Critical Analysis Of Hills Like White Elephants

The text “Letting the air into a relationship: Metaphorical Abortion in ‘Hills Like White Elephants” by Wyche David aims at analyzing and synthesizing the short story by Hemingway “Hills like White”. The analysis would provide new knowledge to readers of the short story or provide the readers with a new point of view of analyzing it. The subject of the text is to present his ideas on the short story and well as critique other critics who had previously critiqued it. The story illustrates broken relationships of Hemingway and the pain it caused him, which led him to write the short story. The whole text is therefore an analysis and synthesis of the short story written by Hemingway.

The narrator is very brief. In “Hills Like White Elephants”, a man and young girl are traveling together in Madrid, Spain. I can infer from their conversation through their words and through the embedded vocabulary that they are probably headed to an abortion center. The reason I think this is because they spend the entire short story contemplating the idea of an abortion. The decision they are making seems urgent and rushed. The girl looks out the window at the “hills like white elephants” as the man continues to be persistent, as if wanting an answer as soon as possible. This urgency allows me to infer that the only reason why the decision is so urgent is because they are actively heading to an abortion center in that moment.

“Hills like White Elephants,” written by Ernest Hemingway is a short story about two characters and their’s turning and twisting arguments about an operation and also how the settings affect on both this characters perspective and attitude toward the abortion. The story begins at the train station somewhere in Spain where this couple waiting for a train to Madrid and discussing whether to keep baby or no. While in the stations, different events take place as highlighted by the author of the story where the girl explore surrounding of the train station and compare each thing with her situation such as the nearby rail tracks, trees, river, the hills, alcohol. On the other hand, the American responds by stating that he has never come across white elephants and refuse her perspective and shows his decision to not have a baby. The two characters continue ordering more drinks while having their discussion. In a nutshell, the story “Hills like White Elephants,” is a short story about a young girl name Jig and American man who waiting for a train and discussing about whether a girl have an abortion or no, based on abortion, there is a conflict of their relationship derived on the environmental setting of the short story.

Enerest Hemingway’s short story titled Hills Like White Elephants, is a story that may seem as simple and plain as if not much is going on. However, the story is actually very intricate; the author was able to say a lot without using many words. The story is about a conversation between a man and girl who are waiting for a train in Spain. The couple are both distressed about how they should make a decision of whether to keep their baby, or terminate the pregnancy. Hemingway is able to say indirectly that the conversation is about abortion with clearly stating it by using literary elements. Some of the elements Hemingway uses are ones such as symbols to show different meanings for concision, irony to talk about something complicated in a clear way, and he uses an objective 3rd person point-of-view to make the reader feel as if he or she is observing the event themselves. This story is a great way to show how one can tell a story in a simple and economical way to reveal something very complex.

Hemingway is an incredible writer who has a keen sense for putting actual conflicts and themes into well written short stories. In his story,”Hills like white elephants” Ernest Hemingway explores many different issues that are still present today. Ernest Hemingway gives us a true controversial tale of tough decision making and the will a person has to change the thinking of a person. To add onto the list of controversial topics is the abortion , which is the tough decision that conflicts these two characters. In“Hills like white elephants” Ernest Hemingway creates a theme of how tough the decision making can be for an abortion and the control that a person has in wake of the decisive decision.

“Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway, is a short story that tells of an account much larger than the story itself. An American man and young girl stand at a crossroads, when facing a major decision. Like most short stories the characters are developed through action and discussion, rather than lengthy and detailed reports. Ernest Hemingway is famous for symbolism, which is used extensively in “Hills Like White Elephants”. Small details and light conversations may share a tremendous amount of information with readers of this short story, by standing for a “bigger picture”. These small details and light conversations can tell of a story that many may never figure out until they dig deeper into the story itself.

In the story “Hills Like White Elephants,” Ernest Hemingway uses his in-depth ability of foreshadowing to provide the reader with little information on the stories background or future events to come. At first glance, the discussion that takes place in story seems like a minor argument between a couple at a train station in Spain. However, upon deeper analysis, this piece takes a stab at one of the touchiest subject’s world-wide - abortion. The female protagonist in this story, Jig, is pregnant and her partner, an American man, wants no part of the typical settled-down lifestyle. For some time the two have traveled around Europe with no true home and no set future. To him, this is the only way to live. The woman, however, sees a future at some point in time with a husband and children. Getting pregnant, to her, is a sign that the transition point in her life has come and she is ready to embrace it. The man, however, is unable to embrace this passage and uses his power to manipulate the woman in the direction of acquiring an abortion. The ways in which he abuses his power and coerces Jig to obey his will are devious and wobbly.

