Analysis of The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber by Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway is known for producing novels and short stories withambiguous endings. In his short story, “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber,” hedefinitely leaves his readers guessing. The question is whether Margot kills her husband,Francis, intenionally, or if she accidentally shoots him in an effort to save his life. There are many points that could be argued for both conclusions, but my observations have led me to believe that Margot did indeed shoot her husband intentionally, however, without pre-meditation.
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In looking at the background of Francis and Margot, it is easy to see that thestrength of their relationship rests on their co-dependancy. They have two completelydifferent personalities, but that is what ultimately keeps their relationship at anequilibrium.Their marriage is summarized by the statement, “Margot was too beautifulfor Macomber to divorce her, and Macomber had too much money for Margot ever toleave him.” Margot has complete control over their marriage, and Francis allows her tohave this control because he could not find another wife if Margot were to leave him.This is apparent when the narrator states, “If he had been better with women, she wouldprobably have started to worry about him getting another new, beautiful wife; but sheknew too much about him to worry about him either.”
The background information given about Francis and Margot makes a motive foran intentional killing clear. When Margot sees the euphoria, loss of cowardice andsudden independance that Francis gets from his pursuit of the buffalo, she realizes thatshe has lost control over her husband. The change in Francis ca…
…age because she is no longer in charge of Francis or needed by him. She realizes that he has found his own independance and that she is expendable to him. Therefore, in a sudden rage of anger, resentment and disappointment, she kills Francis.
Even though I do believe that Margot means to kill her husband, I do not thinkthat it is a pre-meditated event. It appears that Margot’s original intention is to saveFrancis by shooting the buffalo. Of course, realistically, it would be hard to stop such an animal from a far distance, and it is difficult to believe that Margot thinks she could do it. When Margot aims the gun and prepares to fire, all the negative emotions that are built up inside her cause her to make the sudden decision to take her anger out on her husband. She may have only thought about it for a second, but ultimately, it was an intentional shot.
