ipl-logo

Short Happy Life Of Francis Macomber Analysis

907 Words4 Pages

Sometimes the best things in our lives end up hurting us the most. Ernest Hemingway’s “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber” tells the story of Francis Macomber who seems to have all a person could want in life. While on a hunting trip with expert hunter Robert Wilson, his wife Margaret Macomber, and other hunters, in Africa. Francis does not start out as the best hunter, but things start to turn in his favor. Suddenly, things take an unexpected turn for the worst when Macomber ends up being shot by his wife. Although Macomber was young and well-built, he was very much a coward, he overcomes that through his bravery, which does not turn out good for him. Macomber was young and well-built, who from the sound of it has all a man …show more content…

Francis and his wife are having a conversation and Margaret starts to defend Wilson as though he has done no wrong, when suddenly Francis shouted “[o]h shut up” (13), this is where Hemingway shows that Francis has truly had enough. They continue out for their hunt of the day, buffalo, they spot them and immediately start shooting them, this hunt Francis is much more into and is much less nervous about. Macomber and Wilson get down all three of the buffalo and are celebrating their kills when one started to get back up, then “Macomber aimed carefully at the center of the huge, jerking, rage drive neck and shot” (15). Unlike the other times when he was nervous and shaking, he was confident in his his shot. They then find out the first buffalo they shot had ran into the woods, Macomber was not worried this time, “‘Can we go in after him now?’ asked Macomber eagerly” (17). Margaret is starting to notice Macomber’s change when he made a comment to her that she did not like much, she said to him “[y]ou’ve gotten awfully brave, awfully suddenly” (18), she seems worried about the change Macomber is going through. Francis and Wilson go towards the woods to find the buffalo, after waiting some time, then the buffalo comes charging out of the woods towards them and they both start shooting at him. Right about the time the buffalo dropped from the shot Wilson got in, Macomber dropped from the shot his wife fired, as she went to help shoot the buffalo and

Show More
Related
436 Words | 2 Pages

“You, listen. The beast is sitting up there, whatever it is—” “Perhaps it’s waiting—” “Hunting—” “Yes, hunting.” “Hunting,” said Jack. He remembered his age-old tremors in the forest. “Yes.

Read More
200 Words | 1 Pages

John Krakauer’s account of the journey of Chris McCandless has inspired many other people to seek out the beauty of nature. Why would a story with such a tragic ending cause others to do exactly what in the end killed McCandless? Perhaps it’s because Krakauer depicts Chris as a hardworking honest young man, who throughout his journey uncovered many truths about life. Maybe it’s because Krakauer includes so many passages talking about the beauty and simplicity of nature. Possibly this inspiration is contributed to because Krakauer chalks the death of McCandless up to chance.

Read More
1487 Words | 6 Pages

The type of life McCandless lived is shared by few and understood by even less, inviting negative judgment for his lack of conventional life. Krakauer, however, illustrates McCandless’s journey as a monumental change, “At long last he was unencumbered, emancipated from the stifling world of his parents and peers, a world of abstraction and security and material excess, a world in which he felt grievously cut off from the raw throb of existence" (Krakauer 22). The tone in which Krakauer displays McCandless’s reasoning invokes a sense of understanding as to who McCandless was as a person and the disposition he presented throughout his life. While the statement is neither negative or positive, the descriptive language used implies an undercurrent of joy and the thrill of adventure, all of which McCandless had expressed to others and mentioned in his personal journal. However, the wording can be considered flowery, supporting the claim that Krakauer glamorizes “…the poacher Chris McCandless…into some sort of poor, admirable romantic soul lost in the wilds of Alaska” (Medred 1).

Read More
898 Words | 4 Pages

Chris McCandless’ Romantic Appeal Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer is a nonfiction narrative following the life of Christopher Mccandless. McCandless’ life was considered significant because he was a high achieving college graduate who abandoned his old life for a new one, roaming about in the wilderness. Readers find McCandless appealing because he lived life following his gut and searching for his true self in the natural world. McCandless was remembered by Wayne Westerberg’s wife--knows Chris through Wayne-- as a person who “insisted on living out his beliefs” (67). He didn’t let anyone deter him from finding himself in solidarity, despite what the average person may think.

