MovieChat Forums > The Cider House Rules (2000) Discussion > What happened to Jack?

What happened to Jack?

posted 19 years ago by funnyface6504-1
14 replies | jump to latest

When the workers return for a new season of picking Jack is not with him. Does anyone know what happened to him? In my mind i kind of get the hint maybe during the "incest" relationship with Rose Rose and Mr.Rose maybe Jack stood up or just said something and Mr.Rose killed him. Can anyone offer their opinion on what happened.

At first i thought Jack might have been the father and then Mr.Rose killed him. I never would have thought that Mr.Rose would have done that to his daughter, he seemed like such a respectable guy.

[–] elanier90 19 years ago

He probably enlisted in the war.

[–] devilsavocado 19 years ago

When I first saw the movie, I thought it was he who had knocked Rose up. He was a good red herring, that way. I like that it's kind of ambigious. I don't remember what happens in the book.

[–] elcansau 18 years ago

Jack was a badass, so he probably was kicked by Mr Rose from the group.

[–] jpoo 18 years ago

I really thought maybe Mr. Rose killed him. Or hurt him badly, maybe permanent injuries (paralyzed him?). The others guys, one in particular, look kind of upset after Mr. Rose tells about Jack -- "Jack didn't know what business he was in." That was what Mr. Rose seemed to say before he kicked your a** or meant to ... that's what he said to Jack when they had the knife fight. That's what he was starting to say to Homer when he was getting very angry at him and wanted to him to leave, just before Homer told him he was a doctor and could help Rose.

JP

[–] Shuya_Nobu 17 years ago

I've always taken it to mean that Jack was killed by Mr.Rose. Jack found out about what Mr. Rose was doing, confronted him, like he did before (I actually think he knew before they left and that's why Jack was pissed and that's what prompted the knife fight). Only this time Mr. Rose killed him. When Homer asked her after seeng her morning sickness Rose said 'you think he gon' let me leave?' When Candy confronts Rose about it later she says she cant go anywhere, and while Candy and Rose are talking, Mr. Rose walks out and Rose points her head in his direction, indicating Mr. Rose is the father. When Homer confronts him, it's obvious by his actions and his words that he's guilty and ashamed. As well, when Mr. Rose answers Homers question of where's Jack he says
'Jack didn't know what his business was. Isn't that right Muddy?' and Muddy nods sadly and mumbles 'That's right' leading me to assume that Muddy also attempted to confront Mr. Rose about it but Jack was killed and that silenced Muddy. The question was more a warning to not say anything if Homer asked. And Homer picked up on it, he knew SOMETHING happened but not specifically what and why.
Also, Mr. Rose killed himself. He knew what he had done to his own daughter and that forced her away and thusly most likely to her death. His guilt and his shame lead him to kill himself.

Run.

[–] tezz_9530 17 years ago

I agree with you! Also, when Mr Rose says "Jack didn't know what his business was", maybe he meant that what he did to his daughter, was none of Jack's buisness?

[–] jescci 17 years ago

<<Also, Mr. Rose killed himself. He knew what he had done to his own daughter and that forced her away and thusly most likely to her death. His guilt and his shame lead him to kill himself.>>

I think there's a little more to it than that. Rose stabbed Mr. Rose when he tried to touch her hand as she was leaving, because she thought he was trying to mess with her again. I don't think Mr. Rose would have killed his own self if Rose hadn't stabbed him. Yes he was ashamed and guilt-ridden for the rape, but he was also trying to protect Rose from any criminal charges that mite arise by making the stabbing look like a suicide.

I may have been bifurcated, but I still have feelings.

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] film-collector 15 years ago

I think it's pretty obvious Mr. Rose PERSUADED Jack to leave. Jack was a bitter, loathing ass. I also agree he was placed in the story as a red herring.
There wasn't much left in the way of character developement to take him. Unless Mr. Rose beat the sh!t outta him for peeing in the cider!

[–] bite_me_loser_86 13 years ago

I agree with most here that I think Jack confronted Mr Rose about his incestual relationship with his daughter. However I don't know if I believe Mr Rose actually killed Jack.. I think it's more likely he just hurt him and/or forbade him come back to the Ciderhouse. Mr Rose was scum, but I don't think he was a cold blooded murderer and I definitely don't think the other guys in the group would stick around a murderer, I mean you gotta draw the line at something.

I also think it's possible that Jack was interested in Rose, maybe THAT is the reason he stood up to Mr Rose when no one else did.

[–] kctme 12 years ago

I'm surprised so many of you are subscribing such a noble act to a man that would throw a cigarette in barrel of cider. Jack was a hot head who hated his job. He and Mr. Rose were bound to have another confrontation but I doubt it was over Rose-Rose.

Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go thru life.

[–] clever-username 12 years ago

Ding, Ding, Ding!
Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner

He was a red herring suspect so that we could digest the pregnancy first, mull over the ethics of abortion in any old pregnancy.
Then address the incest separately. And mull over the sometimes differing views on abortion in that context.

[–] JohninVegas 12 years ago

Well, we all know where Jack went? FISHING!

[–] Redux006 12 years ago

I'm pretty sure he just quit, you guys are reading way too much into it I think. Mr. Rose says something along the lines of "Jack decided not to return this year". It was clear he hated his job and was pretty much done with it that last season. I did suspect though maybe he liked Rose which is why he was so quick to pull the knife on Mr. Rose, but jack was rude to everyone, even Homer, so he was probably just a surly guy who hated his job.