Ernest Hemingway's "The Short Life of Francis Macomber"

Hemingway presents a modernized cultured story in “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber”. The language and even some of the content has become more socialistic in our readings. I was little taken aback with the foul language he used in his writing, even though today’s novels are filled with it. I wasn’t expecting it from Ernest Hemingway and in this time period.

I found his biography to describe Hemingway and his writing of this story to a tee. Learning the rituals of hunting from his father, I felt he included this in his writing as Wilson, the safari leader, stated “he had his own standards about the killing”. He included much information about the kills and the way in which they were orchestrated. Only someone who knew about such things would be able to write so vividly.

I also found in the story his primary concern being of an individual’s “moment of truth”. I felt he illustrated this clearly as Macomber’s fear of the animal, the hunt and kill disappeared as he shot the buffalo. He almost immediately became a new man, mature and self confident; traits he had not possessed before the kill. Interesting also was the use of the buffalo and the charge as the scene in which Macomber would lose his life with the notion of the “moment of truth” deriving from bullfighting, something very similar to the charge of the buffalo. I feel this turn of events in his life was initiated by the infidelity of his wife. The embarrassment from the day before with the lion had been huge, but to face the indiscretion between his wife and Wilson because of his cowardness pushed him to his limits.

Macomber’s wife, the Memsahib, reminds me of William Howells’ character, Editha. Editha required of her fiancé going to war and coming back a hero to prove his love for her. Margaret was requiring courage of her husband. What an unfortunate basis for a relationship! Edith was prepared to walk away from the relationship if George was not willing to enlist and Margaret punished Francis by her involvement with the leader of the hunt, someone who was able to display the courage she found exciting and necessary in a man.

I thought the title of this story was fitting. Francis seemed to have never truly lived until the kill and the surge of excitement and exhilaration he felt. At once, he seemed to experience a rebirth and to truly feel the anticipation of living. It makes me think of people who do hazardous jobs or participate in dangerous hobbies who would rather die happy doing what they love than to live a safe, boring life. Francis had finally found his courage and at last felt like a man. He was ready to take on the buffalo, his wife, and the world. The shortness of this happy life presented the irony in the story. Whether his wife meant to shoot him or not was left to question, the story was clear in the fear she was feeling at the resurrection of her husband. I feel sure she felt he would not tolerate her lifestyle upon return from the safari. Taking this moment to solidify her future, financially and socially, she took it by attempting to save his life.