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Hills like white elephants summary symbolism
Hills like white elephants symbolism and theme
Hills like white elephants symbolism and theme
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Ernest Hemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants starts off by describing a tense scene in Spain where an American man and woman, Jig, sit at a train station. Drinks are served to the two, and an exchange of words leads to a stern conversation about an operation the man wants Jig to get. Through deeper analysis, this conversation is found to be about whether or not Jig is going to receive an abortion. Hemingway, who was considered one of the greatest 20th century writers, wrote this for his 1927 collection, Men Without Women. Throughout Hills Like White Elephants, Hemingway uses point of view, style, and setting in order to convey the conflict between the man and Jig about whether or not she shall pursuit getting an abortion. This piece of prose …show more content…
He also does not explicitly state the meaning of the story that also represents the conflict at hand. Both the man and Jig are having to derive each other’s feelings for the topic at hand by what they are and are not saying. Neither of them come out and distinctly say what each other feels. For example, the man says, "-if you don't want to you don't have to. I wouldn't have you do it if you didn't want to. But I know it's perfectly simple.” (Hemingway 176) Jig knows that he is definitely pushing for this abortion, although he says she doesn’t have to. Jig seems very hesitant and upset about this decision. This bitter characterization of the man, similar to one of a pro-abortion American today, creates an uncomfortable mood for the readers. Hemingway also uses unadorned diction that helps develop the conflict by creating imagery and metaphorical aspects of the writing. It proves to be true that how the characters say something is way more important that what they say in this short story. Another key element of Hemingway’s style is the repetition of words in the story. The words, “know” and “fine,” are used multiple times in order to emphasize their alternative meanings and portray the
Jig’s sarcastic tone in her dialogues following the Americans’ is indicative of her decision to not get the abortion. After the American assures her that they will be happy like before and it is a “simple operation” (Hemingway 592) Jig retorts, “What makes you think so?” (592). Hence, it implies her disbelief and realization that things would not change much whether or not she got the abortion. Jig’s desire to keep the child is further evident when she tells him “[they] could get along” (593). She sees the possibility of a happy life with the child; the American sees it as an obstacle. Therefore, he continues in his effort to persuade her otherwise because “[he...
Ernest Hemingway has a superbly unique style of writing in Hills Like White Elephants. His short, to the point syntax and sentence style plays a great role in helping readers understand the theme of this short story. The critique M.A.K. Halliday observed, “The story is frequently generated by the repetition of words, clauses, and groups of related words or ethical sets” (Link, Alex). The first set of dialogue that can be pulled from this story is story is short and to the point. The American states, “We can have the whole world.” Jig replies with “No, we can’t” (Hemingway, Ernest). The sentence length is very short, yet there is a hidden meaning behind the small talk. Jig is referring to not having the baby. She can have everything, but her will to decide things. She can’t have a baby due to unloving pressure from the American. It is in sync with the tone of the story perfectly. The tone is forward, direct, and shallow. That is exactly what happens in this dialogue. There is no emotion, just pure sarcasm on a huge topic. Abortion to this couple is nothing more then a qui...
Hemingway also uses immorality as the central idea. The American is trying to convince the girl to abort: ‘“I have known lots of people that have done it…. ‘But if I do it, then it will be nice again if I say things are like white elephants…‘I’ll love it” I just cannot think about it” (596,597). Here one sees how the man manipulates the girl.
‘Hills Like White Elephants’ is a short story authored by Ernest Hemingway about an American and a girl named Jig. In the story, the two are sitting in a train station waiting for the train to Madrid. While they wait, they have an intense ongoing debate on whether or not to abort Jig. At the end of the story, the train is about to arrive and the man carries luggage on the tracks as they prepare to leave. The end of the story does not clearly define the outcome of its decision. She said I feel good at the end of the story - happiness is a central theme of the story, but we wonder if she went through with the operation. The paper discusses the manner in which symbolism has been employed in the story to communicate about an abortion, the couple is considering to go through.
Although, the relationship between them is not clear; but one can assume they are not married. One can also assume their relationship was intimate; resulting in Jig becoming pregnant. It is also made to appear that the couple are travelers who stop in different cities before moving on to the next. The reader s is made to believe the relationship that is being played by Jig and the American as being shallow. The American apparently wants this abortion because he wants to keep his current lifestyle.
