Psychoanalytic Theory in "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber" by Ernest hemingway

In “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber” by Ernest Hemingway, we are greeted by characters who encounter several core issues according to the Psychoanalytic theory. As a result, these characters put up defenses when faced with these issues. The two main characters to be analyzed are Francis Macomber and wife Margaret Macomber.

            Mr. Macomber is dealing with the issue of insecure sense of self. This is evident in his lack of confidence and the way he allows others to take control of him especially his wife. We also see the way Mr. Macomber gains instant gratification after shooting the buffalo; this is to show that he is finally becoming the person he aspires to be. Mr. Macomber is also dealing with a fear of abandonment for it is indicated in the story that he thinks that his wife will never leave him because of his wealth. Likewise, he claims that he can never leave her because of her beauty. We see how insecure he became after waking up during the night and not finding his wife next to him, only to find out that she was having an affair. It is also indicated that his wife has cheated several times prior to the trip which was supposed to rekindle their relationship The fact that he never leaved her proves that he has a fear of abandonment

All these issues contribute to his apparent low self-esteem and state of denial. His low self-esteem is especially evident throughout the hunt where he habitually runs away from the lion as though he was running away from his self. This also symbolizes his wife’s dominancy over him. His denial state is established by the fact that he hoped that the trip will fix his marital issues. It is as though he is trying to forget his wife’s past affairs yet here he is, reliving yet another one.

Mrs. Macomber as we see also deals with a fear of abandonment. She too fears her husband leaving her despite the very things she do to somewhat trigger it. Since her husband’s wealth is the only attachment she has to this marriage, she constantly reminds us that this is what she fears to lose most.

Mrs. Macomber avoids dealing with her marital issues through her infidelities. It is as though she seeks satisfaction outside her marriage because these men somewhat represent the husband she wants to have but does not. This is evident towards the beginning of the story where she removes herself from the table because she was embarrassed for her husband’s lack of bravery. She also displaces some of her own negative feelings onto her husband by being extremely condescending and demanding. She deals with his incompetency by kissing another man in front of him and slipping out of their bed during the middle of the night.