SYMBOLISM
- Cars are usually frowned upon in the hunting world, as they provide an unfair advantage for humans. Margot criticises Wilson and Macomber for shooting bison from the car, then shoots Francis from the car herself. The car is also where Margot kisses Wilson after he shoots the lion and her husband behaves as a coward.
- The car symbolises safety, it’s where Margot sits and waits while the men are shooting and where Wilson and Francis shoot animals from safety, providing an unfair advantage.
- The game being hunted represents characteristics in Macomber
- Margot references “big cowy things that jump like hares”, which actually reflects her cowardly husband, who later aligns himself further with the bunnyimage when he tells Wilson, “I bolted like a rabbit” (when hunting lion)
- However, after Macomber redeems himself and succeeds in killing a buffalo (thus shedding his cowardly image, he is killed himself and compared to the great animal lying dead next to him.
- Hemingway further associates Macomber with a lion through the hatred he feels toward Wilson as well as the stomach sickness they both experience (as well as both being shot)
- Hemingway uses guns to symbolize manliness and courage
- Wilson carries a “short, ugly, shockingly big-bored .505 Gibbs”, which is a large hunting rifle that reflects his manliness and survival skill
- Macomber’s hands shake when he holds his gun
- When Margot shoots her husband (with a German hunting rifle pronounced man licker), she “hit(s) her husband about two inches up and a little to one side of the base of his skull” like a professional, her hands don’t shake and she makes a clean shot.