Facing existentialism in the story, Macomber did not find meaning in his life until the end of history when he became a hero of code. This lasted only for a short time only because his wife shot him, and he lived "a short and happy life." Hemingway's comment is that life itself is meaningless unless you give it meaning, usually demonstrating code hero qualities, as not to fear death. With Francis Macomber the value idol lastly gets to the point of full launch to which he had shifted since the beginning encounters of Adams level.