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They do
exchange parting glances, however. Wes'
may be one of disappointment, but Eric looks almost sympathetic.
He even opens his mouth to speak, but then turns around and
leaves. Eric is torn
between two conflicting motives, which brings us to my theory of
why Eric and Wes find each other on opposite sides in the first
place.
Wes' father
was a very influential figure in his life. For long he had tried
to control Wes' future and tell him what to think. As the harsh
and unfeeling man that he is, he would not take kindly to any
feelings Wes would have about Eric. Besides the obvious same-sex
issues, Eric is also far below Wes' social class and would be
deemed unworthy by Wes' father. Wes'
ideological tensions with his dad culminate in what Eric
represents, and his ultimate decision to leave home may have a lot
to do with his father's inability to accept this.
Eric is keenly
aware of all this. His sudden decision to quit prep school could
be explained by his growing attachment to Wes as his only
"friend," and the knowledge that nothing would be
allowed to come of it. He rationalized this into his bitterness
towards the rich and spoiled, but he could not give up. If Wes'
father was the problem, he would work his ass off to get close
him, to show his worth, and win his approval. Perhaps then he and
Wes could have a future together.
Though their
methods were at odds, their goal was the same: to win Wes'
father's blessing so they could be together. They were
star-crossed lovers caught in a tragic web of misunderstanding
that pit them against each other. But their hard work was paying
off, and the tide was turning in their favor.
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