Topic: All the emotions between Ennis and Jack

[gjz24]

English is not my mother tongue. I am sorry if I cannot make myself clear. Some uncertainties between Ennis and Jack make me crazy. I need help here. Thanks in advance.

1.We know because the inability of their communication, they never express their love to each other. However, in the end, Ennis luckily knew that Jack loved him (Jack told him that how much Ennis means to him, and he cannot quit him), and Ennis finally felt how deep Jack loved him (the shirts). But, did Jack know Ennis love him? Even in their last meet, Ennis failed to tell Jack. I feel so sad about Jack he didn’t know Ennis love him. You may think Jack could feel the love from Ennis, But, between them, Jack was the emotional one, he need to be convinced, to know, to hear the love from Ennis. If he cannot, he would be anger, nervous, frustrated, and feel hopeless.

2.Why the chemistry between them was so passionate? In another word, what bonded them so strongly? You may say it is love. But I don’t think it is that simple. When you fall in love, you feel the happiness, freedom, and you feel inspirited to be better person, but what I saw from their relationship are repression,struggle and helpless. This confusion makes me thinking what the real love is?

3.Since both of them (at least Ennis) didn’t think they are queers (they were not really attractive to other men), why they would make such difficult and painful choices to keep their secrete affair regardless losing normal lives. Did they regret meeting each other in the beginning? On the other hand, if the life can come again, would they have different choices?
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[shieldmaid]

English is not my mother tongue. I am sorry if I cannot make myself clear. Some uncertainties between Ennis and Jack make me crazy. I need help here. Thanks in advance.

1.We know because the inability of their communication, they never express their love to each other. However, in the end, Ennis luckily knew that Jack loved him (Jack told him that how much Ennis means to him, and he cannot quit him), and Ennis finally felt how deep Jack loved him (the shirts). But, did Jack know Ennis love him? Even in their last meet, Ennis failed to tell Jack. I feel so sad about Jack he didn’t know Ennis love him. You may think Jack could feel the love from Ennis, But, between them, Jack was the emotional one, he need to be convinced, to know, to hear the love from Ennis. If he cannot, he would be anger, nervous, frustrated, and feel hopeless.

2.Why the chemistry between them was so passionate? In another word, what bonded them so strongly? You may say it is love. But I don’t think it is that simple. When you fall in love, you feel happy, free, and be inspirited to be better person, but what I saw from their relationship are more painful, repressive, and helpless. This confusion makes me thinking what the real love is?

3.Since both of them (at least Ennis) didn’t think they are queers (they were not really attractive to other men), why they would make such difficult and painful choices to keep their secrete affair regardless losing normal lifes. Did they regret to meet each other in the beginning? On the other hand, if the life can come again, would they have different choices?
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gjz24, I think you're asking some really important questions here.  I too wondered about question #1--does Jack ever know that Ennis loves him?  I have to conclude that he does know--remember when he sends Ennis the postcard saying that he will be in town.  Ennis replies, "You bet," and then when Jack shows up, it is Ennis who first starts their kiss outside the apartment (in front of Alma!).  He also goes to the motel with him and continues meeting him again and again over the years.  We can also see signs of jealousy with Ennis--when he accuses Jack of "going to Mexico," he clearly is upset that Jack is sharing himself with another man.  Finally, I think the best evidence that Ennis truly loves Jack comes in two scenes: the second tent scene, where Ennis clutches Jack and strokes his face, and the scene in which they are getting ready to leave Brokeback Mountain.  Ennis sits off on a hill by himself while Jack packs up the camp--he cannot face the thought of leaving.  And, of course, how could I forget the scene after they say goodbye, when Ennis ducks into an alley to retch and sob?   

I'm not as sure about #2--what is it that causes two people to fall so passionately in love?  Their shared experiences, their time spent talking together, their physical attractiveness?  The combination of Ennis's silent endurance and Jack's outgoing playfulness?  As I saw Jake Gyllenhaal explain in an interview, they are two halves of the same whole, completing each other.  That's the best answer I can come up with.

I don't think they regret meeting each other--in spite of their heartache, they share a love that many people never experience. 

peace--