Analysis Of The Short Happy Life Of Francis Macomber

The Death of Francis Macomber: A Deliberate Act

In 1938 Ernst Hemmingway published the short story, “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber”, set on a hunting safari in Africa. The story tells the tale of a man and a woman in an unhappy marriage who have taken a safari in Africa in an attempt to repair their marriage. At the end of the tale, the titular character, Francis Macomber, lies dead on the African veldt, shot in the head by his wife Margaret (sometimes called Margot) in what appears at first glance to be a hunting accident. Upon a closer examination of the story, the question becomes, was it really an accident? Within the text of the story, there exist ample hints and signs that Margaret Macomber deliberately shot her husband, Francis.

When the story first begins, we find the unhappy Macombers on a hunting safari in Africa led by the professional guide Robert Wilson. With our first introduction to the Macombers, it is shown that the two are idle rich from the United States, more concerned with their appearance to high society than anything else. As the story progresses, the complicated and depressing state of affairs that exists between Francis and Margot is illustrated. Margot does not respect Francis, and openly

During the morning meal, Francis is angry about the events of the night before, but Margot tells him to behave, scolding him like a child. Francis for his part, retreats into a sullen child-like anger, but ultimately does nothing. Things change however. During the hunt with the water buffalo, something changes in Francis. The exhilaration of the danger in the hunt and that he was able to perform and face his fears put some strength in his spine. Francis becomes a new man, his fear gone. He becomes eager to enter the tangle of scrub to hunt down the wounded (and very dangerous as a result) water buffalo bull. Francis states “You know I don’t think