Francis Macomber in The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber

A detailed Summary of Francis Macomber in The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber

Francis Macomber - From Mouse to Man

One theme present in Ernest Hemingway's short story, "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber", is that the way a person views his life can change completely in one fulfilling moment, if only for an instant. This is a story of an "unhappy man's display of cowardice, his wife's retaliatory love affair, and his ultimate recovery of integrity as he bravely faces a charging buffalo" (Ed. Harris 205). Francis Macomber is a prominent American businessman with a beautiful, dominating wife who holds the control and power in their marriage. At the start of their safari trip to Africa, Francis Macomber is regarded as a coward only the endure the embarrassment from his own cowardliness during the hunt, the disrespect from his wife, as well as a feeling of weakness when compared to Robert Wilson, his safari leader. He regains his integrity and confidence when "he bravely faces a charging bull" only to have his "life cut short when his wife--fearful of her husband's newfound potency-fires a bullet through the back of his head" (Ed. Harris 205).

At the start of the safari, Francis Macomber must endure the embarrassment of his own cowardliness during the hunt. He is first presented in a "mock

Another factor contributing to Francis Macomber's suffering self-esteem is that he must also withstand the constant disrespect from his own wife, Margot. She is the power in their marriage and refuses to let him show any type of influence in their relationship. Margot readily shows everyone around them how humiliated she is of her husband's actions even at the beginning of the safari when she shuns her husband's choice of drink. She maintains much control and is open with her affairs with other men. After the incident with lion and she witnesses Francis's terrified retreat from the lion, she blatantly "leaned forward over the low seat and kissed him on the mouth", referring to Robert Wilson (Hemingway 1406). She does not consider any of Francis's feelings. When he asks her where she has been when she finally returns in the middle of the night to their tent, she reply's "Out to get a breath of air", to which Francis reply's "That's a new name for it. You are a bitch" (Hemingway 1407). This seems to imply that this is not the first time she has been caught in an affair. She states that the reason for her behavior is the result of his cowardice. She turns to other men who demonstrate what she believes to be strength and bravery. She holds absolutely no respect for her husband, and insists on accompanying them on the safari even though even Wilson openly opposes her request and thinks to himself that "women are a nuisance on safari" (Hemingway 1409).

Francis Macomber is a man who constantly finds himself struggling with his fears and embarrassments. During his first hunt he runs like a coward. However, the second hunt is different as he faces the buffalo he has been hunting when it charges from the thickets and undergrowth straight at him. Francis does not leap to the side this time, but instead calmly fires his gun at the closing bull even to point-blank range before he is killed. The

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Approximate Word count = 1291
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English