Hills Like White Elephants Literary Analysis

What is the purpose of the trip the two travelers are taking? (The narrator never tells us, but the careful reader can deduce this with relative certainty.)

The ending of the story is rather ambiguous as it is not completely obvious what decision the two end up making. The man could have talked the girl into undergoing the procedure, or not. At one point toward the end, Jig tells him to “please please please please please please please stop talking”, and when he doesn’t she threatens to scream. This probably means that she had made up her mind, but it could be in either direction. In the end, she smiles at him, and he asks her if she feels better; she says that she feels fine. That could mean that she had made peace with the decision to abort their child or that she was proud of herself for finally standing up to him and making her choice not to abort final. Either way, making this choice is harder on her as she would be the one to undergo the operation, and she very well knows that he most likely will not stay with her if she decides to keep the child. No matter what she chooses, however, their relationship will never be the same.

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.

“Hills Like White Elephants”, by Ernest Hemingway, is a short story published in 1927 that takes place in a train station in Spain with a man and a woman discussing an operation. Most of the story is simply dialogue between the two characters, the American and Jig. This couple is at a critical point in their lives when they must decide whether or not to have an abortion. Certain themes arise from this story such as choices and consequences, doubt and ambiguity, and how men and women relate. Hemingway also uses many examples of symbolism in “Hills Like White Elephants”, including descriptions of the surrounding scenery, the hills themselves, and the station where the action takes place.

"Hills Like White Elephants" by Ernest Hemingway, is a great example of women's role in the last century. The story is told in a simple form of dialogue between a man and a young woman nicknamed Jig. Although there is an important decision to be made, nothing of much importance is talked about. In the story, Jig does not have much influence in her relationship with the man, even when it comes to an abortion.

In the story, "Hills like White Elephants" written by Ernest Hemingway, the main character Jig faces a life changing event, abortion. The struggles with the complications of abortion concern and desire Jig to want to keep the baby. Bringing a new life into the world is a long time commitment and it is something Jig feels she can treasure forever. However, her companion attempted to persuade her in another direction, to proceed with the abortion. As naïve as he is, he feels his persuasion can overcome Jig's desires. Jig is a sarcastic yet reserved woman, who desires to bring a new life into the world, even if her companion does not approve; she knows what is best.

The setting in which the story takes place emphasizes the relationship of the man and the woman in the story. Hemingway writes:

As humans, we tend to rely on others to guide us in choosing “right” decisions. In “Hills Like White Elephants,” Ernest Hemingway tells a story of an American man with a girl, named Jig, having a conversation about whether or not Jig should undergo this “operation,” which we could assume is abortion. Jig looks to the man to tell her what she should do and what would happen afterwards, basically looking for a “right” decision. The girl is torn between listening to the man, who pushes her to have an abortion, or separating from the man, to instead, keep the baby. Hemingway uses setting and symbolism to interpret the girl’s struggle with abortion.

In Hills Like White Elephants, Hemingway tells a simple story about a couple who is arguing about an abortion. Through the woman’s dialogue, the readers grasp that she does not want to get the operation done, even though she never states that directly. As the man tries to convince her, she, obviously, becomes more and more frustrated with him. For example the woman says, “I feel fine. There’s nothing wrong with me. I feel fine”(478). From this dialogue, the reader can acknowledge that the woman by no means is going to give into the man’s persuasion and, ultimately, the final decision will be hers. However, the man does not seem to care that the operation could potentially harm the woman. For example, he describes the abortion, “It’s really an awfully simple operation, Jig. It’s not really an operation at all”(476). The reader grasps that the man is selfish, does not put himself in the woman’s shoes, and

Ernest Hemingway uses many literary devices in his short story Hills Like White Elephants to enhance its meaning and impact. A literary device is a technique a writer uses to enhance and produce a special effect in their writing. Literary devices are very important because they help the reader understand a story, and it's characters. The literary devices used to make Hills Like White Elephants a richer and more impactful story are setting, symbolism, and irony. One important literary device used in Hills Like White Elephants is setting.

Ernest Miller Hemingway is known for his unique style and theories of writing, especially the iceberg theory. In the Death of the Afternoon, Hemingway says that “The dignity of movement of an ice-berg is due to only one-eighth of it being above water. A writer who omits things because he does not know them only makes hollow places in his writing.” (92) Simple words, vivid images, rich emotions and deep thoughts are the four basic elements of the iceberg theory. Talk about how these stories illustrate four elements of theory. In both short stories, Hemingway describes scenery and characters with simple words directly to give readers a vivid image. Under this sketch, readers can know characters’ emotion and get the theme through their imagination and analysis.

"If men could get pregnant, abortion would be a sacrament." -Florynce Kennedy. This dynamic quote coming from a feminist conveys that if men had the capability of carrying an unborn child, abortion wouldn’t be taken in consideration, it would've been a definite. The short story "Hills Like White Elephants" by Ernest Hemingway has to do with a couple having a discussion about going through an abortion while having to consume alcohol. Although the word 'abortion' isn't quite mentioned, it is doubtlessly acknowledged through Hemingway's usage of symbolism and setting. Abortion is a major topic to discuss, so, both parents should have an equal saying on whether feticide is what they truly want.

The story “Hills Like White Elephants”, by Ernest Hemingway, sets up in Spain on a train station. A couple who are waiting for a train, are discussing an important topic that they both are trying to avoid but simultaneously solve. The man known identified as “American” is trying to persuade his girlfriend on having an operation. The American seems to be positive about his decision and looks like he does not want to change his mind. In the other hand, the girl is indecisive on the whole idea of the operation throughout most of the story.

Every story has a plot, both long and short stories. The plot is the storyline sometimes called the plan, with events leading up to form a play, novel, or short story. Every plot has five stages the exposition; setting the scene, the rising action; building the tension, the climax; the exciting bit, the falling action; bringing the loose ends together, and the resolution; bringing the story to an end.

The title “Hills Like White Elephants” suggests an exotic, mystical setting. The story is set in post World War One Spain in the “valley of the Ebro”(1). A train station sits inconspicuously in the middle of two tracks. One side of the rail is barren while the other is abundant with vegetation. The author introduces the two main characters as “the American and the girl” (1) as if the woman is a secondary with no need for an identity. However, it is later revealed that her name (or nickname) is Jig. The author starts a timer: the characters’ train “comes in forty minutes”(1).The couple sip on their drinks as they wait, discussing an unspecified operation.