This is able to give some insight to those who struggle with understanding this short story. The author was trying to show how it was an act of rebellion that gives a character realistic of how Americans want or believe they should be perceived by the reader. While both man and woman are able to engage in their desires, neither of them are able to get what they are wanting from each other. While reading the text, the story shows how a reader can pick up on the different behaviors and formations that can be formed from each gender and be able to identify the rejection from the American man. Jig is really struggling with how culturally she couldn't have been able to say no because of the gender roles from simply submitting to the man's desire for an abortion.
The story begins with a vivid description of a train station surrounded by hills and fields. This scene tells us a lot about the couple's situation. The view of the hills seen off in a distance symbolizes the growing belly of the girl. The hills also symbolize the obstacles that are in the way of the two character's relationship. In the story, Jig looked at the hills and said, “They look like white elephants.” The man replied, “I've never seen one.” Then she replied, “No, you wouldn't have” (...
The first, to point out that the two characters are a couple. This detail also symbolizes how the man wants their relationship to stay just the two of them; he wants to keep living the carefree and spontaneous lifestyle without children. Another example is of the disunion that occurs between the two. Jig’s wishes to take the step towards motherhood and move the relationship forward. Although the man constantly reassures Jig that he does not want anything she doesn’t, he in fact wants nothing to change.
Once they get into the heart of the dilemma, Jig at first seems to feel finally convinced by the American to abort the baby. However, in seeing the scenery around her, she changes her mind. She sees what she could “essentially have” if she were to have the baby. Jig sees the true life in having the baby. She decides she really wants the life of the baby and continually tells the American to stop talking.
Instead of saying the word abortion both the man and Jig call it an operation, “I really an awfully simple operation, Jig…it’s not really an operation at all” (Hemingway 116). The way the man is downplaying the abortion and how “it’s just to let the air in” (Hemingway 116), showcases how he thinks this is nothing. He is not putting himself in Jigs place. Readers are provided with insight into the characters thoughts and feelings since it is written in third-person omniscient. The writing style provides readers further understanding on these characters feel since both have a different opinion when it comes to the idea of Jig having an abortion.
They both lack communication with one another and are not seeing eye to eye. We see Jig resistance grow more as she begins to powerfully assert her decision to not have the abortion. Despite the American Man not wanting the baby he tells her not to have the procedure if it isn’t something she wants. This shows that the man does care for to girl, but he still lacks an understanding for just how hard this decision is for her to make. In the story the man emphasizes just how much he cares for the girl, but he doesn’t express understanding and sympathy for her during such a stressful decision (Renner).
Through the story the light of the sun is gradually spread all around. Light can be seen as harsh such like the truth and honesty. Neither Jig or the American are willing to face that. Instead, the two rather avoid discussing the problem. Neither have the strength to face the issue of the abortion head on.
”(paragraph 22, line 1). He wants to win this argument and have them going on being a carefree couple traveling, after the operation is performed. Jig is apprehensive to have the abortion because she possibly wants the child, but she also fears at what may happen after she has the operation. She does not know if things will really be the same. The man is using logic and lack of emotion to be able to convince Jig that the abortion is the right move for her to make.
Readers can know that he lacks sympathy and consideration , for he ignores the effects of abortion and Jig’s feeling. Although he seems considerable for he always says “if you don’t want to you don’t have to. I wouldn’t have you do it if you didn’t want to”, he is, in fact, avoiding to take up the responsibility. We cannot analyze the story without paying attention to its topic--“Hills Like White Elephants”. White elephant has the meaning of “unwanted possession”.
In the short story by Ernest Hemingway, "Hills Like White Elephants," a couple is delayed at a train station en route to Madrid and is observed in conflict over the girl's impending abortion. In his writing, Hemingway does not offer any commentary through a specific character's point of view, nor, in the storytelling, does he offer his explicit opinions on how to feel or think about the issues that emerge. The narrative seems to be purely objective, somewhat like a newspaper or journal article, and in true Hemingway form the story ends abruptly, without the couple's conflict clearly being resolved. The ambiguity of the ending has been a subject of much debate; however, the impact of what is not said in words can be gleaned through the symbolism of their surroundings. Upon examination of the setting, the couple's final choice becomes instantly apparent.