Critical Analysis: Ernest Hemmingway

A detailed Summary of Critical Analysis: Ernest Hemmingway

"The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber" is a fabulous short story written by Ernest

Hemingway which was published in 1936. The story is a tale that introduces a new technique

and style that Hemingway was not accustom to writing. Author Philip Young remarks that the

piece, "presents certain difficulties, ..., because of new approaches the author takes to his

material and his protagonist" (Young 41). In this story a reader can recognize two different

themes. The first would be over coming fears, whether it be staring into the face of danger or

plainly standing up for yourself. The second is to learn the code of big game hunting, which is

supported by Philip Young saying that, " 'The Short Happy Life' is, among other things a

detailed description of the process of learning the code, and its value" (Young 42). The reader

can also see some comparison between the events of the story itself and the events of

Hemingway's life, though it is not meant to be taken literal but merely suggesting the author is

writing about a topic that is familiar to him.

Hemingway begins the story as portraying his main character, Francis Macomber, as "a

coward who becomes a brave man" (Voss 225). Macomber, a wealthy man who has been

Hemingway describes him as having "his own standards about the killing and they could live up

short though. While him and Wilson approach the brush the buffalo appears and starts his

kissing Wilson on the mouth" (Young 44). Later that evening she once again proves her

becomes a man,..., she sends a bullet to the base of his skull" (Young 42). It is these two themes

"The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber" has many similarities to that of the authors

Hemingway. Many comparisons can be made from the characters in the story to Ernest

life or that they are merely just based on fiction and strictly confined to the characters in the

is he who ducks 'to one side to get a shoulder shot'" (Kobler 40). There is much similarity to the

confidence to stand up to his wife without the fear of her leaving. Even Wilson saw the

of big game hunting. The code is what Wilson himself choose as a way of life. He makes

Approximate Word count = 1636
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Novels

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