Masculinity By Hemingway Essay, Research Paper
In Ernest Hemingway’s “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber”, Francis
Macomber and his wife Margot attempt to rekindle their marriage on a vacation; however, they
succeed only in growing further apart. Hemingway himself would frequently go fishing or even
make expensive Safari trips to Africa. The setting of his short story “The Short Happy Life of
Francis Macomber” takes place on a Safari tour in Africa. The main characters are Francis
Macomber, Margot Macomber, and Robert Wilson. The story begins with the two men talking
about a lion they had killed. At some time earlier, Francis proved himself to be a coward
when he fled away from the lion, when set out for a chase. At the sight of this, his wife puts
herself in the arms of Robert Wilson, the man who appears to be the most masculine of the
two. On a different occasion, the following day, Francis was so enraged that courage and self-
confidence struck him, thus making him the hero of the day. What happens is that he hunted a
buffalo and went straight out to kill it while it charged him. At the sight of this, Margot falls into
great shock, realizing that her husband now has the power and ability to leave her. The men and
women of the story play symbolic roles in one way or another, the men trying to be as
masculine as possible only to portray an image, the women falling into the arms of only the
masculine men. Through the development of opposing characters Francis Macomber and Robert
Wilson, Ernest Hemingway highlights those male characteristics which attract women.
The size of Robert Wilson’s shot gun is representative of his masculinity, which is
considerably larger than Francis Macomber’s pistol. Hemingway links the size of the gun
correspondingly to the more masculine of the two characters for the simple reason to prove what
attracts women. The resemblance of a gun to a man’s masculinity is enormous. A gun is an
object making a man stronger, thus giving him a better image and appearance. Hemingway
makes Robert Wilson seem so much more superior and powerful due to his rifle through one
particular passage: ” He heard the ca-ra-wong! Of Wilson’s big riffle, and again in a second
crashing ca-ra-wong and turning saw the lion…” (Hemingway50). In this particular extract,
Hemingway in every way makes Francis inferior to Robert. Giving Robert the larger weapon and
the very masculine way of killing the beast attracts Margot to him The gun’s shape and form
remarkably resembles that of a male’s masculinity. Throughout the short story, Hemingway
develops the gun as a symbol of the male sex. Wilson’s rifle is considerably larger than
macomber’s pistol; Therefore, Margot’s actions in choosing Wilson over her husband illustrate
that the man with the larger gun is more appealing. Thus, the size of a man’s masculinity is a
characteristic more desireable to women.
In Francis Macomber’s encounter with the lion, Robert Wilson’s bravery is apparent as is
Francis’ lack thereof. Courage is another aspect that the men of the story need to attain women.
At the sight of the lion, the characters find themselves in a position where Robert Wilson turns
out at being the heroic figure, while Francis is seen as a coward. Francis was given great armor
in order to defeat the wounded lion, but when the charging lion appeared in his sight, he fled.
Robert took the matter into his hands while shooting the beast several times. This act of bravery
was not only heroic, but attractive to women, for not only were his actions rewarded with a fine
lion, but also with a kiss from Margaret. Margot flatters the man with careful words: “Mr.
Robert Wilson,” she said. “The beautiful red-faced Mr. Robert Wilson” (51). Wilson was
rewarded for actions that seem natural to him. It is an aspect that women are attracted to. Signs
of courage can also be noticed with Wilson’s confidence in regard of the lion. Francis’
discomfort toward the lion makes Wilson more courageous: “Does his roaring carry that far? It
sounds as though he were right in camp.” “Carries a hell of a long way.” said Robert Wilson. It
is not exactly Robert who is brave, rather Francis who is uncertain and hesitant, thus making the
certain man more appealing to Margot. Therefore, to have courage and bravery is shown to
be a desirable trait in men.
