“Hills like White Elephants” and “Sea of Change” are both stories about taboo. “Hills like White Elephants,” is a short story about a couple who is close to splitting up due to a complicated subject in their relationship. The implication being abortion. In the “Sea of Change,” a couple is also having a complicated patch. The complicated patch being that the woman would like to break up with her partner to go with another woman. All thought having their differences they have many similarities. Three of the similarities are the setting, plot, and characterization. In the first story “Hills like White Elephants” took place in Barcelona and possibly transitioned itself into Madrid, Spain. This story took place towards the end of the summer in 1927. The second story “Sea Of Change,” took place in Paris, France with the year unknown. This story took place towards the beginning of the summer. In both stories it was possible that they both used train to travel. For “Hills like White Elephants” it was possible for the man to chase Jig in the story if she got on the train to go to Madrid. On the other hand in …show more content…
Taboo is prohibited or restricted by social custom. As well as both relationships are falling apart due to taboo topics. For “Hills like White Elephants,” the couple was discussing abortion through the whole story, although they never actually use the word abortion. They are simply just talking about it as secretive as they can. They are trying to get back their carefree and immature lives. In “Sea of Change” the couple was discussing the problem of why the woman wanted to end their relationship. He knew that she was going to leave him to go with another woman even though they try not really mention it. Since both stories have relating topic that would not have been accepted in the years they take place. That is why they were discreet about their issues and openly mentioning abortion or her leaving him for a
“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.
Even though both of these stories are very similar in most areas there are a couple differences involving a few details the authors did grant us. The first difference between the stories is the reversal of roles. Both of these stories have one of their main characters against the abortion. In “Black Man and White Woman in Dark Green Rowboat”, it is the man that states, “I wish I could just leave you here,” (pg. 66). He is indicating that he wants to leave her on the island, where they are fishing, so she is not able to get the abortion procedure done. In “Hills Like White Elephants”, we see that Jig is against giving up the child, but she feels as though her companion will not love her. He begins to make promises about giving her everything she needs and loving her even more if she proceeds to abort the child.
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
As the author’s note points out in “Hills Like White Elephants,” this conversation takes place in a traditionally religious Catholic region. The unspoken issue, an abortion, is clearly a moral dilemma for the girl. She continually pushes whether this is really what he wants and makes it quite obvious this is not of her own desire. The girl is placed between holding on to her values or succumbing to the desires
“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.
The one thing that both of the stories share is powerlessness of a feminine character who gets dominated by her man. In “Hills like White Elephants”, the girl, called Jig, and her boyfriend, the American, are contemplating
The short story, “Hills Like White Elephants”, by Ernest Hemingway, is not the type of story that explicitly reveals its meaning. However, one must read between the lines in order to understand the purpose of this story, and certain literary elements are deliberately placed within to aid the reader. 3 elements in particular stand out in “Hills Like White Elephants” and their placement within are what make the story important and meaningful. Looking deep in the core of this story, the reader may see the usage of setting, conflict and symbolism to convey the issue of dealing with unexpected problems and confronting the future.
“Hills like White Elephants” is a story about a couple who is going to undergo an abortion together (which relates to the theme of death). While abortion is not said at first- the reader can tell it is being proclaimed. The story is filled with tension but the reader can tell that this couple loves each other. The tone of this story is hard to identify at first but it can defined as skeptical or confused. Due to the fact that these two young people are unsure about what they
However, the excessive dialogue itself is the key in understanding the theme, which explores the difference between talking and communicating. The characters in “Hills Like White Elephants” may say a lot to each other, but are they communicating? One indication of this theme is evident in the answers that The American and Jig give one another. This conversation is neither one of depth nor explanation of why each one wants what they want. The American does not tell Jig why he does not want her to have the implied child, he only tries to convince her why having an abortion would be better by telling her “They just let the air in and it’s all perfectly natural” and “I know lots of people that have done it” (592).
The “ Hills like White Elephants” is a conversation between an American man and his girlfriend, both speakers have a hard time truly communicating with each other. This highlights the growing conflict between the two. Both speakers talk, but neither one really listens to what the other has to say or tries to see things from their point of view. The American man tries to say anything
The major theme of Hills Like White Elephants is the operation. The reader could assume that the operation means abortion. The American says, “It’s really a simple operation, Jig” he is trying to convince her tat aborting
Another significant detail about the setting is the two different hills surrounding the train station. The narrator describes the first set of hills as “... white in the sun and the country was brown and
Most people have had to make a tough decision in their lives. Sometimes this decision is one that others disagree with. Hills Like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway is about a couple from America who goes to Spain and are embarrassed to speak out loud the issue they are having. Instead, the two talk in codes in the form of symbols. However, this causes the story to have so many symbols it is hard to find one that does not tie into the next. However, the three that are tied together the tightest are, the white elephant that represents the issue the two have to make a decision on, the train station, which represents loneliness in their decision, and the curtains, which represent a separation of views.
Relationships can be difficult when two people have an opposing stance on a controversial topic such as abortion. Men, in their self-interest, perceive this option as an easy way out, in which they can have all the pleasure and none of the consequences. However, for a woman an abortion causes both physical and emotional pain which a man could never understand. Thus, making this one of the utmost difficult issues a girl may need to face in her life. In Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants,” there are two Americans traveling in Spain. The setting of the scene is a bar located near the train station where the man and the girl discuss this life altering operation, as they await the arrival of the train to Madrid. Throughout the story the man is persuasive, as he attempts to convince the girl to have the operation, while at the same time, the girl expresses her reluctance and remains unconvinced that an abortion is the answer to their problems. Abortion remains as controversial today as it was when Ernest Hemingway wrote “Hills Like White Elephants”. Although Hemingway never used the word abortion in his story, he found ways to evoke emotions of sympathy for the girl and disdain for the man through his creative use of symbolism, setting, and characters in the short story.
The settings of these two short stories have a lot of impact of the characters and the plot. The setting of “Hills like White Elephants” is at a bar in a train station. This helps to highlight the fact that the relationship between the American man and the girl is at a crossroads. This crossroad is due to the severity of the dilemma they are faced with.