Preview

Francis Macomber Comparison

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1011 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Francis Macomber Comparison
While one may look at Richard Connell's "The Most Dangerous Game" and Ernest Hemmingway's "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber" and pass them off as basically the same, he should be reminded of the cliché "don't judge a book by its cover." Although both are short stories, each work encompasses a number of elements that are characteristically associated with either commercial or literary fiction. By evaluating the author's use of elements of fiction, such as plot, theme, and characterization, and the literary devices diction, figurative language, and detail, one can come to the conclusion that neither story is better than the other. Because the importance of plot and characterization vary based upon a work's classification as either commercial or literary, "The Most Dangerous Game" and "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber" are very different from one another. In his work, Connell uses the element of surprise to keep his readers wondering what's going to happen next. This surprise element, which is created through Reinsford's series of traps, allows the reader to chronologically navigate the story. Additionally, Connell heavily relies upon chance and coincidence than practicality. Examples of this include Reinsford's miraculous weaving stills and his …show more content…
"[He] had … been carried to his tent from the edge of the camp in triumph on the arms and shoulders of the cook, the personal boys, the skinner and the porters." But as the story progresses, it is clear that Macomber is a coward. This is magnified by his conscience effort to cover his actions up. Toward the end of the story, Macomber experiences an epiphany. "He expected the feelings he had had about the lion to come back but it did not. For the first time in his life he really felt wholly without fear. Instead of fear he had a feeling of definite

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    I find that the most important part of this story is how the plot moves along so quickly. It also manages to describe successfully each conflict or major part of the story. The key element of the plot is when Zaroff and Rainsford play the game. The main conflict would be external which is man verses man, or Zaroff verses Rainsford. There are three major conflicts of man that can be found in Connell's short story "The Most Dangerous Game." In the rest of this short essay I will utilize the elements of compositions and also identify and explain the three conflicts of man found in this story.…

    • 656 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Identify at least three instances from the story that foreshadow the ending and explain them. “I’m awfully sorry about that lion business. It doesn’t have to go any further does it? I mean no one will hear about it, will they?” This explains that macomber lied about killing a Lion.…

    • 481 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “The Most Dangerous Game” is a favorite for many young readers as the text pulls the reader into what is going on very easily. In this story, there is a lot of action, and the context of the story is interesting as a man hunts humans. The text is very descriptive which makes the reader truly visualize what the characters are doing, just like watching a movie in your head. For the simple fact that this story is very easy to follow, very descriptive, and based on events that don’t often happen, younger readers enjoy this book over “Hunters in the Snow.” “Hunters in the Snow” is also based around hunting as well. This story talks a lot about the problems these gentlemen have, like obesity and spousal problems. This material is more appropriate for mature readers because less experience readers don’t know how to follow along, or how to sympathize with the characters.…

    • 459 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    English 9ap Critical Lens

    • 597 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Second, the short story “The Most Dangerous Game” shows how things are not always how they seem. There are two examples from the work that show this is true. First, sailors look at Shiptrap Island a…

    • 597 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macaulay Connor’s goal in life is to be respected for his writing. He works for Spy magazine and resents his position, as he feels it is undignified. Although he successfully published a book of short stories, it was thoroughly unsuccessful in sales. Based on the reactions of other characters to his work, it is intimated that the book is of high quality.…

    • 1300 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Francis Macomber

    • 2016 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Initially, the lion’s bravery and determination are used strictly as a contrast to Macomber’s rabbit-like trembling. In his struggle for survival the lion with half his head shot away kept “crawling on toward the crashing, blasting thing that had destroyed him” (p.21). He stared defiantly with “yellow eyes, narrowed with hate” (p.19); similarly, “Francis Macomber found that, of all the many men that he had hated, he hated Robert Wilson the most” (p.23). Momentarily facing the challenge posed by the lion, Macomber feels “sick at his stomach” (p.16) and cannot control his shaking. “The fear was still there like a cold, slimy hollowin all the emptiness where once his confidence had been and it made him feel sick” (p.11). The difference between Macomber and the lionis suggested by the nature of their respective wounds. Macomber’s psyvchological “wound” can be traced ultimately to his overall weakness and, more recently, to the effects of his “huntress” wife. But the lion’s wound is more a “red badge of courage” incurred in combat. Instead of fear, a .30-06 220 grain solid bullet causes the “sudden hot scalding nausea” (p.15) in the lion’s stomach. In contrast, the nausea of fear experienced by Macomber is one of nothingness. The lion is broken down and fights his fate to the end, whereas Macomber has collasped…

    • 2016 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Desalination

    • 561 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In this essay of comparison and contrast there will be comparisons and contrasts- or in other words similarities and differences- in Jack London’s “To Build A Fire” and Richard Connell’s, “The Most Dangerous Game”. The comparisons will be constructed of the settings, characters, and conflict.…

