Introduction
Some say Margot accidentally shot her husband, but others, seeing the sequence of events, think it was done for a purpose. Ernest Hemingway’s “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber” is about a couple named Margot and Francis Macomber who go on a hunting vacation in Africa. Marriage, authority, and dominance are all tested throughout the narrative. Relationship problems arose when they fled across a lion, with Francis being easily frightened. Margot’s husband’s inability to protect her made her feel ashamed. Margot shoots Francis at the end of the story, but it is unclear if it was an accident. In his article “In Support of Unhappy Margot Macomber,” David L. Hirst claims that Margot murdered her husband to regain power in her life. This essay will argue that Margot murdered her husband on purpose out of an insatiable desire for power and wealth.
Margaret cannot be trusted – she is unfaithful and endorsed the products she did not use; Knowing the context of the event can help you determine if Margot accidentally or intentionally shot her husband. Margaret cannot be trusted because she is dishonest and has advocated items that she has not personally used. Francis’s display of fearfulness toward his wife when they encounter a lion prompts Margot to remark, “Oh, you are a coward” (Hemingway 32). For this reason, Margot develops a deep-seated hatred toward him, which is ironic given how much it embarrasses her. Once again, his timidity betrays a lack of leadership in their connection. “Everything is possible. These facts point to Margot’s desire for dominion over her own life and that of her husband, Francis, and their possible motivation to take his own life to achieve this goal.
She is described as “cruel” numerous times throughout the essay; It is evident that Margot does not regret her behavior, despite the fact that the pistol was initially aimed at the lion, which demonstrates that what she did was intentional. Also, she was so harsh to her husband anytime she attempted to approach him in a manner that lacked respect for him. In addition, the hour she carried out the shot is unclear, and it takes place right after Francis degrades Margot in front of Wilson. Before the other characters return, Francis and Margot share a few moments of privacy (Johnston 48). As a result, the shooting proved that she had been sitting around waiting for the chance to take charge of her life.
The gun’s name (Mannlicher) is a play on words; While driving together, she expresses her animosity by telling Francis, “Go to hell.” Margot’s animosity toward Francis is made clear by her accusation that he has “a “frightened little rabbit” (Johnston 44) because he has “a little bit of a yellow streak in him.” Margot then talks with Wilson, their tour guide, in which she asserts that if something were to happen to Francis, she would still be in charge of her own life and could start afresh. This meant that she already knew what she had planned for her husband since she had insisted about mentioning the gun “(Mannlicher).
The marriage between Margaret and Francis was utterly loveless; The marriage of Margaret and Francis was utterly devoid of any romantic feelings. This then led Francis to leave Margaret, and she was in a position where she had no options. This made her feel nothing, as Margot’s actions leading up to the shooting indicate that she planned to kill. In one instance, Margot is said to be exhibiting an abnormal lack of outward concern while in a terrible mental state. Specifically, she was “gazing carefully” at the gun and “fumbling” with it before she shot someone.
Evidence that the shooting was intentional
Margaret and Francis had a marriage that was devoid of any romantic feelings whatsoever. Francis is going to leave Margaret now that he has the courage to do so, and as a result, she is going to find herself in a position in which she has no choice.
Because Margaret is dishonest and has promoted products that she has not personally tried, she is not someone who can be trusted. Margot’s humiliation causes her to acquire a deep-seated hatred for him, which is odd considering how much it hurts her feelings. Again, his cowardice reveals a lack of leadership in their connection, and this time, it’s his fault.
Moreover, Francis Macomber was a frail guy throughout his life, and his wife had been happily cheating on him numerous times before they went on safari. Her control over Macomber throughout their marriage was derived from the profound guilt and low sense of self-worth he carried with him daily, and Margot could leverage this to her advantage to an extraordinary degree. After Macomber displayed cowardice when confronted by a lion, Margot had an open sexual encounter with Robert Wilson, their tour guide, while on their safari. Macomber, who was experiencing feelings of defeat once more, remarked, “We all take a beating every day in one way or another.” Yet, the following time the gang goes out to hunt, Macomber can kill a water buffalo with his shot. He experiences a sudden surge of vitality, much like the rebirth of a spirit. Margot experiences a shuddering in her sense of control as she appears to be aware of the unavoidable (Hemingway 32).
Macomber’s enthusiasm is palpable, but Margot has a very unfavorable reaction: “I despised it.” Very simply, I found it repulsive. When Macomber regained his composure, his sense of value rocketed, and he took care of all the loose ends in his life. Sadly, for Margot, his unfaithful wife is one of those loose ends. She rapidly grasps this idea and anticipates a decline in her authority over her spouse. The results of her sexual antics and mockery of Macomber have led her to take swift and decisive action: she shoots him. A simple misfire or lack of precision can be used to explain away this “accident.” Moreover, Wilson had been offering advice on what she should do with Macomber and different ways to terminate him, but she had yet to consider any of it (Johnston 48).
In addition to that, Margot’s actions were very rash regardless of the situation. Mrs. Macomber’s casual dismissal of her infidelity in late-night conversations with her husband shows that Margot does not value her marriage. Hemmingway goes as far as saying Margot realized “Macomber had too much money to leave him,” implying that Margot stayed with Macomber because of his wealth. A quote from Macomber to his wife suggests, “You assured me that on this trip, nothing like that would happen. It was your word “This also demonstrates Margot’s apathy toward Francis and their marriage. This helps us understand why Margot doesn’t appear to care that her husband has finally found his courage. Some readers may conclude that Margot’s actions were premeditated because she had been spiteful towards her husband throughout the entire relationship until she fired the fatal shot (Johnston 44).
With Macomber’s increased self-assurance and complicated marital position, Margot is bound to do something on purpose. Margot had no choice but to murder her husband if she wanted to maintain the appearance of social status. Without firing her gun, Macomber would have abandoned Margot; her youth and attractiveness are not what they once were. Margot felt that killing her husband was the safest option available to her.
Conclusion
The evidence surrounding the killing and the information in “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber” suggest that Margot intentionally shot Francis. She conveys this trait by telling Wilson about Francis’s fear when confronted by a lion. The dialogue between Margot and Francis shows her deep-seated animosity toward Francis. These occurrences demonstrate that Margot treated her husband contemptuously and was eager to take charge of her life. Margot’s conduct after the shooting, the timing of the shooting, and her lack of remorse all indicate that she planned the shooting. So, the story accurately depicts power and control in marriage, in that married couples can live together yet still willingly kill each other to gain dominance over the other.
Works Cited
Hemingway, Ernest. The short happy life of Francis Macomber. Simon and Schuster, 2011.
Johnston, Kenneth G. “In Defense of the UnhSappy Margot Macomber.” Hemingway Review 2.2 (1983): 44.
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