Margaret Macomber Quotes

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“Nothing is more important than that you see and love the beauty that is right in front of you, or else you will have no defense against the ugliness that will hem you in and come at you in so many ways.” Neal Stephenson’s quote would forewarn Francis Macomber of the hidden monstrousness his wife conceals from Ernest Hemingway’s story "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber" Although he introduces Francis’ wife, Margaret, as "an extremely handsome and well-kept woman of beauty," the reader soon discovers through Margaret's malicious behavior that her outer beauty is a deception. By punishing her husband, Francis Macomber, for not meeting the unachievable standards of valor she seeks in a man, Hemingway illustrates Margaret's inner monstrosity …show more content…

Her contemptuous conduct becomes apparent to the reader once she sleeps with the most masculine man available, Wilson, without remorse as if to punish Francis for his cowardice. He responds by finally finding the bravery to shoot a charging water buffalo and stand up to his condescending wife. "You've gotten awfully brave, awful suddenly," his wife said contemptuously, but her contempt was not secure. She was very afraid of something." Margaret soon discovers that her scorn towards Francis' lack of bravery causes her husband to rid himself of his wife's overbearing attitude and leave …show more content…

His short, happy life lasts for only a minute until it abruptly ends by the person who has caused his life to be long and miserable. Margaret proves how manipulative she is once she shoots her husband. Wilson witnesses the entire incident and does not believe her when she claims the killing is an accident. Wilson shows no sympathy for her and boasts that if Francis had lived, he would have left her regardless. Margaret is not only manipulative towards her husband, but towards Wilson as well, holding his secrets of sleeping with a customer of his safari business, secretly abusing his workers, and shooting prey from a moving vehicle against him. She and Wilson are both aware if Wilson turns her in, she reports his illegal actions as

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