Antoine Wood
Prof. Crannell
ENG-356
20 Mar. 2015
As Hemingway Thoroughly utilizes symbolism freedom of thought and or interpretation becomes the critical focus
Within the short story of “Hill’s Like White Elephants” it is quite clear that there is this idea of feelings and or emotionalism is involved. One on hand we have an American and then we have a girl. This one notion alone opens the door to this idea of friction as both the American and the girl seem to have trivial arguments over the silliest of things. “You stated it,” the girl said. “I was being amused. I was having a fine time”. “Well, let’s try and have a fine time”. “All right. I was trying. I said the mountains looked like white elephants. Wasn’t that bright?” “I wanted to try this new drink: That’s all we do isn’t it? - Look at things and try new drinks? “I guess so”. “The girl looked across at the hills. “They’re lovely hills,” she said. “They don’t really look like white elephants. I just meant the coloring of their skin through the trees”. (Hemingway 590) There seems to be a disconnection between both individuals. On one hand they seem to be calm, cool, and collected, while on the other, we get the opportunity to really see how two different people, from different walks of life respond to the same scenario in two entirely different ways. While the idea of symbolism plays a key role in this short story, I think that what stands out the most is how it becomes the center of the blatant arguing and
In Hills Like White Elephants, the story opens up with a description of the scenery. There is a couple that is at a train station at a bar going somewhere far. Throughout the story, the couple is having a conversation about something that is never mentioned. However, by paying attention to the characters, the language, and the symbolism, one can see that the conversation is about an abortion and that the couple’s relationship is falling apart. Ernest Hemingway uses characters, sexism, and the setting and symbolism to give the readers a chance to know couple and see their broken relationship.
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.
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.)
Ernest Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants", is a story about a doomed relationship. Hemingway uses symbolism, dialogue, and also setting to tell this story. Behind the words said by the characters, and sights explained to the readers, are hidden meanings that when analyzed, bring the story to another level.
Authors may use this item to tell the story with different items and by using symbolism many
“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.
Hemingway’s usage of theme, setting, persuasive writing, and verbal irony helps to create different moods throughout the story. The theme “talk without communication”
“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.
In Ernest Hemingway’s short story “White Hills Like Elephants”, the author built a storyline of symbolism consisting of an American man and his apparently pregnant partner “Jig”. The storyline’s setting is set in Spain, where there are mountains, hills and fields, in which a train station is in the middle of it all. Hemingway uses figurative language to imply that Jig is pregnant, and her man’s disagreement regarding keeping the child. The couple, waiting for the next train to come, whilst drinking beer and briefly discussing the future of the child, come across obstacles in their relationship, which concludes in a result of both of them not coming to a concession. Hemingway depicts the deceptive side of human nature, by referencing to the setting and characterizations to portray the ambiguous relationship of the main characters. The setting and its characterizations represent the unborn child. In addition, Jig’s man uses characterization of the abortion in order to ease it into her, and get her to follow through with it. Lastly,
Hills Like White Elephants, published in 1927, embodies Hemingway’s style, and explores the issues of responsibility, communication, and unexpected life decisions, and does so in just four short pages. Hemingway drops us off in the middle of a conversation between a boyfriend and girlfriend, in which the couple discusses whether or not to abort their unborn child. The man, known as the American, pressures the girl, known only as Jig, into going through with the abortion, while Jig subtly suggests that she would rather keep the child and settle down. Neither of the characters states anything outright, and our limited perspective leaves it solely up to us to decipher the meaning of the story. Ernest Hemingway uses the symbolic setting and the themes of communication and unpredictability to drive home his belief that life is far from being happy, and rarely conforms to what we expect.
In “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway, which takes place in 1927, a character who goes by the American makes abortions seem like a harmless procedure: “It’s really an awfully simple operation, Jig… It’s not really an operation at all” (140). This, however, is not the case and Jig knows that there is more to it than it just a simple surgery. Whether it was a manipulation driven tactic or pure ignorance, the American couldn’t have been further from the truth. During the twenties, an overwhelming number of women either died or suffered severe medical complications during an abortion due to its taboo nature. With abortion being illegal in that time, Hemingway tastefully leaves it to the readers to figure out what type of
Ernest Hemingway’s Hills like White Elephants leaves the reader’s mind to wander throughout the piece. The story’s set place in a railway restaurant involving two individuals that are, apparently involved in a less than stable relationship. Contemplating the outcomes of an event that neither of them is really sure that he or she wants to embark on, is the mystery Hemingway reveals. Both individuals are leaning toward different directions, but is not sure the direction they desire is the one they truly believe is right. The uncertainty of their interactions is the viewpoint of the story. Hemingway is opening our eyes to the fact that relationships are uncertain, but there must be a common ground for both parties to stand on.
Would you do anything for that special someone? Author, Ernest Hemingway, shows how humans are willing to put others in front of themselves. He has done this by using many literary terms in his stories. Hemingway was renowned for his novels and short stories, such as “Hills like White Elephants”. This particular short story has shown to be taken place in Spain, where the girl and the man are traveling. This man and girl are found to be in a situation, but he had fallen in love with her and made a big mistake. The two are faced with a serious question now but, what decision does this couple make?
Ernest Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants" is a story presenting a conversation between an American man and his girlfriend outside of a bar by a train station waiting for a train to arrive. This story takes place in Spain, specifically in the Ebro valley. This is told in the third person point of view, which strictly details only action and dialogue. Having never read a Hemingway novel or short story before, his unique writing style took some getting used to. Part of this style is an extensive use of dialogue that make up the majority of the text. Hemingway strips the narrative of everything that is not absolutely essential. What this adds to the story is a sort of ambiguity, because we can only see so much of what is going on. We only
Hills Like White Elephants, is a short story written by Ernest Hemingway about a couple on a train talking about a procedure, which has been understood as an abortion. The words used in this short story paints vivid picture of the situation and the people involved.