Hemingway contrasts Robert Wilson’s Neanderthal qualities with Francis Macomber’s
aristocrat characteristics, the former more appealing to Margot. Throughout the story, Wilson
gives the reader the image of him being rustic. His manly and outdoor attitude may not seem
attractive, yet it still remains a quality that Francis does not have. What makes him seem
attractive in this perspective is the fact that he is not very educated and uses human instinct to
survive. He kills for a living and has a tendency to drink. These characteristics, although not very
positive, are extremely masculine and attractive. Hemingway takes these negative factors and
makes them seem positive. This particular aspect of Wilson also portrays him as a rough and
uncaring personality, thus pointing out that Francis is soft. This Neanderthal side of Wilson
proves that he is able to survive in an independent lifestyle, thus enhancing his masculine
figure. Wilson’s rustic qualities attrack women more than Macomber’s refinement. Francis is
calm, educated, well dressed and takes care of himself. These are qualities that someone would
think are positive, yet they are not sufficient to please his wife. A passage describing the two
characters is the following:
“One, Wilson the white hunter, she knew she had never truly seen before. He was
about middle height with sandy hair, a stubby mustache, a very red face and
extremely cold blue eyes with faint white wrinkles at the corners that grooved
merrily when he smiled. He smiled at her now and she looked away from his face
at the way his shoulders sloped in the lose tunic he wore with the four big
cartridges held in loops where the left breast pocket should have been, at his big
brown hands, his old slacks, his very dirty boots, and back to his red face again.
She noticed where the baked red of his face stopped in a white line but marked
the circle left by his Stetson hat that hung now from in of the pegs of the tent
pole.
“Well, here is to the lion”, Robert Wilson said. He smiled at her again and, and
not smiling, she looked curiously at her husband.
Francis Macomber was very tall, very well built if you did not mind the length of
bone, dark, his hair cropped like an oarsman, rather thin-lipped, and was
considered handsome. He was dressed in the same sort of safari clothe that
Wilson wore except that his were new, he was thirty five years old, kept himself
very fit, was good at court games, had a number of big game fishing records, and
had just shown himself, very publicly, to be a coward.” (40)
Margot byt transitive property is more attracted to Wilson’s male characteristics.
Francis Macomber’s flight from the lion underlines his dependence on Robert Wilson.
Throughout Hemingway’s story, the reader is given many hints that Francis is not able to depend
on himself. Not only with the lion incident, but in his general lifestyle. He is married, lives a
very successful business life, and without a doubt has a very good social life. Robert Wilson’s
lifestyle, though, is quite the contrary; he is not so wealthy, lives alone, depends on no one, and
does not take such great care of himself. This is a feature not very favorable in most people’s
perspective, yet once again is more suitable in Margot’s view. What the independence factor
proves a man to be is more masculine. It brings out the macho attitude that Hemingway
portrayed all of his life. It shows how nothing can scare him and that he can manage almost
anything on his own without the help of anyone. To Margot, once again, it is very entrancing.
Margot, being the only woman on the trip, gets two different attitudes from the men.
Robert, being the more masculine of the two, has a less gentlemanly attitude towards her. He has
short responses and treats Margot as if she were a child, or mere object that he does not care
about. “Woman upset,” said Wilson to the tall man. “Amounts to nothing. Strain on the nerves
and one thing’n another” (41). This passage shows his lack of respect and compassion toward
women in general. In a more broad point of view, Francis has much more respect for women; the
simple fact that Macomber is trying to improve his marriage is an indication to his gentlemanly
characteristics. Although Macomber is more respectfull to his wife, his respect succeeds only in
highliting his weaknesses. Wilson’s impartiality is more appealing to Margot.
Francis Macomber and Robert Wilson have two very different types of quality
in regard of the female point of view. Robert has proven himself to be more masculine and
macho in more ways than one. Hemingway links the size of Wilson’s gun to his masculinity.
Also, with his enhanced courage and powerful sense, his appearance is very masculine and
attractive. His Neanderthal qualities and aspect make his image seem to have more virility. His
self-de pendant lifestyle is also an attractive aspect. Even though Francis does not seem so
masculine and appealing to the reader, he has a very positive character and his qualities are
evident only not as masculine and macho as Wilson’s. As a whole, Robert Wilson’s qualities
define a general masculine ideal.