Read More
739 Words | 3 Pages

, McCandless declared he would “no longer to be poisoned by civilization,” (page???) and set out into the wild. Author Jon Krakauer uses the story of a individualistic young man to convey the topic of extremist responses to different circumstances and how they attempt to live in the way they find ideal. McCandless was heavily influenced by the aspect of transcendentalism which eventually led to his downfall. McCandless’ definition of happiness would have been simple. He wanted to find himself, who

Read More
554 Words | 3 Pages

He saw every day as an opportunity to make a new friend, start a new adventure, or make someone smile. During the weeks McCandless was isolated from the rest of society he wrote in his journal an optimistic outlook on his journey. He acknowledged his shortcomings and every success during his adventure. When times got harder and he was struggling to try to find food, another ride, or a way to protect himself from the elements McCandless would write about how he knew something bigger and better was soon to happen. McCandless was also able to share his positivity with many people he met during his journey.

Read More
630 Words | 3 Pages

Perspective of Christopher McCandless’s Life Callarman’s argument to Christopher McCandless’s is relatable and understanding, but he does not see the full picture. Christopher McCandless had everything in his life: money, material, family, prestige etc. but the only thing he wanted to fully experience is the outside world, to get out of his comfort zone and see how nature really feels like. I would agree with Callarman’s argument because he was arrogant and unenlightenment, but I also would disagree because he died doing what he loved and a place he wanted to be.

Read More
630 Words | 3 Pages

The life of Chris Mccandless as shown in “Into the Wild” by John Krakauer reflects off of the ideas of courage and nobility through his interactions with society, philosophies on life, and his pursuit to fully achieve his goal. Throughout Mccandless’ journey he encountered many people in which he inspired. No matter how long the visit was with each stranger he always “made an indelible impression on a number of people” (Pg. 48). Mccandless has even left such a huge impact on people that they completely change their lifestyle.

Read More
1008 Words | 5 Pages

“I wanted movement and not a calm course of existence. I wanted excitement and danger and the chance to sacrifice myself for my love. I felt in myself a superabundance of energy which found no outlet in our quiet life.” Leo Tolstoy “Family Happiness” Jon Krakauer in his nonfiction novel Into the wild, Krakauer depicts the life of Chris McCandless as he made his way into the Alaskan Bush.

Read More
1125 Words | 5 Pages

In addition, McCandless thought he could found the solution to his frustration with the adultery of his father, and found the true happiness for his life through escaping into the wild. Chris McCandless endangered his life many times in this adventure, and perhaps he was trying to find the happiness of the life through risking his life. He highlighted passages that he felt a strong connection to. McCandless highlighted one of the passage in the book “Family Happiness” by Leo Tolstoy. The passage was “I wanted movement and not a clam course of

Read More
570 Words | 3 Pages

Jack states within the text, “We’re strong - we hunt! If there’s a

Read More
772 Words | 4 Pages

As they shoot her family, she almost does not care but is trying to save her own life. She claims that he is a good man, “”Listen,” the grandmother almost screamed I know you’re a good man. You don’t look a bit like you have common blood. I know you must come from a nice family” (O’Connor, 477), but he is the farthest thing from a good man. He kills people and commits serious crimes.

Read More
815 Words | 4 Pages

The world can be cruel. Life is not always rainbows and castles; it is not a fairytale. Most people learn this by adulthood and accept it. However, some eventually learn the truth about real life the hard way, after experiencing first hand its brutality. In “Up in Michigan” by Ernest Hemingway, Hemingway displays loss of innocence through Liz’s experience of rape.

Read More
740 Words | 3 Pages

The world is a hostile and violent place and the woman had a right to be fearful of him, but it troubles him that he cannot change the fact that he was the cause of this fear. He begins to understand that he has the opportunity to change the enviorment around him solely because of him being a

Read More
882 Words | 4 Pages

Throughout the story, three major details of the narrator’s psyche are confirmed. First, we learned of the narrator’s deceitfulness. Every morning he lies to the old man with the least bit of guilt. The next continues to prove the madness as the narrator feels utter joy from the terror of another. Lastly, the narrator fabricates that the old man is simply not home to assure the officers.

Read More

More about Short Happy Life Of Francis Macomber Analysis

Related Topics

Open Document