Hills Like White Elephant Symbolism Essay

Wyche disputes all the critics who suggested that the text was either about whether Jig should carry the pregnancy to a full term or have an abortion. Wyche feels that the text was a metaphor representing pain which comes as a result of an end of a relationship between two people. One of his main ideas was therefore to dispute some of the ideas that critics had put forward in the past and bring forward a new meaning to the short story. As Wyche noted most of the critics saw a metaphor of abortion but failed to see that the abortion could also be used as metaphor to mean something else which in this case means the pain of a breakup. By bringing other critic’s point of view into play, he successfully acknowledges what they wrote and their ideas but also presents him with a point to dispute the same. Even if he does not refuse the ideas produced by earlier critics, the author presents a different point of view from whatever was presented before.

“Perfectly simple” is restated a couple of times in the conversation which tells us that out of the two only one wants the child and the other doesn’t want the child (Hemingway). The American man thoughts are not more important than Jig’s. Even if the American man is supporting her to get an abortion it’s still Jigs decision. His opinion does matter to her because she wants his thoughts about what’s best for them and their unborn child. Jig is torn between remaining reckless and carefree and making a family with the man she loves. “‘Because I don’t care about me’” states that she is willing to do almost anything for the American man but is blocked by her mother instinct to protect her child (Hemingway). Jig is indecisive in what she wants because she questions herself and the American man what if questions. “‘I realize…can’t we maybe stop talking’” this tells us Jig finally realizes that by asking a lot of rhetorical questions to the American man she has the answer she needs even if it’s not the answer that she wants (Hemingway).

He tells her that she does not have to have the operation, but tells her it is the best thing to do. The girl begins to think, “And if I do it you'll be happy and things will be okay like they were and you'll love me” (Hemingway 107)? He reassures her that he loves her now. Jig is more realistic about the situation and the consequences in front of her. She knows that she is going to make the ultimate decision, although she is asking for reassurance from the American(Short Stories for Students). The girl also knows that regardless of her situation, their relationship might not work out anyway. The choice to abort or not abort the baby ultimately leaves her with the same consequence: life without the American.

Jig was concerned that the relationship she had the American would end if she did not go through with the abortion. She knew that he had not been happy since

There are several instances in the story that “the American” reiterates “Jig’s” options for her future. Although he expresses that he would support and love her no matter what the ultimate choice is, she feels conflicted and her pain, which builds throughout the story and as the conversation progresses, becomes more obvious. What is most interesting is, as his second thoughts about the unspoken abortion spike, her resistance to discuss the topic any further grows in tandem. Although the two heroes’ love for one another is evident, there is the aching uncertainty between them: Is there room for a child in their relationship built of travelling, drinking, and discovery?

Right in the first twenty lines we can Jig’s first thoughts about the abortion. While sitting at

Hemingway provides insight by using the title “Hills Like White Elephants;” the symbol of a white elephant has a very negative connotation in the story. The term means something that is useless or causes trouble especially if it is expensive to maintain or difficult to dispose of. By Hemingway implying this, he reveals the idea of an abortion to the situation in the story. As the story begins, Hemingway describes the hills and fields surrounding the train station. The hills off in the distance symbolize the growing belly of Jig but also symbolize the strain of obstacles in Jig and her boyfriend’s relationship. The scene Hemingway describes tells the reader about the decision they are making. Jig’s boyfriend is entirely against the idea of having the baby and dissociates the idea of the fetus. “It’s really not anything,”(Hemingway) Jig’s boyfriend completely disregards the idea of the pregnancy all together, while Jig sees it as “we could have all of this… and we could have everything” (Hemingway). She sees the possibility of maybe having the child but has an internal conflict in deciding if she should go through with the operation or not. Religion in Spain at this time was Catholic, and the Catholic church’s moral was that killing of innocent life was consistently wrong (Podell 88). Catholicism views abortion as erroneous since the fetus is innocent when the mother decides to terminate the baby. Maguire explains the severity of abortion being seen as homicide along with the idea of the act being sorcery and witchcraft (34). Obviously, the couple is not ready to care for a baby, Hemingway uses the word “two” to get the point across that they both cannot handle parenting in this stage of their relationship. For example, “two glasses of beer and two felt pads,” having the train stop “at [the] junction

From the beginning of Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants”, Jig has been a character of mystery, even until the very end of the short story. During the American’s and Jig’s whole conversation, it seemed as though everything was uneasy; and that’s because it was. The whole text was a conversation about the American wanting Jig to abort her baby during a time when abortion was still fairly new.

