Francis Macomber

In the short story, “Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber” written by Ernest Hemingway, the reader can infer three different characterizations developed on a single character through various perspectives of other characters. The characterizations of shame, cowardice, and confidence are developed throughout the story on the character of Francis Macomber. A characteristic that is developed on Francis is the aspect of shamefulness. The shame that is brought upon him is shown through his choices and the reactions of the characters around him. [Shame - Margaret : Francis] Margaret Macomber, who is Francis’s wife, expresses her “want” of depriving Francis from self confidence on page 2 by saying, “Let’s not talk about the lion.” Margaret brings

Francis shows signs of this through the statements and choices he makes. During the flashback where Francis and Wilson go hunt the lion Margaret says “You’re not afraid are you?” (pg. 8) In this scene, Francis responds with uncertainty and nervousness. This allows the reader to infer that Francis is uneasy with the job he is about to begin and also allows the reader to foreshadow the shady feeling to follow into the scene where the lion is hunted. Hemingway adds this dialogue prior to the “big” scene in order to support the idea that Francis will misconstrue the event and arise conflict . During the scenario of the hunt for the lion, Francis misplaces his shots on the lion. This action has an effect on the gun bearers; “The gun bearers looked very grave they were silent now” (pg 10). The gun bearers begin to notice Francis’s cowardice and inexperience in this scene due to his misplaced shots. The gun bearers see the conflict that Francis is brought upon them by misplacing the shots and allowing the lion the take off. They are aggravated at Francis’s cowardice intervening with the perfect shots and bring even more shame on him. Hemingway allows the reader to understand Francis’s cowardice acts and how they affect the environment around him even by using the smallest side character’s perspectives. After injuring the lion and watching it scatter Francis states “Can’t we send

This introduces his new aspect of confidence. An example of this is during a discussion between the couple, Margaret states, “If you make a scene, I’ll leave you darling” in which Francis responded “No you won’t” (pg. 17). This shows that Francis has finally been pushed to his limit and has decided to no longer be a coward and stand up for himself. Francis’s begins to instill his intimacy toward Margaret. By doing this Margaret begins to attain fear that Francis will gain confidence and “deceive” her. This allows the reader to acknowledge Francis’s new developing characteristic of confidence by first standing up to the main antagonist in his life. During Francis’s final hunt their actions were described. One of these being, “Wilson shot and saw the leading bull slide forward onto his nose”(pg. 19). It was during this scene that Wilson noticed Francis’s change. Wilson begins to see that Francis’s is beginning to grasp his confidence and use it. Francis is able to target and shoot the leading bull and do some damage while Wilson delivers a final blow. Hemingway begins to use Francis’s passion for hunting as a method of regaining his manhood. The bull represents fear within this scene and in order for Francis to succeed in this hunt he must overcome and down that fear.. In the final scene after Francis was shot, Margaret shot Francis and killed him. In this scene Wilson states, “I'd