The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber

Francis Macomber notes on analysis The narrative voice The story is told through an omniscient narrator in third person, who is passively observing. Nothing is hidden to the reader, revealing this unpleasant atmosphere. Ex. from p. 9 Macomber stepped out of the curved opening at the side of the front seat, onto the step and down onto the ground. The lion steady stood looking majestically and coolly toward this object that his eyes only showed in silhouette, bulking comparable some super-rhino. There was no man smell carried toward him and he watched the object, miserable his great head a little from side to side.Then watching the object, not afraid, but hesitating before going down the bank to drink with such a thing opposite him, he saw a man figure detach itself from it and he turned his heavy head and swung away toward the dish out of the trees as he heard a cracking crash and felt the slam of a. 30-06 220-grain solid bullet that bit his flank and ripped in sudden gamy scald ing nausea through his stomach. He trotted, heavy, big-footed, swinging wounded full-bellied, through the trees toward the tall sens and cover, and the crash came again to go past him ripping the air apart.Then it crashed again and he felt the blow as it hit his lower ribs and ripped on through, blood sudden hot and frothy in his mouth, and he galloped toward the high grass where he could crouch and not be seen and make them bring the crashing thing close enough so he could make a rush and wreak the man that held it. This example from the text shows how much you should the omniscient teller extends this is the lions point of view the part where it gets shot. By going into the minds of the animals he creates a parallel betwixt the people and animals. Characters Robert Wilson Quote, p. 20 By my troth, I care not a man can die but once we owe God a death and let it go which way it will, he that dies this year is quit for the next .. You grow up when you kill an animal, not when y ou make love turn fucking 21. Wilson is sort of this product of Africa. Neglects this more sensitive side to himself because it reveals to much about him. He wants to be this machine, this MAN, which the idea of being a Sensitivo does not encounter with. Wilsons thoughts on Americans From p. 20 Its that some of them stay little boys so long, Wilson thought. Sometimes all their lives. Their figures stay boyish when theyre fifty.The great American boy-men. damn strange people. But he liked this Macomber now. Wilsons thoughts on women Cant live with them cant live without them. Sees them as a complete strange specie. * He blames Francis for Margot sleeping with him. From p. 4 Oh, anything, express Wilson. Simply anything. They are, he thought, the hardest in the world the hardest, the cruelest, the most predatory and the most attractive and their men have softened or gone to pieces nervously as they have hardened. Or is it that they pick men they can handle? They cant get by tha t much at the age they marry, he thought.He was grateful that he had gone through his education on American women before now because this was a very attractive one. Margaret Macomber (Margot) Francis wife (not married out of love. Stays unitedly because hes rich and shes pretty (and witty and gaaaaaay) She is dishonest Controls Francis, has the upper hand in the relationship, You dont have to wait long when you have an advantage. Is the prettiest woman (in Africa). The reason she doesnt leave him at home in America is that there she isnt the prettiest one. She and Francis need each other, but through the story the balance shifts and it has consequences.The Short Happy Life of Francis MacomberWhile read The Short & Happy Life of Francis Macomber, I focused on the question, what made his life succinct and bright. At first I took the interpretation of short and happy literally, translating too, living a short life (age) and happy meaning (wealth). After some thought though I realiz e that Hemingway meant something entirely different. Francis Macomber in the scratch of the short story is a coward causing his wife to loath him, and even the staff to judge and question his manhood. Finally Francis overcomes his cowardly behavior and finally lives. You know I dont think Id ever be afraid of anything againSomething happened in me after we first saw the batter and started after him. Like a dam bursting. It was pure excitement. It is at this moment that I think Francis begins to live life, while simultaneously become happy as he has just overcome his cowardliness. Moments later his wife (accidently? ) shoots him Whether or not it was an accident is up for discussion, but that is what I think Hemingway meant when he titled his short story, The Short & Happy Life of Francis Macomber. Now Did his wife kill him on purpose or was it actually an accident. This kind of confused me because I feel like I can argue both sides, however, I feel like the stronger argument is h er intentionally killing her husband for the reasons below She could of intentionally done it because of her posture and actions prior to killing him. First off she was giving him crap about being a coward, and on top of that, I think she also slept with Wilson since remote her husband he is not a coward. This was never actually stated but thats how I inferred it.Also, moments before the gunshot, Macomber at one point looks sand at her and waves, she, with the rifle besides her does not wave back. Even though love is a missing component in their relationship, she would of waved back if she was feeling in control of the situation but now that Macomber is fearless he has control. I think she feels bitter and needs to retaliate because of this, thus why she pulls the trigger and accidently shoots him. Wilson in the end also says, He would of left you too, so maybe she also did it, because she, like Wilson also knew that.