Francis Macomber Coward

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Being a coward is not about being afraid, it is about how you act on that fear. When faced with a difficult situation a coward will run away or avoid it altogether if given the option. This is why I think Francis Macomber in the short story “The Short and Happy Life Of Francis Macomber” by Ernest Hemingway is more of a coward than Wilson. Francis has lots of fear, a lack of confidence, and shame. While Wilson holds none of these traits.

Fear is a funny thing. It is really just our mind playing tricks on us and our animal instincts kicking in. Where fear isn't always a bad thing and can help protects from what is real, fear also plays a big role in someone being a coward. Francis Macomber has a copious amount of fear in the beginning of the …show more content…
For Macomber “had just shown himself... a coward” (2.3). Margot even feels shame for her husband she does not even want “to talk about the lion” (2.6). Francis feels shame as he watches his wife cheat on him. The man who took over Francis failed hunt of the lion is now sleeping with his wife. This also makes Francis a coward, if he did not feel this shame and stood by what he did he would also have more confidence and less fear. Wilson Has none of these traits. Not only is he okay with sleeping with another man's wife but he also has no shame in whipping his staff. He would gladly see one of his men “get fifteen of the best” (3.9). Wilson feels no shame in killing animals. It is his profession and he takes pride in it. When coming to help Francis finish the job on the wounded Lion he even offers to do the whole thing and let Francis watch, because “that us what [he] was hired for” (10.20).

It is clear Francis is more of a coward then Wilson. Francis holds all the traits of a coward while Wilson possesses none. Wilson's actions may not be better and a bit rude it does not mean he is a coward. Francis is a nice man who loves his wife but that does not mean he is not a coward. If you needed someone to kill a lion, stand up for themselves, and stand by their actions, Francis Macomber is not your
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