Dannie Bolden

Agnew

AP English Lit

August 11, 2010

The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber HW Questions

Ernest Hemingway

1. Discuss the opening scene. What is the effect of the story’s beginning with this scene,
and then presenting chronologically earlier scene later? What would be gained, and what
would be lost, if the shooting of the lion were presented first?

The beginning of the opening scene conjures a mystery inside of the reader’s mind as to
what is going on between the main characters and the “lion”. When the scene turns back
into chronological order later on in the story we finally understand that Earnest
Hemingway was trying to get us to understand and familiarize ourselves with his
characters and their emotions. As the actual story plays out, we already feel as if we
know how the characters will respond due to the knowledge of seeing what occurred
beforehand in the opening scenes. What would be gained if the shooting occurred would
be the true knowledge of what happened, in which would have bored the reader. Ernest
Hemingway kept the reader interested and eager for more information as to what lead up
to such events, and in essence created a metaphor between the struggle of Francis
Macomber and his wife Margot that would not have been gained if in chronological
order.

2. Did your responses to the three main characters change as you read the story? Which is
the more sympathetic male figure, Robert Wilson or Francis Macomber?

The response did change for me indeed. In the opening pages I thought Francis
Macomber was a pitiful, arrogant, pompous aristocrat whom was completely opposite of
Robert Wilson whom seemed like a strong, analytical, calculating adventurer. During the
middle of the story it seemed as if Macomber was trying to live up to the expectations of
Margot (I never liked her) and in turn was fearful of her in some regards as opposed to
Wilson whom seemed to live by the expectations of only himself and feared no human.
Towards the end of the story after Macomber took his first kill, he seemed like a new
man that was ready to tackle on the world in a new perspective (including the handling of
his wife), but John Wilson in a way seemed like the pompous character after the incidents
 with Margot. I would like to say that Macomber is the more sympathetic male figure
because as the reader turns each page and reads about what Macomber has to deal with,
including his wife and his own personal demons, he makes the reader feel the victory in
his triumphs over these obstacles, and the sadness of his death.

6. The story intertwines two narrative strands, the story of the hunting expedition and the story
‘’’’of the Macombers' marriage. How are these related to each other?

The hunting expedition and the Macomber’s marriage intertwine because they are each in
metaphorical contrasts of each other. Margot represents the lion, the expedition
represents the marriage and John Wilson represents the weapon of Francis Macomber.
Margot and the lion both seem to have superiority over Francis Macomber’s life, and his
marriage to Margaret is like the safari expedition because it’s full of pressure, decision-
making, and fear. John Wilson represents the gun because Francis Macomber tries to use
John as means of protection in some regards as his gun only for them each to fail on him
(John and Margot’s affair). Francis Macomber realizes that he can only better himself
only through himself and not by anyone else and that is when he kills the buffalo, in turn
making him feel as if the gun (John) is just an accessory to his kill and his lion (Margot)
is just an obstacle or challenge that cannot control his life.

7. At various points, Margot, Francis, and Wilson all consider Francis Macomber a coward, and
qqthe narrator seems to agree with that judgement. Do you share this judgement of his character?
‘’’Why or why not? What definitions of bravery and cowardice does the story apply to
llllMacomber?

I do not believe Francis Macomber is a coward. A coward does not try to push itself to
pursue what it fears the most, and Francis Macomber continued to push himself to do
what he feared to do most which was to take control of his life and to kill an animal

8. Locate specific places in the story where each of the three main characters seems to exert
;;;;power over the others in a shifting pattern of predominance. How do these shifts in the
;;;;balance of power affect your expectations about the story and its outcome?

During the opening stages of the story it feels as though Margot has control over Francis
Macomber as well as Wilson on Francis. They both exert power during their ridiculing of
Francis and his incident with the lion. The two also exert power by both having an affair
during the expedition right in front of Francis to see. Margot also exerts power over
Wilson by continuing to join him and Francis’s expedition against his own protest.
Francis exerts power over everyone after the killing of the buffalo which was done
because of wanting to show his power and by confronting Margot on her faults (with
Wilson) at breakfast before his killing of the buffalo.
9. The title "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber" has several possible meanings.
;;;;Initially, how did you interpret the title? How did your interpretation change after a second
‘’’reading?

I interpreted the title initially as being a pun on the life of Francis Macomber because it
seemed like Francis had a miserable life and was not even close to being happy. After
reading the book I finally came to the conclusion that the title was based upon Francis
Macomber’s time from killing the first buffalo to his quick death as representing the time
when he actually had control of his life and felt reborn and indeed lived his short but
happy life.