The “Hills Like White Elephants” is about a frustrating talk between the two couple in which the American man is trying to convince her girlfriend on not having a baby as it may ruin their happy life. By the highlighting the symbols, it is clarified that the girl is pregnant and wants to have a baby for their better future. The American tries to talk her out of it and says he loves her, for example, “and everything between them will go back to the way it used to be”. In the end, she finally begs him while saying, “Please, please, please, please, please, please stop talking” (Clugston, 2010). Jig realises that even if she has to abort her child, she will do it, if there is a chance where they can be happy again and stop arguing over matters. In the story we see that the girl’s inability to speak Spanish with the bartender, not only proves the fact that she is dependent on his boyfriend but also tells how difficult it is for her to express herself to others…
I believe the white elephants could symbolize there relationship. The story says "They (the hills) were white in the sun and the country was brown and dry." He is the American white man, and she is the Spanish girl. Just as the hills over power or stand above the rest of the country, the man is trying to get her to decide to have the operation. I also believe the white elephants could symbolize that she is seeing him for who he is. The meaning of white elephant is you get something less than what you thought. While they were free and having fun it was all O.K., but now that there is a baby he has changed. The beaded curtain in this story symbolizes that her mind keeps changing she is confused, as the curtain sways back and forth. The curtain symbolizes that she is hiding her feelings or is trying to find an answer. The exposition of this story is the dialogue working up to when they start discussing the surgery. I believe their conversation about the surgery is the climax of the story, they start arguing back and forth. I believe the denouement is the end of the story, she says she feels fine, and there is nothing wrong with her. This statement leaves me wondering did she decide she was at peace with the fact she was pregnant and would not have the abortion or was she still considering.…
Symbolism is the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense. Symbols are used throughout literature to further explain a major theme. For instance, Ernest Hemingway uses many symbols in “Hills Like White Elephants”. In Hemingway’s short story, the main characters are a man referred to as “the American,” and a women referred to as just “the girl” and sometimes the nickname jig, both the American and the girl are discussing something important but as the readers we do not know exactly what the two characters are communicating about. The symbols used in the short story, such as the landscape, white elephants, the train, and the beaded curtain, gives the readers an…
n Ernest Hemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants, set in Barcelona, Spain, a conversation takes place between two lovers sitting outside of a bar. Hemingway’s writing style is very minimalist, and so it is up to the reader to decipher what message, tone, or imagery is being conveyed. In this short story it is a hot day, there are train tracks nearby. The hot weather could have symbolized the tension between the woman, called Jig, and the American man- the train tracks their differing viewpoints. The story begins with the woman asking the man what he would like to drink, to which he replies, “It’s pretty hot.”…
In conclusion, “Hills like White Elephants” is talking about this couple possible having an abortion. In end, they do not get the abortion because Jig wants to have this unborn baby and the man finally agrees to stay with her and have this baby. Even though the man is afraid that his feelings possibly may disappear. He is willing to stay and make her happy and have their future…
Jig’s choice will definitely shape her future with the American, the baby, and her view of herself. "The railroad junction—a place where one can change directions—symbolically represents a point in time when the couple can…
The first line of the story, "The hills across the valley of the Ebro were long and white" (475), can be interpreted as the length of the belly of the pregnancy and the worry of the characters is carries in mind, the word Ebro could be referring to embryo the stage of development and the color white meaning innocents. The next line," On this side there was no shade and no trees and the station was between two lines of rails in the sun" (475), can be interpreted as the middle of the day, on one side nothing but dirt, also could mean no problems and other side full of life, a choice of taking responsibility and have a family, the two rails are a crossroad to which choice to take. The place there were both going was to Madrid and give Jig the abortion. They both were sitting on the baron side of the station thinking nothing but themselves and with no worries, ignoring what problem they both have, enjoying the moment and trying new things together. The hills to Jig look like white elephants, in her mind, she is thinking about her physical appears, when her belly gets to that point similar to the hills. Jig a young girl and the American an older gentleman in this station to make critical life changing choice. Jig makes her choice first and moves across the other side of the station to the green fertile fields and a symbol that represents the keeping of the baby. At the end the American moves…
