Man conquering nature
After the men reach the conclusion that they no longer can eat the food provided to them by their employer, they decided to start hunting and go fishing to expand their diet. When they kill their first buck, they conquer nature in a symbolic. From that point on, they no longer have to rely on other men to provide them with food but rather they are able to hunt their own food.
Facilitating conversation
A common motif that appears in the film is the idea that alcohol facilitates conversation and every time one of the characters confesses something about their past or something they kept a secret from the outside world, their conversation is fuelled by alcohol.
Return to basic
The mountain where most of the action takes place is important because it symbolizes the idea that a man returns to its natural state, to its feelings uncensored. It is only on the mountain where Jack and Ennis can be honest with one another and can give in to their desires. Off the mountain, they have to submit to the social norms and rules imposed by others on them.
Looking through the mirror
Another motif found in the film is Jack looking back at Ennis through his car review mirror. When he first sees Ennis, Jack follows him closely through his mirror and then when they say their goodbyes, Jack looks at Ennis through his mirror again. Even when they were on the mountain, Jack preferred to look at Ennis through a mirror rather than looking directly to him. This can be seen as an attempt to hide his real emotions and feelings from Ennis.
Rodeo
Jack meets his future wife at the rodeo. Until that day, it is important to note that Jack was not skilled at the rodeo, managing to remain in the saddle only for a few seconds. When he meets his future wife, he remains in the saddle for longer than ever, wining the rodeo. This can be seen as symbol for the idea that Jack managed to control his feelings for Ennis for the first time and he attempts to enter in a socially acceptable relationship with a respectable women. But no matter how hard he tries, he will eventually be thrown into his former feeling again once he meets with Ennis once more.
