Ernest Hemingway Masculinity

Masculinity is essentially the possession of the qualities traditionally associated with men. It is as though being masculine is a responsibility given upon all men rather than a mere suggestion. Ernest Hemingway, a celebrated author and journalist, indirectly and directly critiques boundaries within gender roles and the idea of masculinity. These social issues soon become a reoccurring theme within his works of literature such as, “The Old Man and the Sea”, “Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber” and a collection of short stories in, “In Our Time.” Hemingway is often noted for his obsessiveness over the necessity of strict gender binaries and manliness. He was brought up with this notion, and thus it pervades all his works of short fiction.

After having multiple drinks, Nick begins to contemplate about what he has done. Bill repeatedly points out that Nick did the right job when breaking up with Marge, for she would only cause him touble. Nick silently agrees without commenting. Although he never admitted it to Bill, he realized he does love her and wants to be with her again. Bill mentions the fact that Marge might be at town on Saturday and instantly, “He felt happy. Nothing was finished” (Hemingway, 48). Nick realizes that he has a chance to get it all back. Although this short story does not portray the main character as a masculine figure, it shows that a man can also be loving and

The story is set in Africa, where Robert Wilson, an experienced hunter and guide, goes on a safari with Francis and Margot Macomber. Wilson was seen as the exemplary man that could hunt beyond any other; he was strong, prideful and wise. Macomber, however, was the opposite of Wilson because he didn’t acquire the characteristics needed in order to be fully masculine. Throughout the story, Margot repeatedly criticizes Francis for his previous cowardness toward the lion, where he, “bolted like a rabbit” (Hemingway, 3). Margot views his cowardness as a deficiency, causing him to be less masculine than that of Wilson. She later decided to use her only “power”, her sexuality, in order to get back at her husband. Eventually, Margot’s feminism and constant search for power, caused her husband's demise. Towards the end of the story, Macomber shot the buffalo, and instantly felt accomplished and masculine. His happiness did not last for long, as he soon “accidentally” got shot by Margot when the buffalo attacked. In this story, Hemingway set clear gender boundaries between the characters, where men had to possess characteristics that made them masculine and women were seen as a