Topic: Did Alma love Ennis? (possible spoilers!)

[monicita]

I saw the Charlie Rose interview with Ang yesterday and Ang says that he doesn't think, Ennis really loved Alma. He did what you had to do. And Heath says in his interview, that the only point at which he can really pour out his love openly is with his daughters. Interesting... 

monicita

[minara]

I think in a way, Ennis just wanted to make sure that his daughters were happy, and that they had everything he didn't have.  He wasn't able to give them much, though, but as a parent, you always want to ensure that your children are better off than you were.

So perhaps he really didn't love Alma, but stayed with her out of a sense of responsibility.

Although, I do still think he loved her.

[merry]

Hi folks,

I just came upon a post in some other thread where somebody said that "Ennis was loved by nobody but Jack". I would say, that isn't true. Alma truly loved Ennis, she just couldn't make it work, because they were never straight with each other (except in that one scene in the kitchen after the thanksgiving dinner, where she faces up to Ennis). What do you think?

monicita

 :D For sure she loved him!! If not, how about her tears? Moreover, she new Ennis before he falls in love with Jack and they were going to get married. For me it is quite obvious.

Merry

[BBM Obsessed]

Of course she did.  She married him, had his children, put up with those living conditions.  I think after catching her husband with Jack she changed.  The fact that she and "the girls" were concerned about him marrying again leads me to believe she still cared, though may not have loved as much.  Her repulsion of "Jack Nasty" is the main mood for her.  The old adage "No woman wants to lose her husband to another woman, much less another man" comes to mind.

[jimnick]

No doubt that seeing her husband making love to his best friend, liked to make her blood run cold, but she loved him, always will.

And that's what I think...

Jim

[City Slickin' Cowboy]

It was clear from Alma's first scene that she loved Ennis.  I also believe Ennis loved Alma, but not as his soul mate.  What Alma witnessed in the stairwell became a startling revelation that she was not number one in Ennis's heart.  Despite everything that happend afterwards, I'm  convinced she still loved Ennis.  I'm just glad she had enough sense to get out of a hopeless situation and find the happiness she deserved.

I thought it was interesting how Alma's feelings came exploding to the surface during the Thanksgiving scene.  At the table Alma appeared to be quiet, yet fuming inside!  I got the impression having Ennis over was not her idea.  As the later discussion in the kitchen deteriorated I was still convinced Alma cared about Ennis.  I think she finally had to explode and unleash the source of her hurt.  By doing so, Alma was able make Ennis aware of two important facts:  (1) She knew the nature of his relationship with Jack and (2) Despite this knowledge, she still gave him opportunities to show that she actually mattered to him.

Yes Alma loved Ennis, but she had to let go to save herself.

[jimnick]

It was clear from Alma's first scene that she loved Ennis.  I also believe Ennis loved Alma, but not as his soul mate.  What Alma witnessed in the stairwell became a startling revelation that she was not number one in Ennis's heart.  Despite everything that happend afterwards, I'm  convinced she still loved Ennis.  I'm just glad she had enough sense to get out of a hopeless situation and find the happiness she deserved.

I thought it was interesting how Alma's feelings came exploding to the surface during the Thanksgiving scene.  At the table Alma appeared to be quiet, yet fuming inside!  I got the impression having Ennis over was not her idea.  As the later discussion in the kitchen deteriorated I was still convinced Alma cared about Ennis.  I think she finally had to explode and unleash the source of her hurt.  By doing so, Alma was able make Ennis aware of two important facts:  (1) She knew the nature of his relationship with Jack and (2) Despite this knowledge, she still gave him opportunities to show that she actually mattered to him.

Yes Alma loved Ennis, but she had to let go to save herself.

...and don't you think that Ennis wanted her to be happy too.  It isn't many men that will sit down to table with their ex-wife's new husband.

Jim

[City Slickin' Cowboy]

...and don't you think that Ennis wanted her to be happy too.  It isn't many men that will sit down to table with their ex-wife's new husband.

Jim

Very true!! Thanks for the reminder!

Jarrad

[jesseanne21]

But as I said, I think it was Ennis who initiated the divorce, and had he not done that, I think Alma would have gone on with him, loving him and at the same time, living in some denial about Jack and the implications of that.

I am long winded! My apologies for going on so. Hope that some ideas and theories came through for your consideration.

Thanks,
Jack in Maine



In the AP story, Alma initiated the divorce.

Also, I thiink Ennis married Alma because it was the thing to do (marrying young and having children) where they came from.  At one point in my life all my friends were getting married and later everyone was getting diivorced.

I think Alma genuinely loved Ennis.  And, I think Ennis loved Alma until he fell in love with Jack.

[WyMe]

It was clear from Alma's first scene that she loved Ennis.  I also believe Ennis loved Alma, but not as his soul mate.  What Alma witnessed in the stairwell became a startling revelation that she was not number one in Ennis's heart.  Despite everything that happend afterwards, I'm  convinced she still loved Ennis.  I'm just glad she had enough sense to get out of a hopeless situation and find the happiness she deserved.


Something that came to mind as I watched again tonight at the point where Ennis dismisses Alma's suggestion that they smarten up an go to the church social - where and how would Ennis and Alma have met?  Ennis grew up on a lonely ranch and left school very young ( I don't know about the US, but in Scotland if you left after one year of High School you would be 14) besides wasn't he in a different part of the state?  It looks like most of her socialising is church based and I doubt Ennis is a regular attender.  I can't see her hanging around bars either.   She doesn't look like the sort that would make the first move (in a Cassie style) and goodness knows Ennis isn't much of a wordsmith.   He doesn't even seem to have any friends who would introduce them.  A bit trivial but I just can't see either of them making a move for the other.

[welshwitch]

If Ennis got one year of high school and was hoping to be a sophomore the next year when the transmission went of the pickup so that he couldn't get there, he was talking about senior HS and he'd have left when he was about fifteen, I think. this means he's have had about four years working before he went up to Brokeback and I suppose he's have had time to meet Alma while he was moving round with his brother and sister - she could even have been an acaquaintance of his sister.

Ennis also says his folks were Methodist, a tradition his siter may have kept up if his brother and he didn't. No reason he couldn't have met Alma through his siblings or through church, and of course it was quite often true that people married someone they met simply because they were there and suitable - if you don't move around much, go off to college, etc., you tend to marry whoever is about your age and with whom you get on. Everyone around approves and in Ennis's case his brother and sister had married and would be glad to think he was doing the same. I can't see Ennis as falling romantically in love - Alma in the honeymoon scene looks as if she's happy to be with him b ut that soon fades away into routine.