Last Scene ("I swear" scene)

[katkrimar]

'Jack I swear … there will never be anyone else in my life.
I will spend the rest of my life with you - without you.'

Of course I take into account the italic introduction of the book. Ennis, maybe 50 years old (or older), is still nothing and going nowhere. And he still dreams about Jack.

And all my fortunes at thy foot I'll lay
And follow thee my lord throughout the world.
   Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare

[CANSTANDIT]

^^^^^^^^

great post, katkrimar. 

[fofol]

All
It's just amazing to me reading these new posts that there are still people who continue to be enchanted by this movie after 3 years. For such an obstensibly simple movie, the more you watch it, the more it touches you on so many levels. To see new posts come in from fans is a true testament to the power of this movie.I agree that BB transcends gender, sexuality. We can all identify with Ennis' and Jack's rapturous love, as well as the powerful morays of society which sets expectations upon us, and finally the overwhelming loss Ennis feels in the last scene.
To me, as a straight male, the movie shatters all stereotypes of gays. If these macho guys can feel love for another man so intensely, tells me love can happen unexpectedly between many different types of people.
Thanks to all of you for your posts, for making yourselves vulnerable and sharing your feelings about this movie. It has truly enriched my experience with this once in a lifetime movie.
 I was almost in tears watching Heath Ledger's family accept his Oscar Sunday night, and it is so overwhelmingly sad to realize that a talent that delivered Ennis Del Mar to us will never again walk this earth. I see from past  interviews that making BB was very difficult for him, being isolated and also being such a challenging role. I would like to  think that if Heath were here, and were able to see the postings and the outpour of love for this movie,  and his character that he brought to life, he would consider that in Ennis Del Mar, he has found the role of a lifetime.

  It is an incredibly powerful movie, newfan, a force of nature in its own right.   Welcome.

[suelyblu]

Fofol, I absolutly agree.Heath Ledger should have had an Oscar for Brokeback and also some award for Candy as was not put in for Oscars. Just must admitt I watch Brokeback at least once every 2 weeks but after I saw it the first time I was inconsolable.My heart just broke for Ennis so now I have to ownup to watching it to the 'phone call' and the turn it off.Brilliant though the acting is , I just cannot watch that part of the film. Calll me crazy but there we are!




                               suelyblu.  England.

[Ryan]

Fofol, I absolutly agree.Heath Ledger should have had an Oscar for Brokeback and also some award for Candy as was not put in for Oscars. Just must admitt I watch Brokeback at least once every 2 weeks but after I saw it the first time I was inconsolable.My heart just broke for Ennis so now I have to ownup to watching it to the 'phone call' and the turn it off.Brilliant though the acting is , I just cannot watch that part of the film. Calll me crazy but there we are!




                               suelyblu.  England.

I totally agree....  this is one of my favorite films of all time, and I can't bear to watch it to the end. I know, I am a wimp (and a sucker for happy endings!).... Just goes to show what an incredibly powerful film this is.

[CANSTANDIT]

Agreed, Ryan. Welcome, btw, if I haven't already told you... I can't say those feelings lessen quickly-but they are easier to bear when shared.

[morrobay]

I saw "Lonesome Dove" again recently, and in one scene, Jake Spoon says "I swear" twice, in answer to some news that surprised him.  I think Mr. McMurtry used that frequently with nothing following it.  But in BBM, there is a lot that could have come after those 2 simple words....

 

[CANSTANDIT]

I saw "Lonesome Dove" again recently, and in one scene, Jake Spoon says "I swear" twice, in answer to some news that surprised him.  I think Mr. McMurtry used that frequently with nothing following it.  But in BBM, there is a lot that could have come after those 2 simple words....

 

Captain Call says it to Gus, at least once, too. I think AP was highly influenced by Larry's pov o on the myth of the American West. I see it in other ways, too.

The "I Swear" in BBM seems to mean a lot of things, but one thing was pointed out a long time ago: In Wyoming-and other places, I suppose-it is used to mean, 'I love you.'

[suelyblu]

I like to think the '' Jack, I swear-----'' statement means that some how ,some way Ennis is going to get Jack ashes up to Brokeback and that when he dies he will have his ashes taken up there too so they can be together always. The last line in that paragraph in the book reads '' Jack, I swear----" he said,though Jack had never asked him to swear anything and was himself not the swearing kind. Perhaps this means ' Don't make promises we can't keep and getting Jacks ashes up to Brokeback is the one promises he is hell bent on fulfilling. Perhaps this is too simple an explanation.


                                                                            suelyblu x

[Ministering angel]

I'm inclined to think that Ennis came to understand that having his ashes scattered on Brokeback was a poor second for Jack, just the best he could hope for, given that it seemed Ennis would never come to him.  But I can imagine Ennis might think about having their ashes together in the end, somehow, somewhere. It's a nice thought.

[CANSTANDIT]

Here's a thought..when Ennis first hears about the ashes and Jack wanting them scattered, but he does not yet know about the shirts...how does he interpret that, do you think? They don't seem to hit him quite as hard as they shirts-or does he have an inkling, that the shirts bring to his awareness?

[Cally]

Here's a thought..when Ennis first hears about the ashes and Jack wanting them scattered, but he does not yet know about the shirts...how does he interpret that, do you think? They don't seem to hit him quite as hard as they shirts-or does he have an inkling, that the shirts bring to his awareness?

I think he is so stunned by Lureen's confirmation of Jack's death - which until then could just possibly have some mistake on the part of the mail service ('This would be all right, Jack would answer...') - that he can't at that moment really take in what Jack had said about his ashes and Brokeback.

[Dal]

~which until then could just possibly have some mistake on the part of the mail service ~

Some denial is a good thing, sometimes!!

[CANSTANDIT]

I don't know..I would think that registered loud and clear-'he could hardly speak.' I don't think denial is an issue at that point..Jack's death has made him too vulnerable. So I'm trying to figure if the real moment is with the knowledge of the ashes..I mean, it means the same thing: Jack wanted to go back to where they were 20 years before-it's as close as he got to being loved unconditionally by Ennis. So whether it's the shirts-which may suggest the DE to Ennis-or the ashes , Jack wanted to be there forever, basically. He has registered the idea that Jack wanted to go back to BBM-it's the first time we hear him say the words, too, of acknowledgement that he and Jack were there together..even in the Reunion, he only refers to the time after they came down off the mountain.

It seems to me the first real recognition and it happens before the shirts.

thoughs?

[Desecra]

I think they have two different meanings.   The ashes show that Jack thought of Brokeback in a way that he didn't think of the other trips (we know it's because of the DE, I think).   They show that Jack talked about his wishes to Lureen, but also that they were secret from Ennis.   Which also showed that Jack was thinking about dying without Ennis and didn't involve Ennis in his "wishes" (he left no instructions for contacting Ennis - somebody else would have scattered the ashes withouth knowing what they meant, if it happened).   And of course, they show how important Ennis was to him.

The shirts first of all remind Ennis of the punch (and all the meaning of that, which we've discussed).   They also show that Jack knew what he felt for Ennis back on Brokeback - he already knew that he shouldn't let Ennis out a his sights, but was unable to tell him.   (I think they also have symbolic meaning - Jack kept their love "in the closet", hiding some of it even from Ennis, and the long suspension also suggests the lack of progress in the relationship - maybe they never got much farther, etc.).  And then, I agree that they are reminder of the DE - two in one, what should have been.