Margaret Macomber

Outer characterization

Margaret Macomber is a main character in the short story “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber” by Ernest Hemingway. She is described as “an extremely handsome and well kept woman” (p. 1, ll. 28-29). She has a “perfect oval face” (p.3, l. 55). She endorsed a beauty product in the past (p. 1, ll. 30-32). She wears a “rose-colored, sun-proofed shirt” (p. 2, l. 1). Robert Wilson addresses her as “Memsahib”, which is a respectful Indian term for a married white upper-class woman. She has been married to Francis Macomber for 11 years (p. 1, l. 32). Margaret is often referred to as Margot. 

Inner characterization

In her interactions with the two men, Margaret is often ironic and uses humor to express her displeasure or to hurt their feelings. For instance, she repeatedly teases Wilson about his red face (p. 1, ll. 5-6; p. 3, ll. 57-58), making it into a joke about their collective shame in the aft...