Free Essays on The Short Happy Life Of Francis Macomber

Character Analysis Of â€Å"The Short Happy Life Of Francis Macomberâ€Å" Remember that guy from high school who had everything? He was the one with the brand new convertible, good grades, great looks, and beautiful girlfriend. How I wanted to be that guy. I never stopped to wonder what his life was really like or if he was what he appeared to be. Unless one gets close enough to a person to learn what goes on in his or her life the observer will never know what it’s like to walk in that person’s shoes. However, in writing it’s different. The author gives the reader a chance to become intimately acquainted with fictional characters and to know the characters better than would be possible in real life (Arp 169). The reader has the ability to glimpse the inner lives of the characters and to experience â€Å"†¦an exciting opportunity to observe human nature in all its complexity and multiplicity† (Arp 169). Such is true in Ernest Hemingway’s short story, â€Å"The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber†. The main character, Francis Macomber, seems to have it all – wealth, success, good looks, and beautiful wife – but below the surface is a man with no self-respect or confidence. While on safari in Africa, Francis Macomber is overcome with fear when he is faced with stalking and killing a lion. When he fails to complete the task he is labeled a coward. However, as the story progresses Francis undergoes a transformation. The character of Francis Macomber evolves due the constant abuse from his wife, an inner struggle with fear and embarrassment, and the deep hatred that he feels for Mr. Wilson. The abuse Francis Macomber suffers from his wife in the story is a key aspect in the transformation that he undergoes. Early on in the story the reader learns that this is a marriage that was not made in heaven. In fact, it seems that their marriage exists from mutual need only. The narrator states, â€Å"They had a sound basis of un... Free Essays on The Short Happy Life Of Francis Macomber Free Essays on The Short Happy Life Of Francis Macomber Character Analysis Of â€Å"The Short Happy Life Of Francis Macomberâ€Å" Remember that guy from high school who had everything? He was the one with the brand new convertible, good grades, great looks, and beautiful girlfriend. How I wanted to be that guy. I never stopped to wonder what his life was really like or if he was what he appeared to be. Unless one gets close enough to a person to learn what goes on in his or her life the observer will never know what it’s like to walk in that person’s shoes. However, in writing it’s different. The author gives the reader a chance to become intimately acquainted with fictional characters and to know the characters better than would be possible in real life (Arp 169). The reader has the ability to glimpse the inner lives of the characters and to experience â€Å"†¦an exciting opportunity to observe human nature in all its complexity and multiplicity† (Arp 169). Such is true in Ernest Hemingway’s short story, â€Å"The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber†. The main character, Francis Macomber, seems to have it all – wealth, success, good looks, and beautiful wife – but below the surface is a man with no self-respect or confidence. While on safari in Africa, Francis Macomber is overcome with fear when he is faced with stalking and killing a lion. When he fails to complete the task he is labeled a coward. However, as the story progresses Francis undergoes a transformation. The character of Francis Macomber evolves due the constant abuse from his wife, an inner struggle with fear and embarrassment, and the deep hatred that he feels for Mr. Wilson. The abuse Francis Macomber suffers from his wife in the story is a key aspect in the transformation that he undergoes. Early on in the story the reader learns that this is a marriage that was not made in heaven. In fact, it seems that their marriage exists from mutual need only. The narrator states, â€Å"They had a sound basis of un...

Serial Comma in Business Writing

Serial Comma in Business Writing In nearly every business writing course I lead, the subject of whether or not to use a serial comma (also called an oxford comma) comes up. There is always strong opinion. I actually dreaded writing this article. I was scarred by this subject while in graduate school studying composition and rhetoric, when I had to write a 10-page paper on the history and merits/detriments of the serial comma. I had to present my research and opinion to my classmates, who not surprisingly loved to debate grammar. The argument about whether the serial comma should or should not be included lasted over two hours. We never did come to any consensus. This controversy probably exists because there is no grammar â€Å"rule.† Just convention. And, style guides differ. To define: a serial comma is the optional comma used at the end of a list. The most common conjunctions in a list are â€Å"and† and â€Å"or.† The serial comma is the comma that comes before the conjunction: I like cookies, cupcakes(,) and gumdrops. (The comma before and is the serial comma.) TED Talks provide an excellent illustrative summary: Let me tip my hand, and give you my opinion on this business grammar issue, and then I’ll explain why: The customary convention in business writing is to use the serial comma. The customary convention in journalism is to omit it, historically to conserve space. The British tend to use serial commas less than Americans. It is both correct to use or not use a serial comma, so what is most important is consistency. (And, be prepared for some editors to correct you, regardless of which option you choose.) I recommend using the serial comma in business writing, since it is the customary convention. And, to me, it is much easier to consistently follow this convention, than to omit it most of the time and add it in when clarity is needed. Keep it simple. Let’s look at examples where the serial comma clarifies: When stocking your desk, be sure you have pens, pencils, paper clips(,) and pins. (The comma after pens in parentheses is the serial comma.) If you do not use a serial comma in this sentence, meaning is still quite clear, but you might wonder if you need to buy a box of paper clips and pins mixed together: When stocking your desk, be sure you have pens, pencils, paper clips and pins. Let’s examine a more ambiguous example: The job involves restocking shelves, cleaning and serving customers. (Without a serial comma before and, the sentence suggests the person doing this job will be responsible for cleaning the customers in addition to serving them.) Another example illustrating confusion that results by omitting the serial comma: â€Å"To reduce stress, I like running, yoga, meditation and visualization and quiet time alone.† Notice I omitted the serial comma here. Let’s see how this example works: No comma: To reduce stress, I like (running,) (yoga,) (meditation and visualization and quiet) time. Comma: To reduce stress, I like (running,) (yoga,) (meditation and visualization,) and (quiet) time. Recommendation Use the serial comma consistently in your business writing. Only omit it in those rare instances when it muddies meaning. Grammarians love to debate this issue, and there will never be full agreement, but for business writing, the convention is clear: use the serial comma. What is your opinion on this hotly debated grammar issue? Yes or no for the serial comma?