Francis Macomber

I have never been a huge fan of Hemingway. I am not sure why, I just don’t care for the way the characters are drawn, or the way things are described- just a little too realistic, too unpleasant for my tastes. I know I am terribly picky about what I read, but that’s just the way it is. I never saw the joy in reading something you didn’t like.

Anyway, this story seemed to be about the coming-of-age of poor Francis Macomber, the long-suffering rich boy with the heartless trophy wife. Unfortunately, he grew up too late, as he was already married to a cruel woman and found himself near the midpoint of his life, wracked with fear and indecision. The safari was probably a chance for him to impress his wife by shooting animals, and when he failed at that, no doubt not the first the time, he realized that she might leave him. He no longer felt secure in her faded beauty and his vast wealth. When his wife slept with the hunter, he further felt further emasculated and humiliated, as was his wife’s intention. She told him he was a coward, and she wanted to punish him. Francis found redemption in the killing of the water buffalos. He gained a new attitude, seemed to “find himself”, and showed off a new-found bravery. He was actually happy and ready to take on the world. His wife, on the other hand, watched his transformation warily, with dread. I think she saw her husband become content and confident right in front of her eyes, and she began to be very afraid for her future. After all, she couldn’t very well expect to act the way she was used to acting, or stay married long after the way she had behaved. Her world was about to change. I don’t know if she planned to shoot him, but maybe when she began to shoot at the charging buffalo her mind just snapped, and it happened. Self-preservation. Just like the wounded lion who will attack to save itself, Francis Macomber’s human trophy killed him.