1. Who are the main characters in the film?
One of the main characters in the film is Ennis Del Mar. his first job was on the mountain
herding sheep but when he settled with his wife, he became a ranch worker. After his
work on Brokeback Mountain, he was scheduled to marry even though his gender is
nonbinary, and his sexuality is bisexual. The other main character is Jack Twist, he met
Ennis during their work in the Brokeback Mountain and after that he also got married
even though he is also a gender nonbinary and bisexual. His job is a ranch worker on his
farm. Both character’s age was not mentioned in the movie.
2. Describe the relationship of the two (2) main characters. What is their relationship in the
beginning? How did their relationship progress? What are the factors that contributed to
the intricacies of their relationship? What are your personal thoughts about this?
Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist were sheep herders, they met in a place where they were
assigned jobs to transport the sheep to a different farm. Their relationship started during
their stay in Brokeback Mountain in the summer. Jack Twist was the first one to show
feelings to Ennis and from there their relationship expanded and grew deeper. After their
summer work on Brokeback Mountain, they set apart from each other and after 4 years
they both have a wife and children. The intricacies started when Jack Twist came to
Ennis’ house because their feelings for each other only grew deeper causing
complications on Ennis’ family relationship and Jack’s personal life. Their kind of
relationship was not known and accepted especially at those time because people do not
have the knowledge and understanding yet that there are people with different sexes and
genders, but it does not hurt to love someone if both of you are happy, and it should not
matter what people think about your relationship or choice of partner.
3. Using the lens of Gender Fluidity, explain in your own words the acceptability and the
normality of their relationship if it happened at the present time. What are your ethical
and moral stand in this situation? Elaborate your stand using evidence-based sources.
The relationship of Ennis and Jack is normal no matter at what time and setting it
occurred. It is just that the older societies do not accept different gender and sexuality. If
this situation happened at the present time, it will be accepted by the society because
most of the society is now aware about the different gender identities and sexualities. The
LQBTQIA+ community is now well respected and is given the same rights and
opportunities in the society. I believe that everyone should be equal no matter their sex
and gender. According to Powell (2016) transgender rights stems out from human rights.
Regardless of your gender everyone has the right to have a freedom to learn, work, love,
and play. This personal decision should be a prerogative to everyone and should be
protected by law and human rights.
4. What psychological theory/theories best explain the gender identity development of the
two main characters? Cite three (3) scenes in the film that will support your claim.
The psychological theory that could describe their gender identity is cognitive
developmental theory. This indicates that the children’s gender will develop from the
stereotypic conceptions from what they see and hear around them. From the scene where
they are about to have sex in the tent, Jack forces Ennis to have sex by arousing him.
Ennis resists at first but because of Jack he saw that it is also possible to have that kind of
relationship with the same sex therefore developing his cognitive conceptions from what
he was saw and experienced. Another scene is when Jack found Ennis in his home, Jack
always comes after Ennis further developing his feelings and conceptions about Jack.
Lastly, from the part where Jack went to find male prostitutes in Mexico. Jack explores
new experiences that will develop his gender identity from what he saw and heard.
5. What are your three (3) learning insights after watching the film?
From watching this film, I learned that love does not choose sex and gender. Loving a
person should not always be in opposite gender or sex. From this, our society should
accept and legalize different kinds of marriages because love does not choose and should
not have any limitations. The second learning is that honesty is important, Ennis’ actions
from keeping his relationship with Jack from his wife destroyed his family. If only Jack
was honest then Alma could have understood Ennis, or they could have a settlement from
what is going to happen now that Ennis came out from his feelings and gender identity.
The third learning is fighting for your feelings for a loved one is important because it can
define the quality of your life. Jack tried in every way to get to Ennis and have a life with
him from the start, but Ennis chose to marry and have a family. Jack’s fight for love is
what can make his life worth living. Ennis also had this opportunity, but he chose to
marry and neglect his true love that resulted in 20 years of potential life with Jack.
Reference:
Powell, T., Shapiro, S., & Stein, E. (2016). Transgender Rights as Human Rights. AMA
Journal of Ethics, 18(11), 1126–1131.
https://doi.org/10.1001/journalofethics.2016.18.11.pfor3-1611.