Hemingway and Faulkner: Comparative literary analysis

Honor is frequently mentioned in Ernest Hemingway's short story entitled "The Happy Life of Francis Macomber." Clearly the characters and Hemingway tie strong meaning to honor. Francis Macomber has a strong desire for honor and courage, especially after seeing his wife sneak into another man's tent. Francis and Wilson go hunting two times in this story. On the first excursion, Wilson the "professional hunter" (p. 4) is brave, and defeats the lion before it can injure the terrified Macomber. According to Hemingway, Macomber "…had just shown himself, very publicly, to be a coward" (Hemingway, p. 2). Margot Macomber aids in demonstrating the importance of honor when she not only makes fun of her husband for being afraid, but beds with the much more "honorable" Wilson after the first hunting trip. On the second hunting trip Macomber and Wilson encounter a wounded buffalo and end up in almost the same situation as the time prior. Macomber stands his ground, and the charging buffalo is killed at the last minute. Sadly, Margot aims for the buffalo and shoots her husband, Francis. Thus, Margot instantly kills any honor or courage Macomber found within himself. Based on the consistent theme of courage throughout the story, honor holds a strong meaning for Hemingway also.

2. With Wilson acting as a catalyst in "The Happy Life of Francis Macomber" certain changes in the dynamic of Francis and Margot's relationship begin to change. As mentioned previously, Wilson shows and has honor. Margot craves this characteristic in Wilson. In Francis and Margot's relationship, before the hunting excursion, Margot had the control. Wilson appears honorable and brave because he is able to face the lion when Macomber runs away in fear. Once Macomber sees his wife sneak into another man's bed, "…his wife was not in the other cot in the tent" (p. 6), a change occurs in Macomber. An even further change occurs in Macomber as he shoots the buffalo that charges him. At this point Macomber almost seems to have his entry into manhood, finally. Wilson thinking of Macomber says, "…he had seen men come of age before and it always moved him" (p. 24). He can now also have honor, but Margot changes everything. Margot Macomber kills Macomber's honor and takes his life before he can fully change.

3. In William Faulkner's "That Evening Sun Go Down" there are several complex relationships that can be studied. One of the more prevalent themes concerns race and how it affects relationships in the south. At this point in history there are clear inequalities between black and white individuals. Faulkner makes this inequality evident through this story. The story also speaks to gender-based discrimination. The female lead of the story is a black woman and is extremely mistreated by almost everyone around her. She is used for what they want, when they want. This character's significant other does not even support her when she learns she is pregnant, but is enraged. Nancy is accused of being an alcoholic, and also of doing cocaine. In "Evening Sun Go Down" someone states that Nancy, "…would try to commit suicide unless he was full of cocaine" (Faulkner, p. 25).

4. For a short story, "Evening Sun" has numerous characters that are connected in various ways. First is Nancy, a black servant. Nancy is married to Jesus. The narrator if the story is Quentin Compson. Nancy is involved with the Compson family because she is a laundry woman in town. Due to Nancy's lower status in society, she is mistreated. Nancy is forced to engage in sexual acts with men besides her husband. Mr. Compson is one of the men who is cruel to Nancy and uses her in this way. Mr. Compson has three children total. Their names are Quentin, Caddy, and Jason. These are all of the key individuals in the story by Faulkner. Even Mr. Stovall, who is a Baptist deacon, is unkind to Nancy when he punches some of her teeth out. He also appears in the story when Faulkner states,"…Baptist deacon knocks her down and kicks out several of her teeth, and Nancy is taken to jail" (P. 20).