Hills Like White Elephants

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.

When comparing two works of literature it is always best to have a firm understanding of how each author expresses their thoughts and emotions through the stories they tell. In comparing Ernest Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants” and David Foster Wallace’s “Good People” you get a different sense as to how each author conveys their thoughts of the very difficult and often taboo topic of abortion. Both stories are different in plot, conclusion, and construction, although they share common artistic similarities, including the large use of physical surroundings and metaphors. When comparing and contrasting stories of similar writings it is important to pick up on the subtle literary ways an author is able to convey their thoughts.

Every day people make decisions that affect their future lives. What makes a right decision? What may be right to some may be wrong to others. Right and wrong decisions are objective and vary among each individual. “Hills Like White Elephants,” by Ernest Hemingway, portrays the idea of decision making between two characters in a valley in Spain as they wait for a train to arrive. Jig, the protagonist, attempts to make a crucial change in her life by making the right decision, although her flaws, including indecisiveness, prevent her from taking action in her decision. Jig and the American have had a romantic relationship for quite a while and now their future together is in jeopardy. The two of them are having a conversation on whether or not Jig should get an abortion. The man is trying to convince the woman to do something she is hesitant to do. Hemingway uses metaphors and symbolism to express their feelings and decision-making.

Ernest Hemingway, the author of “Hills like White Elephants” will leave his readers guessing due to his vague information put into his short story, ¨Hills like White Elephants¨. The understanding of figurative language, sensory details, and the use inferencing skills are needed to interpret what the author is trying to get across. If the short story is analyzed carefully the reader will understand that the couple in the story are deciding whether or not to have an abortion. Although “abortion” is never blatantly said it is shown through prolific figurative language. Symbolism, simile, and conflict are all prominent examples of figurative language throughout Hemingway's “Hills like White Elephant”.

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.

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.

Basically, this story is set in a railway station in the valley of Ebro, Spain. The writer waits for the express from Barcelona and that is the exact time when he overhears an American couple talking about something which sounds like abortion. This word is not used even once in the story but, the course of the discussion makes it pretty clear that it was something about a decision which is to be made by the girl, although she was forced by her companion. The man in this story represents a modern Western man. While he understands the importance of free will and women 's rights, he is still a man and he wants to force his decision on his companion in a way which does not make him look like forcing his opinion.

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

Ernest Hemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants presents a fictional example of the modern day prevalence of miscommunication among others, namely men and women. Depicted through the couple and the present issue at hand, Hemingway strives to allude to the unfortunate truth that despite constant speaking among beings, genuine communication continues to fall short and is nearly nonexistent. Existing is the lack of productivity when the true feelings of both parties are not expressed. Continuing this theory, rather than communicating, the couple simply endures one another’s opinions, failing to share their true opinions, and in doing so defeating the main purpose in communicating. The dramatic dialogue between the

Not only does he lack commitment to Jig, but he also has no regard for human life. During the time period, WW1, abortions were precarious and could endanger life. The man would risk the death of Jig so he could get back his own lackadaisical life before the pregnancy (Bauer 5). Also, when Jig does bring up white elephants, “‘They look like white elephants,’ she said. “ I’ve never seen one," the man drank his beer. ‘No, you wouldn 't have.’” (Hemingway 1), this exchange of dialogue gives the readers insight on how Jig and the American man feel about the abortion by using the symbolism of the white elephants. To Jig, the situation is clear and present, while the man sees the situation as a hazy, unreal concept. Therefore, the operation appears simple to the American man, but to Jig, one of the possible outcomes can mean death to her or to her baby.

Their relationship is tested when faced with the issue of an unwanted pregnancy and the decision to keep or abort. The American suggests throughout the story that Jig get an abortion, but they are plagued with not being able to properly communicate with each other in their relationship. This issue makes it much harder for

In Hemingway’s “The Hills like White Elephants” readers are introduced to two seemingly straightforward characters and an “awfully simple” operation; however, beneath the surface, the American and Jig are incredibly complex and their problem is not as simple as it seems. The couple is facing a choice that could potentially change their lives forever, whether or not to go through with an abortion. Their problem and their different takes on the matter reflects the maturity of the characters. While the American is juvenile about their situation, acting as if it’s not that big of deal, Jig realizes the weight of their choice and takes their problem more seriously. In “The Hills like White Elephants,” Jig is the more willing to raise the child and move forward in their life together than the American, making her the more mature character.

The short story “Hills Like White Elephants" by Ernest Hemingway is about an American man and a girl named Jig that are traveling throughout Spain together on a train. Hemingway draws inspiration for this story from landscapes overlaid with personal history. Even in Spain’s rich environment Hemingway’s perspective remained on tourists. (Tall) The theme of the story is taking responsibility for the quality of one's own life. We all have choices and our choices can influence us for good or bad. Most of the choices we make are made quickly, which causes us to not realize how the choice we made will affect the rest of our lives. The main character in this story is a young lady named Jig and her inability

The tension is shown through dialogue in the couple’s relationship. Their tension continues to increase as they attempt at small talk, and this eventually sparks up an argument. The dialogue reveals the differences between the values of Jig and the man. Their initial dialogue shows how neither one of them want to bring up abortion as it is an uncomfortable topic. In the second dialogue between the man and Jig, Hemingway shows the man’s demeaning tone toward Jig. “They look like white elephants,’ she said. ‘I’ve never seen one,’ the man drank his beer. ‘No, you wouldn’t have.’ ‘I might have,’ the man said. ‘Just because you say I wouldn’t have doesn’t prove anything’ (Hemingway 269-270). Their speech gives a vision into their failure to communicate successfully with each other. The dialogue of the couple’s predicament is the abortion and how it will affect their

“Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway is a short story. The story begins with a woman only referred to as “the girl”. On a hot day in the hills of Spain, a girl and an American wait for their train. The two are sitting and having a beer and begin fighting about the taste of the beer. The girl says that the hills look like white elephants. The American starts telling the girl she should get an operation. He tells her how it isn’t really an operation at all and he knows plenty of people who have gotten it before. The girl agrees to get the operation as long as the American will continue to love her and they will be happily ever after. The girl continues to wonder if she will be happy after the operation. The two get two more beers and the girl when asked how she is doing says she is completely fine. The central idea of this story is that shallow relationships based on just having fun and drinking will never turn into strong