The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber

“It was now lunch time and they were all sitting under the double green fly of the dining tent pretending that nothing had happened.”

Situational irony is present from the start of this story. The main characters are attempting to resume their routine like always, relaxing and drinking and pretending nothing happened. However, their behavior and the tension within the group reveal that there was an incident on the hunt that no one wants to discuss.

“‘Don’t worry about me talking,’ he said. ‘I have a living to make. You know in Africa no woman ever misses her lion and no white man ever bolts.”

Wilson attempts to comfort Francis Macomber with humor after the humiliating “lion business.” He tells Macomber he won’t tell anyone what happened; he doesn’t want to discourage future business, and hunting stories must flatter the customer. These lines also indicate that Macomber is not the first man to run from a beast. Wilson speaks these lines despite knowing that word of his customer's humiliation is beginning to spread.

“‘I’m sorry,’ Macomber said and looked at him with his American face that would stay adolescent until it became middle-aged.”

Wilson doesn’t think highly of Americans in general in this story and blames their society for making Macomber “soft.” He views Macomber as being too sheltered and too pampered, hindering his transition to manhood.