brokeback mountain analysis

7/26/2019 brokeback mountain analysis

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University of Costa Rica

Laura Lpez Lpez

LM 1472 Rethoric III

April 7,21!

Brokeback Mountain: An Image of What a Man is not Supposed to Be

In our society there are rules an" #ehaviors that every $an $ust i$itate to #e

reco%nize" as a &real $an&' this is co$$only (no)n as the pheno$enon of tra"itional an"

"o$inant $asculinity* Inevita#ly, society has i$pose" i$a%es a#out )hat a )o$an an"

$an has to #e* +hese social stereotypes have i$pose" the concept of $asculinity to the

point that $an is not allo)e" to overstep the li$its $asculinity i$poses, an" if he "oes he

)ill #e pointe" an" reecte" #y society* -nBrokeback Mountain, Annie .roul/ uses

sy$#olis$ as a tool to #rea( )ith the stereotype of $en0s $asculinity* he allo)s us

appreciate the #eauty of ro$antic love #et)een $en #y #rea(in% )ith the tra"itional

narratives of $anhoo" an" $asculinity*

In our society a $an is suppose" to #e ru"e, less e$otional an" passionate than

)o$an* ave e/pressions of love or #ein% ro$antic is co$pletely "enie" to a $an* 3ven a

$an is allo) to love his #ehaviors $ust #e )ithin the para$eters $asculinity has i$pose",

so #ein% ro$antic or e$otive can #e synony$ of #ein% effe$inate or sissy5* 6ut Annie

#rea(s )ith the stereotype of the ru"e $an ust #y usin% )hat is the central sy$#ol of ac(s

an" 3nnis love8 t)o shirts one enfol"e" #y the other, han%in% first in ac(s9 an" then 3nnis

:s closet* 6elo) it he "rove a nail an" on the nail he hun% the )ire han%er an" the t)o ol"


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shirts suspen"e" fro$ it* e steppe" #ac( an" loo(e" at the ense$#le throu%h a fe)

stin%in% tears5 ;.roul/8 2!o ri%ht? It is har" to process as is it is to see a $an cry

#y the love of so$eone* 3nnis an" ac( #rea( )ith ru"e $an i$a%e, they love fiercely each

other, an" they foun" a )ay to represent their love in the $ost ro$antic )ay* hirts have an

e$otional $eanin%, they represent the s(in of one insi"e the other' that they #elon% one to

each other even )hen they are not to%ether* ac( an" 3nnis contra"ict the concept of

$asculinity #y e/pressin% their love )ith $ost po)erful sy$#ol on the story8 t)o "irty

shirts*

Love is not for#i""en for a $an #ut is li$ite" to a set of rules, an" one of those

rules is that love #et)een $en is not allo)e"* +he story, ho)ever, uses ac(9 ashes as the

"estructive tool of the )ron% concept of $asculinity i$pose" in our society* ociety

perceive ho$ose/uality as a o(e to tra"itional $anhoo"' it is i$possi#le to accept the love

affair #et)een t)o %uys* 6ut ho) ac(9 ashes #ro(e )ith this stereotype= 3nnis recla$ation

of ac(9 ashes represents the futility of their love* 3ven thou%h they love each other, they

coul" not #ein% to%ether an" sho) others their love* o 3nnis "eci"e to re"ee$ hi$self #y

fulfillin% the last )ish of his for#i""en love, #ut )ith this he entere" on )hat society often

calls a#sur" senti$entality* +he $ost interestin% thin% relate" )ith the ashes is that 3nnis

ha" to face the chauvinist reaction of ac(9 father' a person that represents the $acho $en

fi%ure on society* +he ol" $an sai", @tell you )hat, I (no) )here 6ro(e#ac( Mountain is*

e thou%ht he )as too %o""a$n special to #e #urie" in the fa$ily plot@5 ;.roul/8 2


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eyes' an" that )as the case of ac( an" 3nnis love* +hey consu$$ates their love in that

place that for the rest of their lives represents not only the a"venture, #ut also the love

affair* +hey al)ays re$e$#er 6ro(e#ac( Mountain as the possi#ility of a ne) life far a)ay

fro$ society "iscri$ination* .raul/ sho)s that a $an can #e senti$ental an" e$otive #y

cryin% for heart#rea(s* Be coul" a ha" a %oo" life to%ether, a fuc(in% real life* ou

)oul"n9t "o it, 3nnis, so )hat )e %ot (no) is 6ro(e#ac( Mountain5 ;.roul/8 2


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.roul/, Annie* 6ro(e#ac( Mountain* Dro$ Close Ran%e8 Byo$in% tories #y Annie .roul/5*

3"* Annie .roul/, Larry McMurtry, an" Eiana -ssana* >e) or(8 cri#ner, 2F* Be#* 2

Apr 21!

Outline

Title:6ro(e#ac( Mountain8 An I$a%e of )hat a Man is not suppose" to #e


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TS: Annie .roul/ uses sy$#olis$ as a tool to #rea( )ith the stereotype of $an:

$asculinity*

Intoduction:

ociety has i$pose" an i$a%e for )o$an an" another co$pletely "ifferent for $an* ocial

stereotypes have i$pose" the concept of $asculinity at the point $an is not allo) to %o

#eyon" the li$its $asculinity has i$pose"*

Body:

a.1. .roul/ %oes a%ainst stereotypes #y usin% 6ro(e#ac( Mountain as a sy$#ol of

3nnis an" ac( affair*@Be coul" a ha" a %oo" life to%ether ;G


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Conclusion:

Eefinitively Annie .roul/ #rea(s )ith the stereotype of $an H$asculinity #y usin%

sy$#olis$ in a throu%h the )hole story* he sho)s a ne) $an i$a%e so far a)ay of )hat

society has "efine" throu%h the years*

brokeback mountain analysis

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