Many people encounter a
scenario where their path will be intermingled with someone that they may not
know, thus causing a major paradigm shift in the lives of both individuals
forever. Others can encounter a situation or a circumstance that will cause a
traumatization or a positive benefit that will reassess their life. Ernest
Hemingway's short story, "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber",
the way a person assesses their life can change completely in one satisfying
moment, if only for an instant. An author named Jon Tolkien said it best in a
quote ‘a man that flies from his fear may find that he has only taken a short
cut to meet it.” According to Lois Tyson, “we all experience some sort of psychological
problems over the course of our lives”. Psychoanalytic theory aids people interpret
problems we go through by the dysfunctional behavior they portray.
Francis a thirty five year old man is
being described as a very tall, well-built man known as a weakling whereas his
wife is portrayed as the epitome of beauty. Francis and Margot’s marriage
completely deteriorates after Francis fled from a lion instead of killing it on
the safari. Margaret, his wife, despised the fact that he was not lion-hearted
or not manly enough thus the reason why she mocks him. Like some norms suggest
men should be brave, fearless and invulnerable when meeting danger or
difficulty. This story captivates and supports common human behavior and it is
something that people can relate to. Francis is an affluent married man who
suffers with the fear of abandonment. According to Louis Tyson, “fear of
abandonment is defined as the nagging belief that our friends and loved ones
are going to desert us (physical abandonment)." Francis is caught in a
predicament with fear of his wife walking out on him thus convinces himself
that she would not leave him because of his wealth. “He was very wealthy, and would be much
wealthier.” (Hemingway).
There is
evidence that infidelity was going on “Macomber’s wife had not looked at him….While
they sat there his wife had reached forward and put her hand on Wilson’s
shoulder’s. He turned and she had leaned forward over the low seat and kissed
him on the mouth.” also the moment she sneaked into the tent in the wee hours
of the morning and made up an excuse saying that she went out to get a breath
of air. These are clues supporting the idea of Margot and Wilson having an
affair she seems to be licentious. She takes vengeance of the poor guy’s
cowardice by flirting with the hunting guide, Wilson. This reinforces reasons
that led to Macomber’s fear of abandonment; he refused to question his wife
about her affair with the other guy. Throughout the story he remained
nonchalant about her “modus operandi.” He also seems really vulnerable and
exhibits lack of self esteem.
The narrator also conveys the
impression of her as a woman who adores a man who possesses qualities of
intrepidity and fearlessness I believed he made an effort to hunt for a buffalo
the next day in an effort to recoup his wife’s respect and viewed it as an
opportunity to prove his masculinity. By hunting the buffalo he demonstrates
his bravery and does not hold back any fear from acting on his mission.
Initially, I thought of him as someone who is weak and disheartened by his
marital relationship with his significant other. His cheerfulness and
excitement after the buffalo hunt unnerves her therefore she feels like she is
no longer dominant.
Wilson, their
hunting guide, demonstrates a fear of intimacy. The clienteles “did not feel
they were getting their money’s worth unless they had shared that cot” with
Wilson, a sexual implication (Hemingway). He goes for a sort of clientele
because he knows they are looking for his affection and consideration they are
most likely not getting from their husbands. Wilson does not establish an
intimate relationship between them because he understands that it won’t last
and that’s how he makes his money.
Macomber shows bravery when hunting
the buffalo. He loses his fear and thus gains authority in the situation: he is
now an equal to Wilson, as they are both "true" men, while Margaret
is no longer dominant over Macomber. She states: "'You've gotten awfully
brave, awfully suddenly,' his wife said contemptuously, but her contempt was
not secure. She was very afraid of something'". After this incident it
rasises my suspicion, there are many clues that supports that she had the right
target and wanted her husband dead. My observations and analysis have led me to
believe that she indeed shoot her husband intentionally. She was disappointed
for not being the man he should have been.
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