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Ernest Hemingway is known for producing novels and short stories with ambiguous endings. In his short story, The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber, he definitely leaves his readers guessing. The question is whether Margot kills her husband, Francis, intentionally, or if she accidentally shoots him in an effort to save his life. There are many points that could be argued for both conclusions, but my observations have led me to believe that Margot did indeed shoot her husband intentionally, however, without pre-meditation. In looking at the background of Francis and Margot, it is easy to see that the strength of their relationship rests on their co-dependency. They have two completely different personalities, but that is what ultimately keeps their relationship at an equilibrium.
Their marriage is summarized by the statement, Margot was too beautiful for Macomber to divorce her, and Macomber had too much money for Margot ever to leave him. Margot has complete control over their marriage, and Francis allows her to have this control because he could not find another wife if Margot were to leave him. This is apparent when the narrator states, If he had been better with women, she would probably have started to worry about him getting another new, beautiful wife; but she knew too much about him to worry about him either. The background information given about Francis and Margot makes a motive for an intentional killing clear. When Margot sees the euphoria, loss of cowardice and sudden independance that Francis gets from his pursuit of the buffalo, she realizes that she has lost control over her husband. The change in Francis can be seen when he says, You know, I dont think Id ever be afraid of anything again.
Something happened in me after we saw the buff and started after him. Like a dam bursting. It was pure excitement. If Francis is no longer afraid of anything, then it is possible that he could walk away from Margot. It is also possible that he could find another wife with his loss of cowardice.
When Margot says, in regard to Francis performance with the buffalo, I hated it. I loathed it, it is apparent that Margot now realizes that the control she had over her husband is gone. Francis newly discovered independance destroys the equilibrium in their relationship and leaves Margot on the loosing side of a marriage that she knows is coming to an end. Another important issue regarding the killing of Francis Macomber is the credibility of the safari guide, Robert Wilson. He gives the reader an outside perspective of the relationship between Francis and Margot, but it is whether or not his presumptions are accurate that deems him credible or not.
When Margot tries to downplay the killing of the buffalo's by saying, Youre both talking rot Just because youve chased some helpless animals in a motor car, you talk like heroes, Wilson thinks to himself, Shes worried about it already. It is obvious that Wilson accurately interprets the state of the relationship between Francis and Margot because he sees the way that Margot controls her husband. The clear understanding of the relationship that Wilson shows throughout the story proves that he is indeed credible. The importance of Wilsons credibility comes into play at the end of the story when he seems to support the action taken by Margot against her husband.
In response to the killing Wilson says to Margot, That was a pretty thing to do He would have left you too. This statement shows that Wilson believes the shot was intentional. Since he previously proved his credibility through his accurate understanding of Francis and Margot's relationship, his opinion as to the motive of the killing is credible to the reader. All of these points are strong enough to support the conclusion that Margot intentionally killed her husband, but the strongest is in a passage that occurs just before Francis and Wilson go after the buffalo.
In it Margot says, Youve gotten awfully brave, awfully suddenly, his wife said contemptuously, but her contempt was not secure. She was very afraid of something. Macomber laughed, a very natural hearty laugh. You know I have, he said.
I really have. Isnt it sort of late? Margot said bitterly. Because she had done the best she could for many years back and the way they were together now was no one persons fault.
Not for me, said Macomber. It is obvious here that Margot has lost the control in her marriage because she is no longer in charge of Francis or needed by him. She realizes that he has found his own independance and that she is expendable to him. Therefore, in a sudden rage of anger, resentment and disappointment, she kills Francis.
Even though I do believe that Margot means to kill her husband, I do not think that it is a pre-meditated event. It appears that Margot's original intention is to save Francis by shooting the buffalo. Of course, realistically, it would be hard to stop such an animal from a far distance, and it is difficult to believe that Margot thinks she could do it. When Margot aims the gun and prepares to fire, all the negative emotions that are built up inside her cause her to make the sudden decision to take her anger out on her husband.
She may have only thought about it for a second, but ultimately, it was an intentional shot.
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