The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber by Ernest Hemingway

Lee Lowry 10/26/16

English 9H

In the short story “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber” by Ernest Hemingway, the author creates Macomber to be a wimpy man during the hunt for the lion, but he redeems himself and earns respect during the buffalo hunt. Hemingway created Macombe to be this way by using Macomber’s own thoughts, actions, feelings and words, the narrator’s direct comments about him, and what other characters in the story think or feel about him. He was at first petrified to go on the lion hunt, but when Margaret Macomber, Robert Wilson and himself go on the buffalo hunt, he proves his manliness.

In the beginning, Macomber reveals how cowardly he was during the lion hunt. I know this because on page 20 it states “The next thing he knew he was running.” This quote shows how even though hunting and killing the lion was what he came for, he was too afraid to kill it. Another quote that reveals his fearfulness of the hunt can be found on page 14 where it says “He saw his hand trembling.” This quote obviously reveals that Macomber is afraid to go on the hunt.

A third quote that can be found in the text is on page 14 where it says “Why not shoot from where I am?” This quote demonstrates how Macomber doesn’t want to get out of the vehicle to shoot the lion, for he is much too frightened by it. Lastly, a quote that represents how Macomber is nervous and gutless can be found on page 11 where it says “But more than shame he felt cold, hollow fear in him.” This line from the text displays that Macomber is panicky and lily-livered about the lion hunt.

Although Macomber acted like a wimp and a coward during the lion hunt, he redeems himself and earns respect from Wilson during the buffalo hunt. One example from the story that shows how Macomber mans-up can be found on page 28 where it says “...aimed and shot again, then again, then again…” This quote reveals that Macomber is changing. Before he didn’t even want to leave the vehicle, and now he is shooting over and over again at the buffalo. Another quote can be found on page 31 where it states “Can we go in after him now?” This quote shows how Macomber is eager to get back to hunting the buffalo. In addition to these quotes, a third can be found on page 34 where Margaret Wilson says “You’ve gotten awfully brave, awfully suddenly.” This quote