f Hemingway's code of manhood. From the beginning, Wilson understands a thousand things that Macomber fails to grasp. It is bad form, for example, to ask your professional hunter not to tell anybody of your cowardice; as a professional, he will keep silent without being asked. It is bad form to insult the natives who accompany you on the safari; you are, after all, a guest in their country (24). And it is exceedingly bad form to leave a wounded animal to die; it shows a lack of compassion for the beast itself and for the unlucky passer-by who might encounter it (17-8).
Macomber seems, at the outset, to have no instinctive understanding of any of these standards of conduct. But there is yet another component of the code, and Macomber is most noticeably in violation of this one. It is in very, very bad form not to keep your woman under tight command; a woman is presumably enough of a nuisance on a hunt without having free reign to manipulate the men around her. Consequently, Wilson has no ethical qualms about sleeping with Margot: "Well, why doesn't he keep his wife where she belongs? What does he think I am, a bloody plaster saint?" (23).
But Macomber's transformation into a true man of action is almost instantaneous, and the sensation he experiences is tremendous: "In his life he had never felt so good" (29). And suddenly, Wilson's contempt for Macomber turns to touching admiration. Even his admonishments toward his pupil become more gentle, more affectionate:
"Do you have that feeling of happiness about what's going to happen?" Macomber asked, still exploring his new wealth.
"You're not supposed to mention it," Wilson said, looking in the other's face. "Much more fashionable to say you're scared. Mind you, you'll be scared too, plenty of times" (33).
Comradeship (or what is more trendily described as "male bonding") is, after all, the most treasured outcome of a well-kept code.
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