MovieChat Forums > Raging Bull (1980) Discussion > Why wasn't Jake interested in Vickie?

Why wasn't Jake interested in Vickie?

posted 10 years ago by Schwartza_1000
9 replies | jump to latest

I've seen this film a few times and can't seem to figure out why Jake wouldn't be interested in having sex with his wife. He's seen turning to other destructive vices (ex: eating, drinking, and even other women), but Vickie and Joey both comment on his disinterest, which is left unexplained either directly by any dialogue or indirectly in Jake's character development. Does anyone have an idea based on evidence presented in the film as to why Jake wouldn't want to have sex with his wife (who he guards so jealously) after their marriage? Or is this just Scorsese failing to present a consistent character?

[–] lornamd-1 10 years ago

I don't remember Vicki saying he wasn't interested in sex. Joey said that once, but that was just cause he was angry with Jake. If he wasn't it would probably be because he was insecure and stressed.

[–] Schwartza_1000 10 years ago

I think she actually complains about it twice, the fact that Joey mentions it means either: a) it's obvious b) Vickie has complained to Joey about it. In either case, that's pretty bad. Because he's seen philandering later in the film, I don't think insecurity is the issue.

[–] fountaincap 10 years ago

Use real life as a test case. There are men out there, especially in Hollywood, who lose interest in women that most men could only dream of having, and then go around cheating with other women. People, both men and women, just get bored and greedy after a while, I guess. Like a kid who clamors for a new toy, gets bored with it, but still guards it jealously if he sees another kid playing with it.

[–] Schwartza_1000 10 years ago

While I have seen that trope appear a few times in film and television, I don't think I've come across anyone who behaves that way in real life with regard to their SO (maybe I've just been lucky). In any case, assuming that Jake's behavior is combined possessiveness/boredom, I don't remember him acting that way with his first wife, or did I miss something?

[–] fountaincap 10 years ago

I guess you're right that maybe it isn't so common in real life, though we see it in film, time and time again. In Raging Bull, I suppose it's there to emphasize that Jake is breaking down over time, because it's not normal behavior.

[–] davedave11 8 years ago

ask Hugh Grant

[–] deli584876 9 years ago

Jake believed in that Old Wives Tale that sex before a fight caused problems with concentration and weakened legs. That's why he wouldn't have sex with her. It's also the reason he poured a pitcher of ice water on himself to lose sexual desire.

[–] pturman-929-979676 9 years ago

This may comes as a surprise to you but it's natural for men to want to sleep with as many women as they can, to spread their seed around. Not saying it's right, just saying it's a natural biological instinct that men have. So most husbands, at some point, no longer have a desire to sleep with their wives.

[–] 8 years ago

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