Paper 3

Ariel Solis

English 201

Elizabeth Whitley

Everything is not Always What it Seems

In the short story “The Short Life of Francis Macomber”, by Ernest Hemingway there were many psychological issues that the characters faced but, the ones that stuck out to me the most were avoidance, low self esteem and fear of abandonment. These personal issues were portrayed in two of the main characters whom were married to each other. In short story we see how things are not always what they seem.

A health marriage entitles trust, communication, love, friendship and many other qualities. In this short story, there were a lot of issues within the couple’s marriage that caused many outside issues as well. In “The Short Life of Francis Macomber” the protagonist Francis had a beautiful wife by the name of Margaret. Although she is a good looking woman, she only married Francis because of his wealth status and he only married her for her physical appearance. This contradicts the purpose of marriage because it’s supposed to be based on love and nothing more.

Francis and Margaret Macomber went on a hunting trip with a friend by the name of Robert Wilson. Wilson was a professional hunter and was hired to assist Francis in hunting a lion. On this adventure Francis failed in completely killing the lion and ran. Him and his wife were both ashamed and embarrassed by the incident to the point where is called him a coward. This made him feel like less than a man and especially since this happened in front of his wife. In the story the author states “I don’t want to go in there” (Hemingway 9). He this scene Francis was saying to Wilson how he didn’t want continue in killing the lion because he was afraid, but nor did he was seem like a punk. This portrays his low self esteem because he did it not because he wanted to but because he was trying to prove his self and in the end he still ended up looking like a fool.

After the lion was finally killed, Margaret was upset with Francis. The author mention, “Macomber’s wife had not looked at him nor he had sat by her in the back seat with Wilson sitting in the front. Once he had reached over and taken his wife’s hand without looking at her and had removed her hand from his” (10). Instead of supporting her husband, she had an attitude like it was meant something more to her. The author continues on to say, “He turned and she had leaned forward over the low seat and kissed him on the mouth” (10). This illustrates fear of abandonment because Francis had no reaction to this obnoxious behavior. Nowhere in text after this scene did it mention anything about him approaching this incident to his wife or Wilson. The average human being would have reacted in anger or rage but not Francis. He proves he was scared of being left alone and would put up with anything not to be.

In one of the scene’s Francis catches his wife committing an action of infidelity with Wilson. He woke up in the middle of the night and found her missing. When she returned her to the tent two hours later, he approaches her about the situation. He asked her “Where have you been” (11). She responded “Out to get a breath of air (11). As their argument continued Francis wanted to speak about the issue and Margaret was avoiding the subject. Instead trying to fix the issues that they were having and try to save their marriage she responded by saying “Please, darling, let’s not talk. I’m so very sleepy” (12). Margaret is portraying avoiding by not trying to even explain or discuss her actions with her husband. This also has a lot to do with her feeling like she can do whatever she wants and Francis is always going to be by her side. The author wrote, “You think that I’ll take anything” and she responded by saying “I know you will sweet.”

In the end Francis was killed while trying to killing a buffalo. Although his life was cut short, he felt a little about himself towards the end of the story. He was able to shoot down a bull and although he didn’t kill it, he felt very good about his self. The author quotes, “In his life he had never felt so good” (15). His sense of pride and self of esteem had risen after this hunting trip.

This short story explored a marriage that was falling apart and how it ended. Although they had money and were good looking people they both were unhappy very with their lives. This caused many psychoanalytic issues that in the end could not be resolved but Francis was killed. This proves that you could have everything in world that does not bring love or happiness.