BBM authorities like to conjure up all manner of sociological claims about the story and the Old West; but the notions of Jack and Ennis feeling compelled to live up to societal norms are 'extra-curricular' ...
Why? Because they are the only two gay guys in the west who are immune?
The book jacket of one of the editions of BBM that I have says as much: "They are doing
what was expected of them." Although who writes what's written on book jackets isn't
mentioned, if the author herself was okay with this, and we know she speaks her mind
when she is not okay with things, then I see no reason to discount "sociological claims"
as extra-curricular, especially when the product itself brings it up. If you do, then I think
you're being closed minded about it, probably because it doesn't fit with your interpretations,
so you dismiss it?
All we know of Jack's aspirations in life is that he wanted to be a rodeo star, admired by the girls in the stands.
I don't believe he ever states he wants to be "admired" by the
girls in the stands, only that he's wavin to 'em. But then, I could
interpret it as
girls, a slang word gay guys have used to describe
each other.
And of Ennis' aspirations, we know that he wanted to be a sophomore, and, to marry a woman.
Because gay guys who have either externally or internally been even the slightest bit
influenced that feelings for another guy leads only to negative things happening to you
and/or is completely and utterly wrong, would never say they didn't want to do something
that wasn't expected of them. Growing up, gay guys of all variety have said they wanted
to get married. It was expected. Doesn't mean you aren't gay. And the way Ennis explains
it doesn't say anything about his "wanting" to. He says it like it's a fact. That he's going to
marry her. Going to and wanting to are not the same thing.
-That's about all..(?!)
I highly doubt it!
Lureen and Jack were both thinking pretty much the same thing while they were slow-dancing, I presume, i.e., how to get into each other's pants, literally & figuratively -- albeit for different reasons: Lureen for breeding purposes, and Jack, panning for gold.
I'm sure that Lureen was thinking about having children right then.
And Jack wouldn't be the first gay guy to marry a woman for monetary reward.