"The Short Happy Life"

Book Review # 99162

English > Analysis
Literature > American

A look at the argument that Francis Macomber was not intentionally killed by his wife, Margaret Macomber, in the short story, "The Short Happy Life", by Ernest Hemingway.

889 words () | 0 sources | MLA | 2005 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how, in the short story "The Short Happy Life" by Ernest Hemingway, it becomes evident that Margaret Macomber did not intentionally kill Francis Macomber. It contends that, although it may seem that it was a conscious decision on Mrs. Macomber's part to shoot at her husband, the facts and situations presented by Ernest Hemingway in his writing prove otherwise.

From the Paper:

" 'You know I don't think I'd ever be afraid of anything again,' Macomber said to Wilson. 'Something happened in my after we first saw the buff and started after him. Like a dam bursting. It was pure excitement.' " (Page 32). Unfortunately, this sudden confidence gain was not enough to save Francis Macomber from death. While on safari in Africa with his beautiful wife, Margaret, and their guide, Wilson, Francis makes a fool out of himself in front of his wife by running away from a lion instead of shooting it. Margaret Macomber takes his cowardliness very offensively, especially when it is her husband that is showing it. Margot even goes so far as to sleep with Wilson because she is so upset with Francis. However, all of this does not prove that she killed her husband on purpose. Francis has a seemingly successful buffalo hunt that proves to his wife that he is not a coward, which was enough reason in itself for Margot to not kill her husband on purpose. Ernest Hemingway, author of "The Short Happy Life", specifically states that Mrs. Macomber shot at the buffalo, which just happened to be very close to her husband's head. This fact, among other reasons, is evidence that Margaret Macomber did not intentionally shoot and kill her husband."