, along with some other BBM props, and apparently the postcard said "divorce came through....I'm working 3 extra shifts".    I have no idea if this is true, about the postcard itself or the wording of it, but it doesnt tell us much really does it?

[donnaread]

When Ennis was divorced we saw a macho man, a man who was ready to fight at the drop of a hat, stand in an open court room and weep.  I believe he was devastated by the divorce.  He needed to tell someone. He was all alone. He was the bad guy in everyone's eyes. Why not tell his best friend, the one person he had genuine love and admiration for?  So he sends a postcard telling Jack he was divorced.

I agree, Patriot1...He had no one in his life close enough to share his pain with him.  Jack was his ONLY friend.  I don't think it even occurred to him that Jack would jump in his truck, thinking they would finally be together.  As you said, Ennis was devastated.  He had to share his pain with Jack.

[karen1129]

Well, here are my thoughts for what they are worth.  I saw this movie differently than most of you.  I saw a man who was so in love with his friend that he could hardly stand it when they were apart.

And then I saw a man who was a homophobe.  A man that met the first one while working together and over a short time became best friends.  Best friends so deeply that he allowed himself to become intimate with him, as long as they were out of sight of others and in the middle of nowhere. This was Ennis' only friend.  His love and affection for Jack was so deep that even he didn't realize that he was in love with Jack, or, wouldn't allow himself to think it. That is, until he found the shirts.  He then realized how much Jack was in love with him and how much he was in love with Jack.  And for the first time says, "I love you." [Kleenex please, anyone?]

When Ennis was divorced we saw a macho man, a man who was ready to fight at the drop of a hat, stand in an open court room and weep.  I believe he was devastated by the divorce.  He needed to tell someone. He was all alone. He was the bad guy in everyone's eyes. Why not tell his best friend, the one person he had genuine love and admiration for?  So he sends a postcard telling Jack he was divorced. We don't know what the card said but we do know Ennis was shocked to see Jack standing in his yard one day. So the card didn't call out for help in dealing with the situation.  Jack's happy demeanour tells us it wasn't that.  He didn't come to comfort Ennis.  I believe it was just Ennis needing to tell someone and having nobody but Jack to tell. And in Ennis form, he said very little, he wrote it on a post card after all. But, we do know, whatever it said it renewed Jack's hopes for their future.  But then, Jack is the dreamer. He probably read a four page letter of love and finally living together; and all on a little post card. God, how Jack did love Ennis.  And Ennis, too ignorant or to afraid to understand or admit how much he was loved...until it was too late to do anything about it.

My 2¢.

I like you post, and I agree.  I've always wondered why Ennis bothered to call Jack and tell him.
What was the point?  He probably just needed a friend to talk to.  Poor Jack took it to mean
something it didn't.  Ennis wasn't going to go off and live with Jack.....  ever.  He thought what
was between he and Jack was this "thing".   Ya know I ain't queer !!!
Living with Jack ...........   no way !
The lights dimmed in Jacks world after that.


 

[karen1129]

And then I wonder what Ennis was afraid of? Being murdered like the rancher? Ennis doesn't strike me as a physical coward. Much more, I think, he's afraid of confronting the instincts that drive him to Jack and facing the reality of what he is, something that his father, presumably his paradigm of masculinity, would regard with contempt. I think Ennis hates his own nature much more than he fears violence - the prospect of being hurt/injured in a fight doesn't concern him.

Bingo.....  Ennis hates his own nature more than anything.  If he gave himself over 100% to Jack, he would be
admitting he loved Jack, and that would mean he was gay.    That was his biggest fear. 

[City Slickin' Cowboy]

Of course here's another good thread that I missed when it was active.

This is a very difficult scene for me to watch.  Although I understand who Ennis is throughout the story, I can't help but wish he had offered something to Jack. :\'(  It didn't take any dramatics on Jack's part to see that he was emotionally crushed at the outcome of this visit.  I certainly would have been in a similar situation. 

I often wondered why Ennis took that opportunity to actually call Jack, unless he just really needed someone to talk to. Regardless of his reasons, it was apparent he said nothing to prevent Jack from seeing this as their opportunity for the sweet life.  I would like to say that if I were Jack that would have been my queue to try and end this relationship.  Of course I have never loved anyone as Jack loved Ennis....easier said than done.

[myprivatejack]

Yes, I missed the topic also,but I think it keep on being interesting because in my opinion it´s a good example of how both of them were:Jack,a dreamer,romantic and rather impulsive guy,who knew what he wanted and how to fight for it;Ennis,unsecure,full with fears and doubts,who knew whom he wanted,but did´nt know what he wanted and less still how to fight for it(I really wonder if he knew what was to fight for someone...).I also wonder why he called Jack more than for the shellfishness of being relieved for who was,above all,his best friend;he didn´t think for a moment that he was giving him the opportunity to change their lives and,then,he didn´t have a project,neither an answer to him.
I have loved someone as Jack loved Ennis,but there was a moment in which I must put an end to the relationship and it´s very hard when you still love this person to say"NO".