Stereotypes Of Women In The Short Happy Life Of Francis Macomber By Ernest Hemingway

Margot Macomber as the Hemingway Code Hero in “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber”

In Ernest Hemingway’s short story “The short happy life of Francis Macomber”, we are presented to problems some couples face. One of them being infidelity, although the one guilty of infidelity does not face the consequences you normally would face if you were unfaithful to your spouse. Another problem or theme in this short story is gender roles, the wife wants a husband who is rich, strong and brave. The husband on the other hand just wants a beautiful wife, and maybe also a faithful one too. Initially you get the impression that they are really living up to the expectations, but if you read on you will find out that everything just isn’t like it should be.

Francis Macomber is described as “very tall, very well built... and considered handsome” (Hemingway). He and his wife, Margot, clearly do not have a very healthy relationship, and on various occasions she flirts heavily with Wilson. This story is quite ironic, as in the title it says Francis Macomber’s life was “happy,” though throughout the story you can see that it very much isn’t. He seems to be miserable in his relationship with his wife but as later on stated, “Margot was too beautiful for Macomber to divorce, and Macomber had too much money for Margot to ever leave him” (Hemingway). On the topic of irony, it can also be seen as ironic when he is

Does deviating from one’s gender norms inevitably doom one down a spiral of moral corruption? Tim O'Brien, author of “Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong” and Ernest Hemingway, author of “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber”, certainly seem to hold this view, as evident by the fates of the major female characters in their respective works. The deviance of the major female characters in both works appears to corrupt not only themselves, but also pollute their partners, causing them to suffer injury or harm as a result. The degree of injury ranges from negligible, like Fossie’s demotion and broken heart, to fatal, like the bullet that rips through Macomber’s skull. It begs the question, are these stories meant to serve as cautionary tales for their female readers, or possibly for their husbands, so they may recognize gender deviance and stop it in its tracks before their wives transform into Margot Macomber or Mary Anne Bell? This essay will analyze what such characters say about pervading views of women, both in society and in literature.

In Ernest Hemingway’s short story “ The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber,,” Hemingway uses the author’s craft of perspective along with dialogue and internal dialogue to create a multi-part claim that develops an overall negative characterization of the story’s characters. Hemingway develops the characterization of Margaret, one of the main protagonists, by using multiple perspectives to assure on her character traits of cruel, manipulative, and fearful.

Lions, and impala, and buffalo, oh my! While on safari in Africa, novice hunter Francis Macomber embodies the cowardice within mankind, on the other hand his professional guide, Robert Wilson, represents a force of masculinity. Such character foils are especially prevalent when Macomber chooses to flee when coming face to face with a lion, while Wilson chooses to stand his ground and fight. Thus in Ernest Hemingway's “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber”, the notion that everybody is afraid of something, but not everybody is a coward is highlighted through the thoughts, appearance, and actions of the two main male characters.

“The Short, Happy Life of Francis Macomber” also contains the theme of arduous moral situations for the characters. Margot, the wife of Francis, is challenged by the temptation to have relations with their tour guide. Eventually, she commits the crime of adultery, and her husband finds out about her crime and is deeply shaken. “‘Well, why doesn’t he keep his wife where she belongs? What does he think I am, a bloody plaster saint? Let him keep her where she belongs. It’s his own fault’” (Hemingway 13). By the tone of Wilson thoughts, it is inferred that he is not able to find fault in himself and decides to blame it on the most vulnerable person, Francis. In spite of Wilson being the only man to blame for this whole incident, Margot can also take part of the blame. She appears to be a faithful and caring wife, but her actions do not justify this statement.

“We have nothing to fear, but fear itself.” Known by many, this common phrase has few words, but a intense meaning. In Ernest Hemingway’s short story, “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber,” the overcoming of fear is shown throughout the story. Francis Macomber and his wife Margaret Macomber are on an African safari with a man name Robert Wilson. Hemingway portrays Francis Macomber as wealthy and beautiful, yet cowardly. Macomber's wife Margaret also young and beautiful, but seemingly dissatisfied with her husband of eleven years. Robert Wilson is portrayed as a fearless man that has little regard for anyone but himself. The story is focused around Francis Macomber’s cowardly actions and his attempt to become

Ernest Hemingway’s short story, “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber,” chronicles a rich American couple’s safari hunting trip. Francis Macomber, a seemingly perfect man- handsome, wealthy, and athletic- and his wife, Margot Macomber travel to Africa for a hunting trip. The story opens on an afternoon cocktail hour, after a morning of hunting. Quickly, Margot’s frustration towards her husband emerges. She is embarrassed of his cowardness, and torments him. Richard Wilson, their safari guide, listens to the argument. Wilson is brave and athletic, essentially the qualities Macomber lacks. Earlier that morning, Macomber ran away from a lion, leaving Wilson to mercy kill it. Later, in an effort to win back Margot’s admiration, Macomber successfully gunned down three buffalo. However, an injured one charges, leaving Margot to shoot the buffalo, and Macomber. Hemingway’s use of literary elements enhance and deepen the reader’s understanding of the characters. He develops their actions and motivations through a code hero, symbolism, and allusion.

In Ernest Hemingway’s short story “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber,” Hemingway uses the author’s craft of perspective, along with dialogue and internal dialogue to create a multi-part claim that develops an overall negative characterization of the three main characters. Hemingway develops the characterization of Wilson, Margaret, and Francis by using multiple perspectives as he threads a negative tone throughout the story.

In “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber” there is very much evidence that Francis Macomber did not lead a happy life. He and his wife constantly fought throughout the story. His wife was clearly not happy with him but she relied on him to live a rich lifestyle. Macomber was only married to her because of her beauty and she made him look good. She was clearly not happy with him as she slept with Robert Wilson. When Margot returns to the tent Macomber

Throughout the years, history has tried to examine how gender roles have changed over time and views of how women should be have changed. However there are many examples of current stereotypes of women that linger in today's society.

In Ernest Hemingway’s short story, ¨The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber,¨ readers learn about Francis’ character through the perspectives of other characters. Hemingway develops Francis’ character as a man full of shame, cowardice, and bravery by using multiple perspectives as he threads a negative tone throughout the story.

In Hemingway’s short story, The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber, we begin with the married couple, Franics and Margaret Macomber, on a safari in Africa with a man named Robert Wilson. Francis is shown to be a coward when he shoots his first lion twice, but is too afraid to finish it off even though it may be suffering. Margaret is very displeased with her husband’s cowardice and shows her contempt by berating him profusely. Francis is awoken from his sleep late at night after a bad dream to find his wife, Margaret, is gone. When she returns to the tent she claims she was out getting “a breath of air” but Francis knew she had just slept with Robert Wilson. Francis

Throughout American Literature, women have been depicted in many different ways. The portrayal of women in American Literature is often influenced by an author's personal experience or a frequent societal stereotype of women and their position. Often times, male authors interpret society’s views of women in a completely different nature than a female author would. While F. Scott Fitzgerald may represent his main female character as a victim in the 1920’s, Zora Neale Hurston portrays hers as a strong, free-spirited, and independent woman only a decade later in the 1930’s.