Ernest Hemingway Stereotypes

Ernest Hemmingway is arguably the greatest American writer because of his ability to form sentences and address some of the most sensitive topics in a unique way. During his time as a literary scholar, he mastered the prose writing style and the short story. Hemmingway is able to break the barrier between what is socially acceptable to discuss and much more controversial topics. In his short stories, “Indian Camp” and “The Short and Happy Life of Francis Macomber,” he depicts clear gender roles and stereotypes. However, he focuses on how a man should act in certain situations, while always having a weaker man to be the obvious counter-example. Strict gender roles were seen as forward movement in the advancement of civilization. Women are supposed …show more content…
Hemmingway uses masculinity that’s been undermined or called to question to show his ideal characterization of an aggressive man throughout his short stories, “Indian Camp” and “The Short and Happy Life of Francis Macomber.” "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber" is set in Africa, this is a very dynamic and stressful setting as many things have the potential to go wrong. Francis Macomber and his wife, Margot, are on a large game hunting trip that is led by a master of large game hunting, Robert Wilson. It becomes obvious that Hemmingway uses Robert Wilson’s characteristics of masculinity as a counter example to Macomber’s. Wilson is undoubtedly fearless. He does not blink in the face of death, he will look a ravenous wild animal in the eyes before he puts a bullet into its head. On the other hand, Macomber chokes twice while trying to kill an animal putting all the other men in danger. …show more content…
He has yet to see the horrors of life and death that he unknowingly is about to witness. Nicks obvious counter example is his father, a man worn by time, has vast wisdom and has the power to be controlled under intense pressure. His father is able to stay composed and use his surroundings to his advantage and preform make-shift surgery. The father bragged about his surgery to George saying, 'That's one for the medical journal, George,' he said. 'Doing a Caesarian with a jack-knife and sewing it up with nine-foot, tapered gut leaders’” (98). Hemmingway portrays men as strong, emotionless people. The detachment of emotion directly correlates to making clear, level headed decisions in intense situations, like the father has done during the surgery. However, Nick is not intrigued by what his father is doing to the women, he finds this act to be gruesome and does not want to watch the women go through anymore harsh pain, leading to his choice to look away during the end of the surgery. “‘You can watch this or not, Nick, just as you like. I'm going to sew up the incision I made.' Nick did not watch. His curiosity had been gone for a long”