Hills Like White Elephants Rhetorical Analysis

654 Words2 Pages

One of the most controversial topics in America today is abortion. It is the topic that determines people’s political stances and ends other people’s relationships, but it is also the topic that many people tend to avoid. Everyone has their opinion on the matter, but most do not make it known. This is portrayed in “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway. The author writes this story mainly through dialogue, and avoids using extremely descriptive language. The white elephants in the story, “Hills Like White Elephants”, symbolize the elephant in the room the characters face, which is deciding whether or not to abort their child. In the first lines of dialogue the girl, or Jig as she is called, comments on their surroundings. She states, “They look like white elephants” (pg. 416). The white elephant symbolizes the decision the couple faces, but seems to be avoiding. Abortion is a very touchy topic in society today, and back in the time this story was written it was very frowned …show more content…

The thing he went in depth explaining was the setting. This happened in the beginning and closer to the end of this story. At first, he described the setting as, “on one side there was no shade and no trees and the station was between two lines of rails in the sun” (pg. 416). This part of the setting symbolizes abortion and death. As the story progresses and the characters begin to talk about the problem they face, the scenery begins to change. We see this when Jig looks across the tracks to the other side of the land. She describes it as, “fields of grain and trees along the banks of the Ebro. Far away, beyond the river, were mountains. The shadow of a cloud moved across the fields of grain and she saw the river through the trees” (pg. 418). This symbolizes the couple keeping the baby. It is seen from Jig’s point of view because she is the one contemplating whether or not the abortion would truly be the best

Show More
Related

  • Shooting An Elephant Rhetorical Analysis

    484 Words  | 1 Pages

    In Orwell’s reflective narrative, “Shooting an Elephant”, he reveals the truth on imperialism. Through the utilization of irony and the method of appeals, Orwell shows the reader that imperialism is just a definition because the people are in control, not Britain.

    Read More

  • Jig

    755 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Ernest Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants” the character Jig is submissive to her counterpart The American Man, who is encouraging her to have an abortion. While Jig is not sure what she wants, she does not wish to press the subject of the operation because The American Man is intent upon persuading her to go through with the procedure. Throughout this story Jig’s helplessness, indecisiveness, and her lack of education become apparent, although by the end of the story she becomes confident, decisive, and ultimately takes back control of her decisions and life.

    Read More

  • Into The Wild Rhetorical Analysis

    1626 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the book Into the Wild, Jon Krakauer wrote about Christopher McCandless, a nature lover in search for independence, in a mysterious and hopeful experience. Even though Krakauer tells us McCandless was going to die from the beginning, he still gave him a chance for survival. As a reader I wanted McCandless to survive. In Into the Wild, Krakauer gave McCandless a unique perspective. He was a smart and unique person that wanted to be completely free from society. Krakauer included comments from people that said McCandless was crazy, and his death was his own mistake. However, Krakauer is able to make him seem like a brave person. The connections between other hikers and himself helped in the explanation of McCandless’s rational actions. Krakauer is able to make McCandless look like a normal person, but unique from this generation. In order for Krakauer to make Christopher McCandless not look like a crazy person, but a special person, I will analyze the persuading style that Krakauer used in Into the Wild that made us believe McCandless was a regular young adult.

    Read More

  • Hills Like White Elephants: My Interpretation of the Play

    1335 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the story, the American and the girl are waiting at a train station and drink large glasses of beer at the beginning. The beer is put on felt pads. Felt represents the comforting barrier the alcohol provides them between the truth, the table. This may be because they are trying to forget something that they do not want to think about. The barren setting is because of the deadly and drastic situation the couple are in. The girl looks at the hills, saying they look like white elephants. This is referring to something that is big and important but is not being seen because it is white. The man says he has never seen one, showing that he denies that it exists. White also represents innocence, so the baby is innocent. The man does not see this baby as white, and innocent person, but only as an elephant, something that would require time and energy to maintain. The girl says that the man would not have seen this white elephant. This is implying that the girl thinks that the man does not really care about the baby or any type of innocence. The man did not see the innocence when he impregnated her, and does not now when he wants to kill the baby. The man says he might h...