The world of literature would be exceptionally boring if every story was narrated the same way and was told in the same point of view. Luckily, authors are fortunate to have a numerous amount of ways to narrate their work in order to achieve the effect and meaning they want readers to obtain from the story. Ernest Hemingway, the author of this story, narrated this story differently than many other stories I have read. “Hills Like White Elephants” makes it difficult to emotionally connect with any of the characters because the reader does not know what any of them are thinking.

In life there will be decisions that need to be made, and in some instances, the decisions made may involve others. In the short story “Hills Like White Elephants” a man and a girl are having a conversation, although the author, Ernest Hemingway, never directly says what the conversation is about; abortion is the topic that is inferred. The decision the man and the girl need to make connect back to the the decisions that have to be made in life. In the short story, the man believes that the girl should abort the baby and keep their relationship going, the girl is confused and is torn between trying to make the man stay and what she believes is morally right.

The relationship between the American and the Girl in “Hills like White Elephants” appears to be strained over the matters of an operation. Their relationship appears rocky the moment they start conversing, having no means of hearing what the other one has to say. Their reaction toward one another reveals just how their different views on the matter affects their relationship. As they engage in conversation their opposing views, related or unrelated to the matter, are hard not to take notice. As well as the subtle descriptions the girl uses about the idea of a baby. This helps makes the reader is aware of which kind of operation it is that they later refer to. Hoping he will understand her, she tries to bring up the baby in an indirect manner in hopes not to ruin a fine time. The man on the other hand does the opposite by bluntly expressing his opinions. His strategy proves be persuasive when she

“Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway is a short story about an American man and a girl named “Jig” drinking at a bar waiting for a train that will take them to Madrid to come. While waiting, Jig points out that the hills look like white elephants. The conversation then turns to the man trying to convince Jig to have an abortion saying it’s a simple operation and afterwards they’ll be happy. However, Jig seems to be in debate with herself over whether she should do the operation or not. After arguing over the procedure, Jig gets fed up with the man and asks him to stop talking. At the end, he asks if she is she feeling better and she lies to him telling him she’s fine. In all, I think what Hemingway is trying to express is that the

“They look like white elephants.” (Pg. 280) The term white is symbolic of light, rarity, and purity. The term elephant is symbolic of power, an expensive gift, or an object that may be unwanted. Together, the terms refer to the gift of an unborn child. When used throughout the context of the story, the reader can gather a white elephant is seen as a valuable and precious gift by the girl, but it is seen by the American as a burden or inconvenience that will steal his freedom. Hemmingway further emphasizes his point, that the couple are referring to the decision of possibly aborting an unborn child, in the way he describes the scenery surrounding the hills. “Across on the other side, were fields of grain and trees along the banks of the Ebro. Far away beyond, the river, were mountains.” (Pg. 282) This symbolizes the woman’s pregnancy. On one side of the river the land is prosperous, indicating fertility; on the other side of the river the land is dry and lifeless, indicating an empty and barren womb. As the story continues, we are able to gather toward which direction each character is arguing their point of view.

Hills Like White Elephants shows a seemingly simple discussion between Jig and an American man about the possibility of an operation. Yet, when the story is dissected it becomes apparent that they are discussing the possibility of an abortion. Nothing in the short story is mentioned or said without signaling a greater or different meaning. Hemingway used the surroundings of the train station to impact the story and designed the characters to properly show two varying personalities. Even though this is a very short story, it can be seen that Jig grows and changes whereas the American stays a very static character. The conversation between the couple is important, but the symbols are significant to indicate the underlying importance of the situation. Many themes could be analyzed from this story, but this paper will discuss the themes surrounding choice. The choice is an essential part of the story and relies on several aspects of the storytelling which intertwine to produce an invigorating discussion between two opposing viewpoints on abortion. In Hills Like White Elephants, symbols are used to portray the importance of choice, physical time portrays metaphorical time, and character dialogue is used to portray the importance of power.

“Hills Like White Elephants” is a fruitless conversation between a man and a woman at a train stop between Barcelona and Madrid. They both need to make a drastic choice between having a baby and getting married or, having an abortion and continue to have an unproductive life.

Everyday people across the world struggle with making difficult decisions. When the pressure is on and hard choice must be made, many struggles with how to do what’s best for them as well as for those around them. “Hills like White Elephants,” a novel by Ernest Hemingway demonstrates this everyday struggle perfectly. “Hills like White Elephants,” is a short story about a conversation between an American man and a woman as they wait at a train for a train to Madrid. The couple obligingly discuss what's implied to be an abortion that the man wants the girl to have however her decision on whether to go through with it could heavily impact the future of their relationship. In “Hills like White Elephants,” Ernest Hemingway uses symbolism and