She did what?

In society, courage plays a large part in becoming a man. As defined by by the Merriam Webster dictionary, courage is the mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. In other words courage can be interpreted as the strength to overcome one’s own fears. In Ernest Hemingway’s short story, The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber, courage is a recurring theme that creates a plethora a different interactions between the characters. As the title implies, the main protagonist is Francis Macomber, and the story follows him through his journey through cowardice and bravey. Throughout the story, the issue of courage creates a dichotomy between the characters that offers insight into what courage might mean to the characters and how it plays a role in interpersonal relations in society. Courage, a major recurring theme in the short story, forms a base for which to analyze and explain different characters’ actions while providing insight into common societal views on courage and how it plays a role in manhood.

When analyzing each character, the reader is shown different levels of courage, and how each character responds and interacts with their own level of courage. Of the three major characters, Robert Wilson, the professional hunter, has the highest level of courage. This is reflected in how he speaks to Francis and his wife how there is no feeling of doubt in his words. One of the important thoughts Wilson brings to the table about courage is when he speaks to Macomber about how “ in Africa no white man ever bolts.” A lot of Wilson’s actions are reflected in his thoughts about no white man ever running. Bolts has the connotation of running away in a terrified manner, and therefore by saying...

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...me a man, it is easy to come to the conclusion that Margot shot her husband. The analysis of courage and the role it plays in this story leads to conclusions about what happened in the story. Beyond the story, courage also plays a significant role. In almost any society, women look for courage in their men. This is shown in the story by how Margot moves to Wilson when Macomber shows his cowardice. In the story by gaining courage Macomber ascends into manhood. Just like Macomber, when men are boys, they tend to be scared of everything and are not self assured of their actions. However, when they rise to manhood, boys become self assured and fearless, showing that they are no longer boys, but men. Macomber’s growth in the story is a parallel to how society looks on men with and without courage, proving to the reader that to become a man one must overcome their fears.