Earnest Hemingway’s “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber”
... virile man; he lacks the audacity to stand up for himself resulting in the deterioration of his character. Margot again publicly acknowledges her embarrassment of her husband’s behavior by saying, “It’s mine [Margot’s face] that’s red today” (31) suggesting she will be stereotyped as a coward through association to her husband. Macomber acts as if he never heard her. Then Wilson begins to insult him saying “… in Africa no woman ever misses her lion and no white man ever bolts” (33). Wilson is deliberately insulting Macomber and instead of being furious he pays no attention. A good defense is a key to survival. Macomber catches his wife committing adultery after she has promised to stop and decides he is finished with her. He is tired of being scorned and realizes his main flaw is fear. He knows Margot will not leave him even tough he is a coward. Macomber challenges his wife saying, “You won’t leave me” (47) and she replies “No, I won’t leave you…” (47). She has too much to lose and she knows it. Macomber realizes that life has never been any happier than this moment, he plans to enjoy this new reality that it is too wonderful to leave. To over come his fear of lions, Macomber uses the confidence he gained after standing up to his wife. After he kills the first buffalo, he says “Something happened to me after we first saw the buff and started after him. Like a dam bursting. It was pure excitement” (53). He has changed his way of thinking and behaving. Margot senses a change in him and becomes terrified of what it could be....