    Read More

  • Love in The Yellow Wallpaper, Hlls Like White Elephants, and A Doll's House

    1708 Words  | 4 Pages

    The communication going on between the man and girl in the story, "Hills Like White Elephants,'; are not an honest one. The man seems to lead the conversation where as the girl is quiet. He brings up the subject of 'operation' which suggested abortion, but never mentions the word 'abortion' in the story to understate it. He tries to convince the girl to get the operation, but the girl seems bothered by this subject. However, he does not stop. Their relationship seems to be fine when the baby has not came in between them. We could see this where the guy says, "We'll be fine afterward. Just like we were before.'; The girl wants the relationship to become as before, but is in a huge dilemma whether to give birth to the baby or not. The man does not want the baby and has the choice of abortion in mind, not thinking of the other problems that would occur through operation such as the girl's health. Later on, the girl makes a melancholy remark that the hills look like white elephants. Probably the hills being a round shape reminded her of the baby. She walks toward the end of the station, and sees the beautiful nature. When she looks more toward the nature, one could see her small desire wanting the baby and thinks what may have been happened if she had the baby. The guy does not pay attention to that remark, because he is just concerned about making his point that he wants the operation done, not considering her side.

    Read More

  • Perspectives on Unplanned Pregnancies: Hills Like White Elephants, and Good People

    963 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Hemingway’s “Hills like White Elephants” and Wallace’s “Good People,” both of the young females, Jig and Sheri, experience an unplanned pregnancy and must decide whether an abortion is the right choice. While the former story employs dialogue to depict the relationship of an adventurous, carefree couple in the 1920s, the latter uses third person limited point of view to show a faithful young couple whose religion is their source of morality. Thus, Wallace digs much deeper since both religion and love are a factor in Sheri’s ultimate decision. The enigmatic endings of both stories leave us questioning Jig and Sheri’s choice and its impact on the future of their relationship with their respective partners. The text suggests that Jig will not comply with the American’s wish of aborting the baby because of her vision and the indicative dialogue between her and the American, and Sheri will conform to her religious beliefs and carry the child.

    Read More

  • Manipulation of Syntax in Hills Like White Elephants, by Ernest Hemingway

    704 Words  | 2 Pages

    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...

    Read More

  • Preventing Mistakes in The Lottery and Hills like White Elephants

    1115 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...lls like White Elephants was to give light to the ensuing issue of abortion. Policemen don’t shoot first and ask questions later, they make sure they are doing the right thing before carrying out the procedure. Parents should do the same. The title of this short story is unique and can only be understood after reading the story. The white elephants mentioned in the title refer to possessions, which are usually gifts that are expensive and hard to get rid of. In this case, the white elephant is the unborn baby.

    Read More

  • Hills Like White Elephants Identity

    1045 Words  | 3 Pages

    This being a reason that she wants to accept this baby and its new identity. She mentions at the beginning about the mountains look like white elephants, in this quote “The hills being described as white elephants may also bring to mind the image of a pregnant belly,” it symbolizes that serene feeling that Jig got while she was looking at those mountains and that shows how happy she would be to keep the baby as her own “white elephant.” The man makes it out to almost seem like an object instead of a baby. When he says “I’m perfectly willing to go through with it if it means anything to you.” It kind of implies that he’s selfish which is proved in his next statement when he says, “of course it does. But I don’t want anybody but you. I don’t want anyone else. And I know its perfectly simple.” He thinks that the procedure is perfectly simple when in reality it’s a life changing decision that once they make they will never be able to change it. Another symbol in this short story is the train station. It says the “station sits between two rails.” This could be a symbol of a baby inside of a mother’s stomach, by looking at the tracks from above. Between the man and the woman, they see the identity of the baby as two different things, Jig sees it as almost an opportunity and the man sees it as a bump in the road or

    Read More

  • Interpreting Hemingway's 'Hills Like White Elephants'

    1637 Words  | 4 Pages

    “Hills like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway is about a couple, the American and Jig, who contemplate whether or not to have an abortion. The premise of the story seems simple enough, but the outcome is highly debated. Critics argue that the baby was kept by the couple ( Renner ) and others claim the baby was aborted.( Fletcher ) Others have even simplified the story, claiming that the issue was not resolved because the couple was drunk by the end of the story. ( Sipiora ) Although the conclusion is in questions many have agreed with the idea that the couples relationship would be changed and would end prematurely. ( Wyche ) Dialogue is the main technique in conveying this argument but we can only understand the complexity of Hemingway’s work by looking at the story as a whole. By looking at the many symbols, intrinsically and

    Read More

  • Abortion In Ernest Hemingway's Hills Like White Elephants

    738 Words  | 2 Pages

    What if you had to make a decision that would affect you for the rest of your life? Could you decide between keeping your significant other and losing your unborn child or losing your significant other and keeping your child? In Ernest Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants”, an American man and his girlfriend, who he calls “Jig”, argue about whether she should have an abortion or not. The couple tries to discuss the “elephant in the room”, but fail to ever really understand and accept each other’s point of views as they wait for the train to come. Although the ending results of Jig’s unborn baby are unknown, her decision to have an abortion can be supported by the persuasion from the man, her care for the man, and the unwanted child.

