Margot Vs Macomber
Couples destined for doom - Romeo and Juliet, Orpheus and Eurydice, Winston and Julia. In Ernest Hemingway’s “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber,” Margot and Francis Macomber prove they also fall under this category. However, the two Macomber’s exemplify an uncommon trait in “star-crossed lovers” - long-lasting nonexistent love. In fact, Francis and Margot’s marriage exists and continues solely for the advantages that come from it. Margot stays with Francis because he has “too much money for (her) to ever leave him” (11). She uses Francis’ wealth to keep up her status as a “well kept woman of the beauty and social position,” proving that her matrimony is not because of an attraction to her spouse (1). Francis stays with Margot because she is “too beautiful for
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(him) to divorce her” (11). He sees his wife as someone to show off, almost like a prize. This is proven by Margot’s thought that if he was “better with women,” she would have worried about him “getting another new, beautiful wife” (11). “Beautiful’s” inclusion emphasizes how Francis values Margot (and women) for this aspect only, and would only marry for a permanent trophy or to gain respect for non-financial reasons.
So, for a couple that never has to worry about losing their “love” for one another (even after Margot’s blatant affair), why during both the story and previous occasions did they consider divorcing?
They both have exactly what they want from each other. Margot is abundantly wealthy and Francis has a wife beautiful enough to boast about. So why has splitting up been a recurring discussion for them? Although Margot “had been a great beauty and...was still a great beauty in Africa,” Francis now feels she is “not a great enough beauty any more at home” (11). The aspect of Margot that Francis married her for is gone and has been for a long time. However, like Francis’ anger over Margot losing her feminine beauty, Margot despises Francis for his consistent lack of masculinity. Right off the bat, Hemingway reveals that Francis is a “very (public)...coward,” which becomes validated at many points throughout the Macomber’s safari trip (1). For one, the night before Francis’ first hunt, his fear rises after hearing the incessant roars of lions. Then, during the day of the hunt, Francis (although he shot the lion once) finds himself too scared to shoot the last, lion-killing bullet, much to Margot’s
embarrassment.
Scenes like these explain why Margot is initially deemed “extremely handsome” start - she truly is the man of the relationship (1). After all, during the story’s climax, Margot successfully shoots a buffalo with only a moment of her sitting “with (a) rifle by her side” as buildup (19). Her willingness to thoughtlessly shoot an innocent creature is a complete contrast to her husband’s mindset, as he is too terrified to shoot an animal already close to death. But, not only does Margot shoot the buffalo. She also ends up killing her husband with the same bullet. Accident or not, Margot had a clear reason for her actions. Nobody asked her to shoot the buffalo and she never expressed that she wanted to. So, with all the problems apparent in the Macomber’s marriage, including cheating, mutual dissatisfaction, and an overall lack of love, did Margot shoot Francis deliberately?
(him) to divorce her” (11). He sees his wife as someone to show off, almost like a prize. This is proven by Margot’s thought that if he was “better with women,” she would have worried about him “getting another new, beautiful wife” (11). “Beautiful’s” inclusion emphasizes how Francis values Margot (and women) for this aspect only, and would only marry for a permanent trophy or to gain respect for non-financial reasons.
So, for a couple that never has to worry about losing their “love” for one another (even after Margot’s blatant affair), why during both the story and previous occasions did they consider divorcing?
They both have exactly what they want from each other. Margot is abundantly wealthy and Francis has a wife beautiful enough to boast about. So why has splitting up been a recurring discussion for them? Although Margot “had been a great beauty and...was still a great beauty in Africa,” Francis now feels she is “not a great enough beauty any more at home” (11). The aspect of Margot that Francis married her for is gone and has been for a long time. However, like Francis’ anger over Margot losing her feminine beauty, Margot despises Francis for his consistent lack of masculinity. Right off the bat, Hemingway reveals that Francis is a “very (public)...coward,” which becomes validated at many points throughout the Macomber’s safari trip (1). For one, the night before Francis’ first hunt, his fear rises after hearing the incessant roars of lions. Then, during the day of the hunt, Francis (although he shot the lion once) finds himself too scared to shoot the last, lion-killing bullet, much to Margot’s
embarrassment.
Scenes like these explain why Margot is initially deemed “extremely handsome” start - she truly is the man of the relationship (1). After all, during the story’s climax, Margot successfully shoots a buffalo with only a moment of her sitting “with (a) rifle by her side” as buildup (19). Her willingness to thoughtlessly shoot an innocent creature is a complete contrast to her husband’s mindset, as he is too terrified to shoot an animal already close to death. But, not only does Margot shoot the buffalo. She also ends up killing her husband with the same bullet. Accident or not, Margot had a clear reason for her actions. Nobody asked her to shoot the buffalo and she never expressed that she wanted to. So, with all the problems apparent in the Macomber’s marriage, including cheating, mutual dissatisfaction, and an overall lack of love, did Margot shoot Francis deliberately?