    • 561 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Even though they had been shooting from the vehicle, Macomber felt he had finally faced his fears and in the moment of shooting the animal he felt courageous. It appeared that way, although short, he had come a long way from not only running away from the lion and not being able to be the man he was trying to be to finally being able to make his wife proud by shooting the animal without asking for assistance from the guide. Macomber constantly took on challenges to feed his ego and have others praise him although what finally gave him motivation was his wife being ashamed of him and instead going with the guide. After an intense hunt the smiling man who had once “bolted like a rabbit” from a lion finally faced up to a challenge only to meet his demise at the hands of his wife who had, out of panic perhaps, shot at the charging buffalo only to strike her husband on the skull thus ending the short but happy life of Francis Macomber. In the end Francis had felt accomplished and heroic even if it did not last long he went down heroically shooting at the coming buffalo before being struck…

    • 708 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “We have nothing to fear, but fear itself.” Known by many, this common phrase has few words, but a intense meaning. In Ernest Hemingway’s short story, “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber,” the overcoming of fear is shown throughout the story. Francis Macomber and his wife Margaret Macomber are on an African safari with a man name Robert Wilson. Hemingway portrays Francis Macomber as wealthy and beautiful, yet cowardly. Macomber's wife Margaret also young and beautiful, but seemingly dissatisfied with her husband of eleven years. Robert Wilson is portrayed as a fearless man that has little regard for anyone but himself. The story is focused around Francis Macomber’s cowardly actions and his attempt to become courageous, which inevitably leads to his death. The story contains different types of conflict and rising actions that lead to the unforeseen climax.…

    • 808 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Throughout the short story “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber” written by Ernest Hemingway, the reader is being taken along a journey in which people and animals are fighting over power and dominance. From the killing of the lion and buffalo to the manipulation and infidelity, this story is full of disproportion of who and who does not have power. Watching how the fight for power effected these individuals showed the true idiosyncrasy of the people in this story. In all at the end of the it is seen that the ones with “the most power” are really the ones with almost no power at all.…

    • 905 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Furthermore, one can see another example of Macomber being a coward through his own perspective. Macomber says to Wilson, “I’m awfully sorry about that lion business. It doesn’t have to go any further, does it? I mean no one will hear about it, will they?” (pg. 3) By Macomber saying this to Wilson, the readers see that Macomber does not want anyone to know how much of a coward he was with Wilson having to shoot the lion for him. One also sees that when Macomber says this, he is a coward because he can’t own up and say that he didn’t shoot the lion. He wants to keep it to himself and let people believe that he shot it. In addition to, the audience also gets to see Macomber being portrayed as a coward through Wilson’s point of view. Wilson says, “Why don’t you go over and join the Memsahib while I just get it over with?” to Macomber (pg. 12). By Wilson saying this to Macomber, he is basically saying, “you’re being a coward like a girl so why don’t you go stay with your wife?” During this time, that is very insulting to a guy because he’s hurting their pride. In this example, Wilson is…

    • 1340 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Beginning to read “The Short, Happy Life of Francis Macomber” by Ernest Hemmingway, it is unclear what is happening in the story. Hemmingway does not start his story with an exposition, so the reader has little to no background information and is thrown into the middle of the story. This technique allows the reader to figure out what is happening as they read it rather than giving all the information right away. By obscuring the order of events and not explaining what had happened prior to the beginning of the story, Hemmingway urges the reader to keep reading to find out what will happen next. The reader also experiences the story in chronological order according to Macomber’s thoughts because the events are learned through his stream of conscious and his retelling of memories.…

    • 623 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber” is a short story written by Ernest Hemingway. The story takes place in Africa on a big-game safari with Francis Macomber and his wife Margaret Macomber. They are led by the safari leader: Robert Wilson. In the short story Hemingway wanted to relay a message that men needed to prove themselves as men. Hemingway conveys his message through the use of theme, point of view, and symbolism.…

    • 785 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Suspense Essay Example

    • 600 Words
    • 3 Pages

    I have recently read Richard Connell’s short story, The Most Dangerous Game, and I loved it! Connell creates a very unique plot and setting. He uses many descriptive words that causes the mood of this story to become quite suspenseful and helps create a mysterious atmosphere. This interesting “hunt” that General Zaroff had created made the story a whole lot more intriguing. Connell uses setting, as well as characterization to build suspense in this story.…

    • 600 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    What makes a man a man?

    • 1531 Words
    • 7 Pages

    In "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber” by Ernest Hemingway, a rich man with his wife on an African safari shows himself a coward when he runs from a wounded lion, to the disgust of both his safari guide, Robert Wilson and his wife. Hemingway uses imagery, representation and the narrative voice to reveal the importance of demands placed by heteronormative masculinity. Hemingway contrasts physical descriptions, weapons used and character perspectives to establish the identity of a masculine man.…

    • 1531 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays