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The Intentional Death of Francis Macomber
Ernest Hemingway has created a masterpiece of mystery in his story "The
Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber". The mystery does not reveal itself
to the reader until the end of the story, yet it leaves a lot to the
imagination. At the end of the story
Margaret Macomber kills her husband by accident, in order to save him from
being mauled by a large Buffalo while on a safari in Africa. The mystery is
whether or not this killing was truly accidental, or intentional. If it was
to be considered intentional, there would certainly have to be evidence in
the story suggesting such, with a clear motive as well. What makes this
mystery unique is that Hemingway gives the reader numerous instances that
would lead the reader to devise an acceptable motive, yet human nature
tells the reader that this killing could not have been intentional. From a
purely objective analysis of the story, the reader would see far more
evidence supporting the theory of an intentional killing rather than an
accidental one.
The clues supporting the idea that Margaret killed Francis intentionally
can best be seen when observing and studying the background information on
both Francis Macomber, and Margaret herself. (Hemingway 1402). What is also
important is that Margot and Francis have very different personalities.
This is clearly seen when the narrator states, (Hemingway 1402).
With this small amount of background information, the true motive for an
intentional killing can be found. This can clearly be seen in the
conversation of Francis Macomber after killing the buffalo when he states,
(Hemingway 1408. "(Hemingway 1409). Robert Wilson, the guide on the hunt,
gives the reader an outside perspective into this complex and troubled
relationship. In response to the quote above Hemingway 1409).
Robert Wilson seems to be right in his descriptions of the couple, and
their relationship throughout the story. If this is true, and none of his
presumptions about the couple are false, then he gains more credibility
towards the end of the story. It is at this point that he becomes the
advocate of Margot actions, despite the fact that they were intentional. It
is Wilson that gives the reader the best description of the relationship
between Francis and his wife. It is his insight into Margot, however, that
is the most detailed, and which seems to suggest that she might be capable
of such an act.
From this astute analysis of the two, Wilson shows the reader several very
important things. One is the fact, although somewhat machiavellian, that
over her husband. Another observation that I somewhat important is the This
is the cruelty that Wilson observes in the passage above.This, as she would
soon see, was not the case.
One of the most important passages in the story occurs in the moments just
before Francis and Robert Wilson go into the bush after the buffalo. After
Margot fires the fatal shot, further evidence is given by Robert Wilson
that supports the assertion that the killing was intentional Hemingway
1411). Wilson, who seems to be accurate in his assessment of the
relationship, seems a credible witness to the killing and due to these
facts, his opinion as to the motive of the killing is credible to the
reader as well.. story.
From all of the evidence given in the story, and from an objective analysis
of the conversation and narration, it is safe to makethe assumption that
the killings were indeed intentional. There is simply not enough tangible
evidence given in the conversation or narration that would suggest
otherwise assertion. A Character Analysis of Francis Macomber From
Hemingway's "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber"
In Hemingway's The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber, the author
demonstrates his undeniable ability to bring characters to life by
introducing the reader in great detail to the main character, Francis
Macomber, through varying literary mechanisms. The reader learns immense
detail about Francis, as well as the other two primary characters, Margaret
and Mr.Wilson, through creative description that includes each character's
thoughts, their actions, and their reactions towards the events of the
story. Francis Macomber's interior characteristics and impressions are
revealed through such omniscient statements as:
In addition, more details are revealed about the character of Francis
through the other principal characters and even through the characters who
play a very small role in the story (e.g., the gun-bearers). For example,
(p 250). By means of a combination of this type of information, Francis
Macomber's character is changed due to constant abuse from other characters,
an inner struggle with fear and embarrassment, and, eventually, by hatred-
a deep hatred for Mr. Wilson and a somewhat quieter hatred for Margaret
Macomber.
An initial cause in the final changes of Francis' personality can be
attributed to the constant abuse suffered at the hands of his wife, and,
briefly, by Mr. WilsonFor example, in p 259. Francis and Margaret have
obviously reached a point of stagnation-stagnation in their feelings for
each other and stagnation in their desire for the relationship. The
attention from society press (and society people), discussed in p 237-p 238,
is more than likely an additional driving force for Margaret as well. The
reader gets the impression that she craves the attention, good, bad, or
indifferent. Howeverhe demonstrates cowardice without fear of remorse from
his wife. However, it is the remorse that he himself, deep inside, feels,
that begins to turn Mr. Macomber around. Additionally, Mr. Wilson also
contributes to this compounding abuse.
Even though, for the most part, Mr. Wilson's feelings are perceivably kept
within the confines of his own mind, the effects of these thoughts still
exists. To illustrate, in p 54, Mr. Wilson is thinking to himself, "So he's
a bloody four-letter man as well as a bloody coward. I rather liked him too
until today." As the reader progresses through the story, it is obvious
that the abusive remarks, thoughts, and actions of Mr. Wilson, and
especially those of Margaret, are central factors in contributing to the
changes that take place in the personality of Francis Macomber.
Francis finds himself struggling with fear and embarrassment from the onset
of the story, although the details of the initial fear are revealed to the
reader somewhat later. This internal struggle with fear and embarrassment
is a paramount factor in his subsequent transformation. Hemingway puts the
reader in a position to make decisions about the effects of the previously
discussed abuse as it relates to Francis' internal battle with fear and
embarrassment. Clearly these feelings play a key role in the development of
the character, but this abuse also raises a few questions. Is Macomber
affected enough by the embarrassment and the fear caused by the scene with
the lion (p 168-p 229) to make this final transformation? Is the incident
with the lion in the bush the contributing factor to Francis' deep-rooted
changes? No, if it were that simple, Hemingway would have succeeded in
creating a rather listless story. To cite an instance, in p 89. Also, later
in the story, Mr. Wilson contributes outwardly to Francis' feelings of
embarrassment by bedding Margaret. In this capacity, Mr. Wilson causes
Francis to suffer the greatest embarrassment that a man can endure. And
then Mr. Wilson rubbed salt into the wound by answering "Topping" to
Francis' inquiry into the state of his previous night's sleep (p 269).
Plainly, the incident with the lion caused an incredible fear within
Francis. This feeling was combined with multiple situations of
inconceivable embarrassment, which resulted in the transformation of
Francis Macomber into a new man.
A final and essential contributing factor to Francis Macomber's ultimate
transformation is the hatred that forms within him. Initially, the reader
is given the impression that this hatred is solely intended for Mr. Wilson,
the man who saved his life and then had the boldness to bed his wife in the
bastion of night. This hatred, however, is only aimed at the Mr. Wilson
because he is the most likely, the most obvious, target. It is Francis' own
powerlessness in respect to his wife that stops him from recognizing that
this hatred is actually targeted towards her more than towards Mr. Wilson.
It is obvious that had the other man not been Mr. Wilson, it would have
been someone else. Indeed, it had been someone else, many times. The
reasons for the development of this hatred toward his wife becomes more
evident in p 261-p 264:
"You don't wait long when you have an advantage, do you?" "Please, let's
not talk. I'm so sleepy, darling." "I'm going to talk." "Don't mind me then,
because I'm going to sleep."
Not only did she leave the tent, their tent, but she sneaked into the night
to bed a man she barely knew, and she also had the nerve to come back into
the tent and call Francis "darling!" To top off the whole guilt-ridden,
embarrassing and downright miserable day, she additionally refused to speak
to him about what had obviously taken place. Not only did she refuse to
speak with him, but she chose to outright ignore him. Frankly, it is
surprising that the hatred for this woman that was developing within him
did not cause him to choke the soul out of her then and there! Hence, the
events of the story cause an intense hatred for both Mr. Wilson and
Margaret. This hatred is a chief element in reconstructing Francis Macomber,
in forming a man without fear of repercussion and giving him the manhood he
has needed for many years.
When faced with a combination of events and personalities, a man must
decide immediately which way he will go. Francis Macomber had to make a
decision that would stay with him for the rest of his life. Would he
continue to suffer at the hands of this abhorrent woman? Would he continue
to tolerate such behavior from his wife? Would he continue to react to her
behavior in the same manner, a manner that causes men to gaze upon him with
despite and repugnation? Francis, in a sense, was given a second chance
with the lion, and it was again a life or death decision. Once again, he
had to decide- would he face the lion or would he turn and run? This factor
of the story is confirmed in p 237 when Francis states, "about sex in books,
many books, too many books..." Here the reader can feel Francis' near
disgust with himself. Furthermore, this also demonstrates that. The
blending of mental abuse, embarrassment and fear, and deep hatred were
responsible for changing the character of a boring, somewhat anesthetized
Francis Macomber into that of a man, a man with values and feelings and
morals; a man capable of living happily ever after, regardless of the span
of his life. The character Francis Macomber, a wealthy American, and his
wife, Margot, are on safari with their English guide, Robert Wilson.
Macomber wounds a lion and runs away in fear. The guide is horrified at his
bad sportsmanship Macomber redeems himself by killing a buffalo cleanly and
bravely. he faces another buffalo, a charging, badly wounded bull. From the
car where she has been watching, Margot takes aim and shoots at the
charging buffalo, apparently to save her husband's life.
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