Short Happy Life Of Francis Macomber example essay topic

Patrick Boyer English 102-22 Professor Page 28 Aug 2003 The Reality of Life's cruelest animals in Hemingway's "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber " In Hemingway's "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber" the story shows us that the cruelest of all animals in the animal kingdom are humans. The cruelest, most domineering, and incapable of having any feelings for anyone but themselves are the worst ones to cope with. As you see in this story, when the domineering people feel threatened, they will go to great lengths to protect their position. These cruel people see an opportunity to gain control over someone weaker than themselves they seize it. Francis Macomber is a timid man, who has just shown how cowardly he is during his first hunt for a lion. Robert Wilson, the white hunter, is starting to see the fear in the eyes of Macomber.

It is time to go in the tall grass after the mortally wounded lion, who is waiting for the humans to approach. "The next thing [Macomber] knew he was running; running wildly, in a panic in the open... (Hemingway 91). This action shows Margot, Macomber's wife, Wilson, and the gun-bears that Francis. ".. had just shown himself, very publicly, to be a coward" (78). Wilson sees how Margot treats her husband and how she talks to him, yet Wilson blames Francis for that. Wilson takes Margot Macomber for what she is.

When she left, Wilson was thinking, when she went off to cry, she seemed a hell of a fine woman. She seemed to understand, to realize, to be hurt for him and for herself Boyer 2 and to know how things really stood. She is away for twenty minutes and now she is back, simply enameled in that American female cruelty. They are the damnest women. Really the damnest (82). Wilson is categorizing Margot as one of those damn American women, who are the cruelest.

Although Wilson himself is a cruel and heartless man, he sees the cruelness of Margot toward her husband and their marriage. "They are, he thought, the hardest in the world; The hardest, cruelest, the most predatory and the most attractive and their men have softened or gone to pieces nervously as they hardened" (82). This is how we see her, with her actions and remarks against her husband. She threatens to leave Francis if he does not behave himself but she knows that she will never leave him. .".. but she was not a great enough beauty any more at home to be able to leave him and better herself and she knew it and he knew it" (93). Margot is not worried about leaving Francis, it is his money. Wilson only cares about himself and getting paid, and if another man's wife wants to be bedded by him, Wilson has no problem doing just that.

Margot shamelessly flirts with Wilson, in front of her husband, and shares his cot with him. Wilson proves himself as cruel and heartless as Margot. This is not the first time Margot has been unfaithful to Francis and for some reason he puts up with it. "Well, why doesn't he keep his wife where she belongs? What does he think I am a bloody plaster saint? Let him Boyer 3 keep her where she belongs.

It's his own fault " (94). We see here that Wilson has no respect for Francis and he could care less about what he is doing, right or wrong. Francis now lay face down on the ground dead. Wilson's cold-heartedness becomes very clear when his thoughts are only of the bull; the bull and the control that he has just gained over Margot Macomber". ' Hell of a bull' his brain registered automatic ly. ' a good fifty inches, or better. Better" ' (105).

Wilson could care less that Francis was just shot and killed. As Margot feels the shifting of power and the loss of Francis's timid streak, She realizes that her control over him will be gone". ' You " ve gotten awfully brave awfully sudden' [she] said contemptuously, but her contempt was not secure. She was very afraid of something" (102). Margot knows now that she has to kill Francis or she may not be married, to his money, much longer". ' Isn't it sort of late?" ' (103).

Yes, Margot cries about shooting her husband but is she crying over him, his money, or that her domineering, controlling position has disappeared? Now it is Wilson who is the controlling person in this situation and he is enjoying the torment he is causing Margot". ' Please, please stop it" ' (105). Wilson replies" ' Please is much better. Now I'll stop" ' (105). It just goes to show you that humans, people, are the cruelest of all animals and will take advantage of any situation they feel they can keep control of.