Monday, October 19, 2009

The Short, Happy Life of Francis Macomber Summary


"The Short, Happy Life of Francis Macomber" is written by Ernest Hemingway. The story begins with Francis Macomber, his wife, Margaret, and Robert Wilson sitting at their camp preparing lunch in the African jungle. The Macomber family is of a wealthy background and Francis decides to go on a safari and bring along his wife. Robert Wilson is the paid expert hunter on the safari. As they sit at camp, they are talking about a previous hunt that morning. The topic seems rather awkward among the three because Francis runs away during a lion hunt. This makes Francis feel embarrassed, Margaret feels ashamed, and Wilson, who tries to give reassurance to Francis, feels little respect towards Francis. While they talk about this hunt, Margaret makes numerous sarcastic remarks toward Francis. Later the same afternoon, Francis and Wilson go on another hunt, and Francis tries to redeem himself by impressively shooting impalas. His attempt does not return his self-esteem, however. That same night Francis lies in bed recollecting that same morning. The story flashes back to the incident. In the flashback, it tells how Francis was bothered the night before by the lions roaring noise. When they wake the next morning, he tells about the lion and Wilson recommends hunting the lion. The three set out for the lion in a car. When they find the lion, the hunters get out of the vehicle and Francis shoots the lion twice. The lion runs away and Francis and Wilson run after the beast. When they find the lion, the lion charges the two and Francis cowardly runs away while Wilson kills the lion. When they return to the vehicle, Francis realizes Margaret sees the whole incident. She kisses Wilson and Francis feels like his wife has no respect for him. This kiss shows trouble in the marriage, but it has not been the first sign before. Francis finally falls asleep, but reawakens after a nightmare involving the lion. He looks around and realizes his wife is not in her cot. After a few hours, she returns to her cot where it is apparent she has been with Wilson. The next morning Wilson realizes Francis knows of the affair, however, Wilson has no regret. After breakfast, the three go out to hunt buffalo. Francis Macomber's anger makes him become excited for the hunt. He kills the largest of the three buffalo and kills another that was wounded by Wilson. This brings confidence to Francis who becomes a new man. His wife, however, attempts to hurt his confidence by stating that they illegally killed the buffalo by using a motor car, but this has no effect on Francis. This creates a new respect from Wilson towards Francis. Francis Macomber's clearly in control of his relationship at this point in the story and Margaret is clearly scared about her husband's change. Like the case of the lion, the third buffalo runs off and is wounded. Wilson tells Francis the best shot for the buffalo. When the animal charges the two, this time, Francis is ready and starts shooting at the buffalo. The buffalo is nearly on top of him when he is shot by his wife in the head killing him instantly. Apparently, it seems as though she is shooting at the buffalo, however, Wilson believes it was intentional. The story ends with Margaret crying and Wilson informing her that he believes it was murder, but she will get by with it.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Hills Like White Elephants Summary


At the beginning of the story, an American and his girlfriend are in Spain at a train station waiting for their train to come. As they wait in the heat, they order beer. While they drink their beer, the girl comments about the hills being white elephants but the man discounts her statement. After awhile it is apparent that the girl is pregnant and the man is trying to make her have an abortion. She is scared and wants reassurance that he will still love her and everything will be normal again if she has the abortion. As she asks for this, it becomes clear that she wants to give birth to the child and that nothing will ever be the same again. While the man tells the girl that she does not have to have the abortion if she does not want it, it is clear he does not want this. As they sit there the girl looks out into the hills and seems to be thinking about her life. She says they could have everything and the man agrees, but for her it includes the baby. The girl finally becomes frustrated and asks the man to be quiet while they wait. He ignores her and continues on with his thoughts until she begs him to stop talking. At this point he tries once more, but she threatens to scream, so he takes their baggage and takes it to the other side of the station and has a quick drink. When he returns, he asks if she is better and she says she is fine.

A Day's Wait Summary


"A Day's Wait" is a story by Ernest Hemingway where an American boy named Schatz is living in France gets a fever. The boy acts as though nothing is wrong, however, the narrator who is also the father calls a doctor to diagnose Schatz. When the doctor goes to the boy's house, he takes his temperature and finds out Schatz has a fever of one hundred and two. The rest of the entire day the boy stays in his room, not moving from his same spot. The narrator, after going out for a little while, returns home to find Schatz in the same spot he left him. The boy asks his father when he will die, and the father is shocked and asks Schatz why he believes he is dying. Schatz says he heard at school in France that a person can not live with a fever of more than forty-four and he has been waiting to die the whole day. The narrator is relieved and explains to the boy the difference between Celsius and Fahrenheit.