situation and the decisions made because of the situations. The setting is the time, place,…
Ernest Hemingway's, "Hills Like White Elephants," is discussed by many people because of the way that Hemingway used dialogue that contained a lack of descriptions, unidentified characters, and barely any narration to convey the short story's meaning. In this case, the reader is required to read between the lines. In this short story, one can see that all of the symbols disclose the unsteady relationship between the American and Jig and the conflict in relation to their lifestyle and operation.…
While at the bar, the American orders two ‘Anis del Toro’, a Spanish alcoholic beverage that “tastes like licorice” (Line 24). Licorice is a sweet, childhood candy as well as an ingredient used in medicine to induce vomiting. Anis del Toro translates to ‘the bull’s anise’. The bull is known as a symbol of animal fertility; its horns symbolize strength, masculinity, and life. Anise is a flowering plant that is used by women to increase milk flow when nursing, to start menstruation, and ease childbirth (WebMD). These metaphors act as a reference to the ups and downs of pregnancy and foreshadow Jig’s…
Thus the girl, who now wants more than a relationship based on sex and alcohol, would have no reason to stay on with the man." Hashmi has a true understanding of the woman's inner turmoil, the back-and-forth arguing of her inner dialogue, and her resignation when she decides she will not stay with the American. Of course, Jig does not let on that this decision is made,or even that she was considering this decision in the first place. Arrogantly and perhaps being too comfortable in their relationship, the man does not fathom a reality where Jig would consider leaving him. Jig says to him, almost prophetically, "'…
The “Man” is encouraging her to have an abortion and states “ I know you wouldn’t mind it, Jig. It’s really not anything. Its just to let the air in.”(401). The “Man” is implying that an abortion would be no big deal and further states, “ I’ll go with you and stay with you all the time. They just let the air in and then it’s all perfectly natural. That’s the only thing that bothers us. It’s the only thing that’s made us unhappy.” The term “natural” used by man in this statement implies the abortion is a natural thing to do. This statement gives the impression that the “Man” is attempting to lure Jig into his way of thinking using their surroundings. Jig is disenchanted from nature and what it represents in the story and sees it from his “simple” solution to a clear problem. Their unhappiness is seen in their drinking of alcoholic beverages to dull the pain and feel like nothing is wrong, and implies their inability to face reality. Gazing across the landscape the “Girl” expresses how the hills look like white elephants. This statement is used as a distraction for the so-called “white elephant in the…
The railroad tracks symbolize that they are at a crossroads in their relationship. The girl comments on the beauty of the white hills and the country being brown and dry. This statement is symbolic of life and death in which the tense conversation over the abortion operation is about. As the American and the girl talk about the issue of abortion, the girl is often referred to as Jig. This nickname is appropriated because she is always dancing around the topic. The waitress of the story is not mentioned often but I do know that she does not speak English, therefore the girl is dependent on the American. This situation reflects the terms of their relationship also. She is allowing him to make the decision whether or not to have the…
Jig and Louise shared many similarities and differences throughout each story. A similarity that they shared is they are both young, and with a person that they show affection towards. Another similarity is both women face domination of men. Moreover, they face heartaches from hearing news from the person they love or from someone close to them. The difference between Jig and Louise is Jig wants the American, but he does not want to settle with her. Whereas Brently Mallard adores his wife, but his wife wants to be free seeing the relationship became distant. Another is both women are striving for different types of freedom. In addition, both stories explain the struggle that both women faced with…
Denzel Morales Dr. Tomko WRT-201-035 February 6, 2009 Irony in “Hills Like White Elephants” and “A&P” Several authors use irony to strengthen their story or to make a point out to its reader like in the short stories “A&P” which was written by John Updike and “Hills Like White Elephants” written by Ernest Hemingway. In these two short stories the author use ironic situations which made the reader have a better understanding of the story. The irony in these stories can be found in many parts of the story like the setting, the use of words, and even in the title itself. The ironic twists in these stories are indeed believable. In the short story “A&P”, Updike uses lots of irony throughout his story. Sammy decided to step up to the plate and quit right in front of his boss in his attempt to impress the three girls that walked in the supermarket.…