    Read More

  • Elements of Comparison between Hill’s Like White Elephants and The Birthmark

    1255 Words  | 3 Pages

    There is a common theme in “Hill’s like White Elephants” and “The Birthmark” of a life altering decision. Both women are thinking about having an operation that will affect them for the rest of their lives. In “Hill’s like White Elephants”, Jig and the American are debating whether or not they should have an abortion. This decision is something that will affect both of them deeply throughout their lives together. By the way the two characters interact with each other the reader can deduce how important they feel the operation is. There seems to be a tension in their sentences with each other. Jig says things like “Everything tastes of licorice. Especially all the things you've waited so long for” and “That's all we do, isn't it-look at things and try new drinks” (Hemingway 841)? These responses to the American show that Jig is in a distasteful state of mind which would most likely stem from her thoughts about the operation and what they will do in regard to it. Because these thoughts of the operation are affecting her socially, it shows just how important the operation is to her. How Jig interprets the scenery around them while they are discussing the operation also suggests the importance ...

    Read More

  • Abortion in Hemingway's Hills Like White Elephants

    2463 Words  | 5 Pages

    The story "Hills Like White Elephants" is a conversation between a young woman `Jig' and an American man waiting for a train at a station in Spain. The author never names the topic of their discussion but as their dialogue progresses; it becomes evident that Jig is pregnant. The man wants Jig to abort the unborn child but she is unconvinced and wants to become a mother. Hemingway has brilliantly written the story's dialogue which "captures the feel of a private conversation while at the same time communicating the necessary narrative background" (O'Brien 19). At the end of the story, it is unclear as to what decision has been made; however, Hemingway gives the reader several clues regarding what Jig feels, and what she wants to do. Jig's private thoughts are illuminated by Hemingway's description of the setting, the character, and the conflict. Stanley Renner suggests that, as a result of the couple's discussion, "Jig has become able to make a more clear-sighted estimation, and perhaps a better choice, of men" Wyche(59). The couple's inability to communicate effectively their true thoughts and emotions makes their dialogue very appealing. The story examines the gender differences and miscommunications as they influence the decision whether to abort the unborn child or not (Smiley). In his book on Hemingway, published in 1999, Carl P. Eby points out that "[f]or the past two decades, Hemingway criticism has been dominated by a reconsideration of the role of gender in his work" (Bauer 125).

    Read More

  • Life and Death

    1197 Words  | 3 Pages

    When a woman gets pregnant, she and her partner make a serious decision whether they should give birth to the unborn child or abort it. However, sometimes every couple can have a different outlook about giving birth or aborting because every male and female has his or her ways of thinking. In “Hills Like White Elephants,” the author, Ernest Hemingway tells a story of an American man and his girlfriend, Jig, who have a disagreement in the train station on the subject of whether to keep the unborn child or to abort. However, the author uses binary opposition of life and death to portray the polemic argument a couple encounters regarding abortion. As a symbol for the binary opposition of life and death, he represents the couple’s expressions, feelings, and the description of nature.

    Read More

  • The Themes of Abortion and Pregnancy in Hills Like White Elephants

    977 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hills Like White Elephants displays the differences in the way a man and a woman view pregnancy and abortion. The woman looks at pregnancy as a beautiful aspect of life. In the story the woman’s pregnancy is implied through their conversation. She refers to the near by hills as elephants; "They look like white elephants" (464). She is comparing the hills to her own situation, pregnancy. "They’re lovely hills. They really don’t look like white elephants. I just meant the coloring of their skin through the trees" (465). Just as the hills have their distinct beauty to her, she views pregnancy in the same fashion making the reference to the hills having skin—an enlarged mound forming off of what was once flat. The man views pregnancy just the opposite. When the girl is talking about the white elephants and agrees that the man has never seen one, his response is, "I might have, just because you say I haven’t doesn’t prove anything" (464). This shows the defensive nature of the man, and when the woman implies the he is unable to differentiate between what is beautiful and what is not.

    Read More

More about Hills Like White Elephants Rhetorical Analysis

Open Document