The intentional death of francis macomber 




 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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