I recently read Hemingway's short story 'The short Happy Life'. As an aspiring writer, I try to be mindful of the theme, the message the narration style of what I read while I am enjoying the story.

With this story, what are the themes? The story is about a hunting expedition that ends in an accident, but the theme...what is it? I spotted themes of American midlife crisis,cuckold husband, marriage problems,the inherent cruelty in hunting.

Am I completely off the charts? Are these themes well developed in the story?

My other question is how to interpret the accident in the end of the story. I am asking these questions to write a better review of the book and also I am trying to udnerstand what constitutes a good short story.

I made a thread that tackles these kind of questions

for-an-aspiring-writer-how-deep-should-book-analysis-go-t14766.html

I think you'll find it quite stimulating

The narrative implies that it was no accident: she deliberately killed her husband, because she knew that with his newly found confidence, he would leave her. This story, I believe, is about the delicate balance between confidence and the fabrics of society (like marriage) that are often kept alive because of a lack of confidence (e.g., reluctance to move on). Which one is more important? Which is more beneficial for humankind? I don't think he answers it; more like presenting us with the question.