Brokeback Mountain

1143 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Unrealistic media images of sexuality

Brokeback Mountain Critique This essay is based off a critique of Annie Proulx’s short story “Brokeback Mountain”, entitled Understanding the Complexity of Love in Brokeback Mountain: An Analysis of the Film and Short Story. This essay was written by Jane Rose and Joanne Urschel. It was published March 1,2007 by: Purdue University North Central Westville, in The Journal of Men’s Studies, Vol. 14, No 2, Spring 2006 pages 247-251. This text focuses on the relationship between Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist, and examines what made their love for each other so complicated, untraditional, and melancholy. Rose and Urschel focus on the effects that both characters’ fathers had on their life, and how the negative impact that having abusive parents …show more content…

While I don't agree with the severity that Rose and Urschel crique Ennis’s father, I do think there are strong similarities between how both Ennis and Sarty were treated by their fathers growing up. As well as Jack and his father. As the authors illustrated Jack's father didn't believe that he was good enough, “he is hostile and cold to his son (Rose, Urschel 249)”, Sarty’s father can be described the same. After Sarty gets hit in the head and knocked to the ground outside the courthouse “his father’s hand jerked him back, the harsh cold voice speaking above him: “Go get in the wagon”(faulkner p.3). This is one one the instances sarty’s father lacks any care or concern regarding Sarty’s well being. Ennis, Jack, and Sarty all are deeply affected by the actions of their fathers, and if one fast forward Sarty’s life, he will probably also present the same characteristics that Rose and Urschel site as to explain why Ennis and Jack couldn't be …show more content…

Rose and Urschel point out “both struggle to fulfill the lives of cowboys in 1960s Wyoming(p. 249)” and “Ennis opens up to Jack… This marks Ennis’s potential to be more communicative and close with another person (p. 249)”. These quotes show the friendship and closeness that the men develop with each other. In Emerson’s “Friendship” he writes “A friend is a person with whom I may be sincere…. I am arrived at last in the presence of a man so real and equal…(p. 44). Ennis and Jack do have the type of relationship that Emerson describes in the context of a friendship. In addition I feel both Ennis and Jack share transcendental characteristics in their life, going off into nature, finding who they are, and if only in seclusion putting the needs and want of their own ahead of their

Show More
Related

  • Fried Green Tomatoes

    1543 Words  | 4 Pages

    "HER ORIGINAL NAME was Patricia Neal"(Reynolds1), but the author of Fried Green Tomatoes is better known under the alias: Fannie Flagg. In the novel Fried Green Tomatoes she uniquely compares the modern day world to the world in the early and the middle 1900’s. As the novel shifts from the 1930’s to the 1980’s the significance of life is seen through two of the main characters, Mrs. Cleo Threadgoode and Evelyn Couch, as life ends and begins. Fannie Flagg shows that living life to its fullest indeed has its consequences, but is the only way to live a happy life without regrets.

    Read More

  • Heart Of Darkness And Blood Diamond Analysis

    1223 Words  | 3 Pages

    One may never know what situations one may need to overcome in order to go on with the one’s daily lifestyle or routine, as these situations are never hoped or wished for and come as a shock with a high level of fear. Through the interpretation of the primary sources such as Heart of Darkness, one understands the events Marlow had overcome and adapted to in order to get through the journey Marlow was on, along with the journey in Blood Diamond where surviving was the most important thing and reuniting with one’s loved ones. On the other hand, the secondary sources which are trauma in young children, feminist theory, African – American Literary Theory, and the effects of sexual assault and rape allow the reader to develop a deeper understanding of the concepts which are being portrayed. Also, the tests and trials in which the individuals need to alter and face their mind and personality from the departure of one’s journey.

    Read More

  • Sarty's Conflict in William Faulkner's "Barn Burning"

    720 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...s and values over his loyalty to his father. What is surprising, is that he immediately seems to regret it, as is shown when he cries praises to his father in remorse. Is this just because he was Sarty's father, or did Sarty actually feel some justified love toward his father? In the story, Sarty's father showed absolutely no hint of affection or any such emotion towards his son, or anyone for that matter. This would make it seem that perhaps Sarty had some sort of misplaced unconditional love for his father. This emotion must have added tremendously to his internal struggle. All and all, it was the conflict between the morals of society and Sarty's loyalty to his father that led to his final decision.

    Read More

  • The Power Of Masculinity In F. Scott Fitzgerald's Last Kiss

    1048 Words  | 3 Pages

    Most love stories end with a man and woman happily in love with each other. This is not the case in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s short story, “Last Kiss”. Throughout the story, Jim longs for his childhood sweetheart and Pamela seeks out someone who will make her a star actress in Hollywood. Jim holds fast to his position of power and does not give in to Pamela’s beauty and charm until later in the story. Strong will and determination of females pose as a threat to masculinity because females can entice, persuade and manipulate males. Fitzgerald’s story demonstrates the inability of femininity to surpass the power of masculinity. This is shown through reinforcement of femininity, masculinity and belief in social norms.

    Read More

  • Good Will Hunting

    1966 Words  | 4 Pages

    Good Will Hunting is a film which conveys many interlocking themes and messages to its viewers. One of these nicely woven themes is placing trust in the people we care about as well as people we have only recently become acquainted with. Another message, arguably more significant than the last is finding and pursuing the potential one has and bringing meaning into our lives in any form we choose. I believe the potential and success this film demonstrates is that success, growth, and meaning in a person’s life does not always have to come in the form of advancing in a career or social status but rather in the form of overcoming hardships and developing close reciprocating relationships.

    Read More

  • Fight Club

    519 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Fight Club, directed by David Fincher, constructs an underground world of men fighting with one and other to find the meaning to their lives. Ed Norton and Brad Pitt are the main characters who start the fight club. They make a set of rules in which everyone must follow.

    Read More

  • Twelve Angry Men

    642 Words  | 2 Pages

    Twelve Angry Men is a very interesting play about an unfortunate young man, who was convicted of killing his dad. The worst part was, the young man was only nineteen, and his life was just starting. The jurors listened to all the evidence, then came the hard part, making the decision: guilty, or innocent. Eleven jurors said guilty and only one said innocent. There was a lot of peer pressure involved. I decided to write about different peer pressures three of the jurors used.

    Read More

  • Barn Burning

    1878 Words  | 4 Pages

    Every person reaches a point in their lives when they must define themselves in relation to their parents. We all come through this experience differently, depending on our parents and the situation that we are in. For some people the experience comes very early in their lives, and can be a significant life changing experience. In William Faulkner’s “Barn Burning” Colonel Sartoris Snopes must decide either to stand with his father and compromise his integrity, or embrace honesty and morality and condemn his family. This is a difficult decision to make, especially for a ten year old boy that has nothing outside of what his father provides. Sarty’s decision to ultimately betray his father is dependent on his observation of Abner’s character and the conflict he feels concerning Abner.

    Read More

  • Love And Basketball Play Analysis

    1111 Words  | 3 Pages

    As a society there are a lot of qualities that men have been socialized to uphold when it comes to how they act or react, what they support, and what they suppress. This movie produces a harsh critique of male socialization early on and continues

    Read More

  • 12 Angry Men

    844 Words  | 2 Pages

    Juror #1 originally thought that the boy was guilty. He was convinced that the evidence was concrete enough to convict the boy. He continued to think this until the jury voted the first time and saw that one of the jurors thought that the boy was innocent. Then throughout the movie, all of the jurors were slowly convinced that the boy was no guilty.

    Read More

  • Helena Maria Viramontes’ The Moths

    1672 Words  | 4 Pages

    Through vivid yet subtle symbols, the author weaves a complex web with which to showcase the narrator's oppressive upbringing. Two literary

    Read More

  • The Green Mile

    480 Words  | 1 Pages

    the dark, and he didnt want to die in the dark. So the guard took

    Read More

  • A Comparison Of The Film Adaption Of Brokeback Mountain

    946 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...his balance allows Lee to more strongly portray the cause-and-effect of Jack and Ennis’ stances in their relationship. Throughout the story, Ennis and Jack are complementary to each other: Jack’s extroverted personality and Ennis’s introverted tendency, Jack’s money-producing marriage and Ennis’ hard-earned living, and Jack’s pursuit of his sexual impulses and Ennis’ suppression of his sexual orientation—these two Thanksgiving scenes include moments that add to the long list of aspects that harmoniously strengthen both as characters. However, their complementary characteristics also lead to complementary beliefs, preventing both of them from ever getting what they want. What seemed to be the driving forces that brought the two together actually turn out to be the ultimate destruction of hope and the possibility of ever escaping the suffocating influence of society.

    Read More

  • American Psycho

    1474 Words  | 3 Pages

    Entrails torn from the body with bare hands, eyes gouged out with razor blades, battery cables, rats borrowing inside the human body, power drills to the face, cannibalism, credit cards, business cards, Dorsia, Testoni, Armani, Wall Street; all of these things are Patrick Bateman’s world. The only difference between Bateman and anybody else is what is repulsive to Bateman and what is repulsive to the rest of the world. Bateman has great interest in the upper class life, fashions, and social existence, but at the same time he is, at times, sickened by the constant struggle to be one up on everybody else. On the other hand Bateman’s nightlife reveals a side of him never seen during the day. Bateman is relaxed, impulsive, and confident while torturing and killing. He doesn’t have to worry about being better than anyone else. The only competition he has is his last victim. Torture and murder are the two true loves of Patrick Bateman.

    Read More

  • Fight Club

    1347 Words  | 3 Pages

    The main themes of the story are loneliness, materialism, and freedom from society. Tyler was created because of the lack of connection the narrator had with the people around him. The narrator was lonely and attended so many support groups because of it. He was not rejected at the support groups because the members thought he was sick just like they were. Materialism is a reoccurring theme as the narrator mentions how he has worked his entire life for the Ikea items in his apartment. He tried to fill the void in his life by buying worthless, meaningless stuff. People spend too much time working for things they do not need. The narrator comes to the conclusion that, “You are not your job or your possessions.” Only once a person realizes that can he or she finally let go and start living. “It’s only after you’ve lost everything,” Tyler says, “that you’re free to do anything.” In order to be free, we must not care about the stuff we own. Our whole lives are spent working to pay for stuff. If we did not have stuff to pay for, we would not have to work as hard and our time could be spent doing something more meaningful.

    Read More

More about Brokeback Mountain

Open Document