Ernest Hemingway’s contemporary short story “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber” adopts the theme in Shakespeare’s Hamlet of accepting death, rather than excessively contemplating the inevitable. The contrast of Hemingway’s central characters, Francis Macomber and Robert Wilson, mimics the contrast of Shakespeare’s characters, Hamlet and Fortinbras. While some characters overanalyze every aspect of life, others prepare themselves for life’s uncontrollable events. No matter the approach toward life and death, everyone meets the same fate eventually. Whether death occurs sooner or later, abruptly or peacefully, it consumes everyone. The decision of whether “to be, or not to be” (III. i. 56), to act or not to act, has no effect on the unavoidable, death. Over- analyzing life does not change its outcome, but it does weigh a heavy burden on the mind.
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He“[exposes] what is mortal and unsure” (IV.iv.51) with no fear. Fortinbras understands that death is unavoidable; therefore he battles for honor. Hemingway depicts Wilson as a modern Fortinbras, unhesitant to murder anything. Wilson values honor over life because life is shameful without honor. Dying for an honorable cause is more fulfilling than living like a coward. Humans cannot control the afterlife, but they can control how they spend their time in the living world. Accepting life’s unpredictability instead of fighting it makes living more enjoyable and less burdensome. Fortinbras accepts that fact of life that Hamlet struggles to accept: “all that lives must die” (I.ii.72). Because he does not excessively worry about his fate, Fortinbras makes peace with his mind. Robert Wilson understands the concept that those who do not die sooner will die later. His insight eases his mind. There is nothing to overanalyze about death; it happens to the greatest and worst of men alike. One cannot circumvent mortality, so there is no use in stressing over what cannot be
He“[exposes] what is mortal and unsure” (IV.iv.51) with no fear. Fortinbras understands that death is unavoidable; therefore he battles for honor. Hemingway depicts Wilson as a modern Fortinbras, unhesitant to murder anything. Wilson values honor over life because life is shameful without honor. Dying for an honorable cause is more fulfilling than living like a coward. Humans cannot control the afterlife, but they can control how they spend their time in the living world. Accepting life’s unpredictability instead of fighting it makes living more enjoyable and less burdensome. Fortinbras accepts that fact of life that Hamlet struggles to accept: “all that lives must die” (I.ii.72). Because he does not excessively worry about his fate, Fortinbras makes peace with his mind. Robert Wilson understands the concept that those who do not die sooner will die later. His insight eases his mind. There is nothing to overanalyze about death; it happens to the greatest and worst of men alike. One cannot circumvent mortality, so there is no use in stressing over what cannot be