Fracis Macomber

Animal Instinct

The short happy life of Fracis Macomber shows how one man goes to waste after learning the meaning of courage on an African hunt. Macomber, a young, wealthy, coward, American hunter goes on a safari expedition with his wife led by an older, more experienced, cocky English hunter Wilson. Out here it’s not what or who you are but if you can survive the piercing cries of the wild and come to terms with the basic instinct of survival.

Francis Macomber and his “loyal” wife Margot set out on a safari expedition led by an older more experienced English hunter, Wilson. Macomber is a wealthy young American who involves himself in many sport oriented activities and has now dipped his feet in the biggest test of his life; being a man. Not only in the physical but the mental and spiritual sense; overcoming fear and being able to trust your own intuitive and go after what you want and take it, following the natural law of survival which entails knowing your strength, knowing your enemy, and being able to conquer at any cost. His test begins within the foundation of his family life when he realizes that although he has given all of himself externally to Margot. She cheats on Macomber with Wilson because he did not have the masculinity, bravery or aloofness that the older Wilson contained. Macomber’s first hunting experience did not show anyone his talents or bravery. He and Wilson had set out after a great lion but when Macomber came face to face with the great king of the wild, all fear rose and he “bolted like a rabbit”. With this, Wilson believed that the coward, young American would not be able to handle the wild safari, especially when they go for their major wealth, the buffalo.

Kimberly Seheult

They set out the following day to try another lion. Macomber is sure that he will be able to conquer this one. He, Wilson, and the gun bearers go into the vicinity of the lion’s nesting ground leaving his wife by the car. Here, again the great creature that instills only fear in him confronts Macomber and he shoots. The lion charges off running “you hit him in the front” Wilson says gravely. “We must go finish him”. Macomber does not want to go after the fierce beast; he wishes instead the incident never had taken place. Wilson instructs Macomber to follow him into the bushes staying close behind, with his rifle cocked. As they enter the grass, a blood-chocked, coughing grunt comes from the bush and with that Macomber ran; he never looked back, only kept running. Wilson’s gun went off behind him and he could hear the crashing of the lion to the ground. When all the drama died down Macomber approached the spot in which they had parked and looked at his wife who did not acknowledge his presence but approached Wilson and kissed him on the mouth. Macomber knew she would not leave him, she could not, he was to rich but for now Wilson was “the man”, he had killed the lion. Macomber, “the coward bitch” ran.

That night Macomber lay awake and unaware of Margot’s absence as a result of being caught up in the day’s events. When she reentered, he asked where she had been but she dismissed his question arrogantly. Knowing she had been with Wilson enraged Macomber, “you’re a bitch”. “Well, you’re a coward”. Macomber acknowledges this and realizes that he has to fight for what he wanted and play the game his wife, Wilson, and everyone else played.

That morning as the three of them sat around the table, Macomber could not help but think