A character study on Ennis Del Mar
Warning: contains movie spoilers
Movie Plot: Two cowboys in 1963 Wyoming endure a powerful romance for two decades while facing heartache and personal conflicts as they lead different lives and struggle to keep their love a secret.
Introduction: My First Experience Watching Brokeback Mountain
I first saw Brokeback Mountain in 2005 when it premiered on HBO, and I can recall the chills on my body as I was entering, what was considered back then, forbidden territory.
It was a time when homosexual themes in films were limited to the independent industry. Mainstream theaters deemed it too controversial to play movies depicting intimate relationships between members of the same gender—particularly male—for fear of protests, boycotts, uncomfortableness, and low ticket sales.
Admittingly, I was raised in an environment where being gay was considered an abomination against nature. I was taught that if a person commits gay acts or harbors gay thoughts, they will go to hell. Naturally, as a human being, my curiosity overcame the lessons from my upbringing.
The overwhelming praise and media exposure were mostly responsible for my decision to give Brokeback Mountain a try. I watched the movie that evening with bated breath, nervous about witnessing with my innocent eyes a scene where two men have sex. Incidentally, I was in my 20s.
The movie started out calm, quiet and relaxing. I didn’t know what to expect or how I should feel. I was entering the lives of two men where every moment—not the script—decided their actions. Already my attention was hooked, and I realized when the credits rolled, it had never let go.
The love scenes were not as horrific as I anticipated—still disturbing, however, to an immature mind. Nevertheless, all that was put to the side and I was able to focus on other elements in the film, such as friendship, heartache, hatred, and betrayal.
The light guitar strum score was both soothing and haunting. The supporting cast felt real. Some unveiled raw emotions that touched my soul and filled my eyes with tears.
Brokeback Mountain surprised me. After two more watches, I awakened to the understanding of the new-age philosophy, love is love. I no longer cared about the fact that the two men having sex were rugged, red-blooded cowboys. They were two human beings struggling for happiness at a time when a specific type of love was outlawed.
The movie is depressing. Yet it reminds its audience that there is still time to become better human beings. Although there is still bigotry in 2022, I believe we have made much progress in accepting all human beings into society despite any obvious differences.
Thank you for taking the time to read my introduction. I hope you will enjoy my tribute to Ennis Del Mar, the introverted cowboy.
The Introverted Cowboy
The late great actor, Heath Ledger, allows audiences to see a piece of themselves through another one of his diverse and relatable characters. Ennis Del Mar is a complicated young man struggling with his emotions while playing his part as the typical everyday working man. He is quiet, aloof yet courteous, and he speaks in mumbles as if he is struggling to express himself.
No doubt about it. He is an introvert.
Based on his unusual situation with Jack coupled with his conservative ways, one would think this reserved cowboy might not reach his full potential in life. On the contrary, Ennis is another good example of a seemingly hopeless introvert with strengths and weaknesses that cultivate his personal growth.
STRENGTHS
Quiet and Patient
Ennis doesn’t talk much in the film. But when he does, the audience listens. Instead of rambling about nonsense, he chooses to speak when it’s appropriate. Even when he’s covering a lie, his message comes out short and to the point.
One can count on him to keep a secret, as in the case of his affair with Jack. However, he is not good at hiding physical evidence. Luckily, his wife, Alma, is the only person who discovers his secret, although she is the worst person that can learn such a secret.
With quietness comes patience. Ennis takes it slow and methodically when he is facing a task. For example, he successfully shot the elk by being patient when Jack had failed earlier.
When we see the two men for the first time, we immediately see the distinction: Ennis is cool-headed and quiet; Jack is reckless and impatient. And when patience and recklessness come together, the ultimate team of balance is formed.
Not Afraid of Hard Work
Hard work builds character and responsibility. Early in the film while Jack and Ennis are working as sheep herders at Brokeback Mountain, Jack complains about the strenuosity of his job, which involves back-and-forth commuting. Ennis, who mostly stays at camp, offers to switch with him. Although there were several mishaps in his new assignment, he never complained about the difficulties or the unfairness. This is one of several examples of Ennis showing appreciation for hard work.
Throughout the second half of the film, he is seen as a hardworking family man doing what he can for so little pay. One might argue his main reason for work dedication derives from one of his famous lines:
“I’m stuck with what I got here. Making a living is all I got time for.”
This may give an audience member the impression that he has no choice but to work for a living, and that he, in fact, hates working for the man. However, this is also a sign of responsibility. He understands the importance of work in that it is a necessity to survive. And since he doesn’t reveal any plans after saving a certain amount of money, it leaves the audience member to deduce that he is simply a worker.
Nothing wrong with that.
WEAKNESSES
Not Sociable
When Ennis and Jack meet, Jack greets him by his full name—first and last—and offers a friendly handshake. Ennis tells him his first name only while shaking his hand. Jack then says, “Your folks just stop at Ennis?” and Ennis plainly tells him his last name with a slight hint of annoyance in his voice.
Not the ideal introduction for two men destined to become soulmates.
Although being quiet is second nature to most introverts, it doesn’t mean they don’t understand the conventions of social etiquette. Some are not comfortable meeting new people, while others may not even like people. Nevertheless, exhibiting antisocial habits can ruin an introvert’s life if they are not careful. The main risk is they may miss out on forming special relationships.
Take Ennis’s relationship with Cassie for example.
Although he was in a secret relationship with Jack that wasn’t going anywhere, here comes a pretty waitress out of nowhere who approaches him and becomes infatuated with him despite his obvious disinterest in her. Their time together was short and it ended with Ennis suddenly discontinuing contact with her. She moves on while he remains in a state of misery trying to juggle reality and his love for Jack.
If he would’ve given her a chance, they might’ve had a good life together—real (expletive) good life. She could’ve helped him wash the gay away.
JUST KIDDING.
Instead, what could’ve at least resulted in a long, fruitful friendship ended in heartache.
What if the script was rewritten to have Ennis reveal his deepest secrets to Cassie, admitting that he was actually in love with a man? He would’ve had someone to talk with to help cope with his dilemma. He might not have felt so alone. He could’ve appreciated his daughters more. He could’ve reconciled with his ex-wife, Alma, to re-establish a parenting relationship without being husband and wife.
Of course, it would’ve been a huge risk to share his secret with Cassie, judging by the times in which they were living. But the ending of their relationship most certainly did not improve his well-being.
Hides Emotions
Keeping his affair on Brokeback Mountain a secret put a painful toll on Ennis’s psyche. For extended periods, he holds his emotions inside a balloon that gets larger by the minute. Once the balloon is full, it bursts with tremendous energy shooting fumes of rage and anguish at unsuspecting victims.
Many times in the movie, Ennis displays outrageous outbursts of emotions that present a different side to his persona. At first, we see him as a soft-spoken, level-headed cowboy, but when he unleashes, he becomes a bear with a booming cry and a violent temper.
Introverts are known for keeping their emotions in check. However, if performed too long, this practice can have destructive effects on their physical and mental health.
We see this early in the film after Ennis and Jack say goodbye for the first time. He appears nonchalant but then retreats to an alley and unleashes vomiting sounds and unrelenting cries. When a passerby observes him, Ennis yells at him, “What the (expletive) are you looking at!”
The most memorable outburst comes when he and Alma are alone in the kitchen and Alma admits to knowing of his affair with Jack. Ennis squeezes her arm with all his might to prevent her from saying another word, elsewise, those next words could be her last. He storms out of the house to drive to the bar. As he gets out of his car and makes his way to the entrance, he is almost hit by a truck. Ennis makes his way to the driver’s window and begins punching the driver in the face. Unfortunately, the driver is a much bigger and stronger individual who subdues him and retaliates by thrashing him on the pavement.
GROWTH
As the film nears its final scene, and it doesn’t appear that there will be any redeeming character growth in Ennis, the audience member is gifted a pleasant surprise that convinces us there is still hope in him yet.
His daughter, Alma Jr, is grown-up and visits him at his trailer park home in a remote location. She announces she will be getting married and invites an unenthusiastic Ennis to her wedding. It takes him a hot minute to decide but finally accepts.
In a previous life, he would pass family outings to fulfill work responsibilities or meet up with Jack. Family didn’t always come first. It appears he finally realizes he hasn't been the most supportive father. Most importantly, it would be the ultimate low if he, the father, missed the most important day in his daughter's life.
Shaking old habits, especially when they involve social events, is a step forward in improving an introvert’s life. Jack may be gone, but it doesn’t mean there is no more hope for him in the world. As long as a person knows they are loved—conditionally or unconditionally—they will be all right.
Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Rated R for language and sexual themes
Starring: Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Williams, Randy Quaid, Anne Hathaway
Directed by Ang Lee
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