A Clean, Well-Lighted Place Summary


"A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" is a novel by Ernest Hemingway. The story is about an old, deaf man and two waiters at a cafe. The story begins with the two waiters speaking about the deaf man. The older waiter of the two tells the younger that the old man attempts suicide, but his niece saves him. As the story continues, a young couple goes by the cafe - a soldier and girl. When this couple goes by the cafe, the waiters make a comment about the young soldiers curfew. Afterwards, the younger waiter goes over to the old man who is asking for a drink. The young waiter wants to go home, so he acts as though he does not understand. Realizing what the waiter is doing, the old man acts out and spills his drink on purpose. After numerous conversations, the younger waiter makes the old man leave. As the cafe is all cleaned up, the young waiter goes home, but the older waiter thinks he understands the old man's desire for staying at a cafe. Due to this, the old man goes to a bar because all cafes are closed. After going to a bar, he looks around and realizes that he enjoys cafes better. After his first drink he goes home to his insomnia and, with daylight, goes to sleep.

The Short, Happy Life of Francis Macomber

"You've gotten awfully brave, awfully suddenly," his wife said contemptuously, but her contempt was not secure. She was very afraid of something. Macomber laughed, a very natural hearty laugh. "You know I have ," he said. "I really have." "Isn't it sort of late?" Margot said bitterly. Because she had done the best she could for many years back and the way they were together now was no one person's fault. "Not for me," said Macomber.
-conversation between Francis and Margaret

"That was a pretty thing to do," he said in a toneless voice. "He would have left you too."
-Robert Wilson speaking to Margaret about shooting Francis

"We'll leave the Mannlicher in the car with the Memsahib."
-Wilson talking to Francis before going to get the buffalo in the forest

"If you make a scene I'll leave you, darling," Margot said quietly.
"No, you won't."
"You can try it and see."
"You won't leave me."
"No," she said. "I won't leave you and you'll behave your self."
-conversation between Francis and Margaret

So, Robert Wilson thought to himself, she is giving him a
ride, isn't she? Or do you suppose that's her idea of
putting up a good show? How should a woman act when she
discovers her husband is a bloody coward? She's damned
cruel but they're all cruel. They govern, of course, and to
govern one has to be cruel sometimes. Still, I've seen
enough of their damn terrorism.
-narrator speaking about Robert Wilson's thoughts

Friday, October 16, 2009

Hills Like White Elephants Quotes

"It's really an awfully simple operaion, Jid," the man said. "It's not really an operation at all."
-man talking to the girl at the bar

"We can have everything."
"No, we can't."
"We can have the whole world."
"No, we can't."
"We can go everywhere."
"No, we can't. It isn't ours any more."
"It's ours."
"No, we can't. And once they take it away, you never get it back."
-conversation between the man and woman

"They look like white elephants," she said.
"I've never seen one," the man drank his beer. "No, you wouldn't have."
-conversation between the man and woman

A Day's Wait Quotes

"People don't die with a fever of one hundred and two. That's a silly way to talk."
"I know they do. At school in France, the boys told me you can't live with forty-four degrees. I've got a hundred and two."
-conversation between Schatz and the narrator

After a while he said to me, " You don't have to stay in here with me, Papa, if it bothers you."
"It doesn't bother me."
"No, I mean you don't have to stay if it's going to bother you."
-conversation between Schatz and the narrator

"Take this with water."
"Do you think it will do any good?"
"Of course it will."
-conversation between Schatz and the narrator

A Clean, Well-Lighted Place Quotes

"I am one of those who like to stay late at the café," the older waiter said. "With all those who do not want to go to bed. With all those who need a light for the night."
- old waiter

He disliked bars and bodegas. A clean, well-lighted café was a very different thing. Now, without thinking further, he would go home to his room. He would lie in the bed and finally, with daylight, he would go to sleep.
- narrator taliking about the old waiter

"He was in despair."
"What about?"
"Nothing."
"How do you know it was nothing?"
"He has plenty of money."
- conversation between the waters at the café