In a well-written short story, different literary elements and terms are incorporated into the story by the author. Ernest Hemingway frequently uses various literary elements in his writing to entice the reader and enhance each piece that he writes. In Hills Like White Elephants, Hemingway uses symbols to teach the reader certain things that one may encounter during daily life. Symbolism may be defined as relating to, using, or proceeding by means of symbols (Princeton). The use of symbols in Hills Like White Elephants is utterly important to the plot line and to the fundamental meaning of the story. Through this use of symbolism, the reader can begin to reveal the hidden themes in this short story.

Jig knows that having the child will make her look like a whore in the eyes of her community, thus she knows that she has to get rid of the baby, but in her heart she wants to keep it.

To sum up the plot of the story, an American and another woman are discussing their future together. The main focus of their conversation falls on the woman and how she is pregnant. Throughout the story The American continues to refer to an operation for his significant other to have; we conclude that Jig is with child. As the American is aggressive towards his partner having the operation, he represents society and the continuing pressure/down playing of abortion and the effects that take place afterwards. The American goes as far to say “’I know you wouldn’t mind it, Jig.

The girl remarks that she and the American man never do anything together except try new drinks. This can represent that their relationship is boring and mundane which seems to bother the girl. These feelings can reflect that girl may be ready for change and a chance to settle down, unlike the man who doesn't seem interested in changing his carefree ways. She also asks the man permission for a drink and has to rely on him to order the drinks because of her inability to speak Spanish. She appears disappointed that she is so dependent on the man and no matter what her decision may be, their relationship will no longer be the same. After trying the new drink she replies that “Everything tastes like licorice. Especially all the things you’ve waited so long for like absinthe” (Hemingway 655). Another symbolism that Jig is now feeling bittersweet about the decision because she may want to have the baby, but the man's decision is to have the abortion.

Throughout the story, the two main characters constantly dance around each other and what they have to say. The American refuses to finish the conversation before Jig say’s she will get the abortion. His entire ploy is to guilt

The pregnancy or baby can be seen as the “elephant” in the room. This couple is trying to decide whether or not to get an abortion. The antagonist in this short story is the male the main character (Jig) is taking to at a bar in a train station. In the story this male character is simply referred to as the American. The American does many things that make us believe he is mainly the decision maker in their relationship. He is in charge of their luggage as well as the destination of their travels. This implies a sense of control and dominance. The American is very supportive saying, “If you don’t want to you don’t have to. I wouldn’t have you do it if you didn’t want to” (227). Despite the support he shows, throughout the story the reader can see that the decision of the women depends greatly on the American’s feelings and views.

Jig, the girl who has every right to keep the baby if she chooses to do so, is unsure if she should have the operation or not, and seeks comfort from the American despite hinting that she wants to keep the baby. He makes it a point to reiterate the fact that it’s her decision a million times despite at first being as pushy as can be, naming every reason why she should have the operation. “It’s not really an operation at all. . . It’s really not anything. It’s just to let the air in.” (Hemingway, 592) Although he makes it seem like it’s all “perfectly simple” (592), it’s obvious he is being assertive to get her to have the operation in a manipulative way because he knows Jig values his opinion over her own. Eventually, Jig settles to have the operation to appease the man for the sake of their relationship and change the topic already. “Then I’ll do it. Because I don’t care about me . . . . Can’t we maybe stop talking?” (Hemingway,