In the short story Hills Like White Elephants, Ernest Hemmingway's characters situation is greatly a product of the social standards for men and women of the time around the 1930s. Their problems which come into play other than the topic of the abortion, such as their relationship, their nationalities, and their financial situation all help to create that feeling of helpless indecision and inevitability that are apparent throughout the story. The style of writing that is used leaves much of the meaning of the story hidden and an understanding of the relationships between men and women of the era can lead to a deeper understanding of the story. Jig, the pregnant female in the story plays a relatively helpless role. Her situation as a young European women involved with an older American man traveling Europe, puts her in a very reliant position. But being pregnant isn't the only situation that has placed her in this predicament. Many of the problems she is dealing with at that train station were placed upon her by society and not her American friend. Women's rights at this point we still in their infancy. Women were just getting the right to vote in America never the less in Spain. The level of legal rights and the social stigmas of unwed mothers which Jig was subject to would more or less force her under the guidance of a man. So the situation which she has become involved in is somewhat a precarious one. She could demand to have the baby and stand firm on the subject regardless of the desires of her American companion, but then she runs the chance of relative abandonment in a foreign country without any means or skills to get her home. Even worse, at this time there was no such thing as alimony or child support an... ... middle of paper ... ...ision is left to be made that the 1930's society hasn't already made for them. The social makeup of the era lifted the ability of women to make such decisions on their own. Pro-choice wasn't even a concept at this time of near total male domination of the social and legal scene. It would be some time before women would actually have the ability to choose what to do with their own bodies and this choice is why this story wouldn't translate very well into a modern time. The ability of women now days to choose what to do with themselves and their ever increasing independence makes them less reliant on a man for support. This is power which Jig is lacking and has left her in her situation. Her complete dependence upon the American has granted him the control over her to do as he wishes. Unfortunately, Jig would have many years before the situation would change.
The character of Jig is also very indecisive. After The American Man is persuading her to have an abortion, she states that she is willing to have the operation if it will make The American Man happy, and insures he will no longer worry. She also states that since she doesn’t care about herself, she will have the procedure because it will please The American Man. Later during the story, while they are outside looking at the hills, the two have the conversation of:
In the story “Hills like White Elephants” it does not matter in which perspective you want to read the story, it will always conclude that these two characters are in different sides of perspective in a situation. Without doubt, Hemmingway’s “Hills like White Elephants” illustrates a tension of a juvenile American and the uprising maturity of the girl. That is to say, Hemmingway has left a series of symbols and metaphors in order to explain this tension between them, for example, shade, train station, nature and much more.
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...
This controversy is a big deal to Jig and remains an important decision in our society. Jig knew the right thing to do and to follow her morals, but instead she was listening to the American man in making the decision. Also in the short story the author used figurative language to show what the couple was going through. Jig gazed off at the hills. “They look like white
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.
The 1920's was a time where women struggled to overcome the traditional dominance of men. During this time, Ernest Hemingway, an author known to write about controversial issues between men and women, wrote Hills Like White Elephants. In the story, we can see the conflicting sides of Jig and the man regarding the issue of abortion. Hemingway uses a third-person, telegraphic writing style and also equips the use of symbolism to convey the feelings and development of characters and also create a better understanding of his piece. Along with those devices, Hemingway also shapes the tone of the characters in their dialogue to show the shifting of emotions. The purpose in using these devices is to effectively show the evolution of a dominated girl (Jig) to an assertive woman, and, in the bigger picture, show the struggle that women go through in order to empower themselves. By allowing us, as readers, to get a better picture of how Jig gradually evolves from a childish and indecisive girl into an independent and assertive woman, Hemingway succeeds in effectively displaying female empowerment through Hills Like White Elephants.
‘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.
Hills like White Elephants is a unique story filled with simple yet meaningful dialogue between two lovers in Spain. The entire story can leave the audience with more questions rather than answers when they reach the conclusion. Those who are familiar with Hemmingway and have studied his works have attempted to gain insight and logical conclusions to many of his stories by examining his life. A life that was full of married affairs, alcohol, and hardship. Many of these experiences Hemmingway has faced, have set the foundation for some of his greatest works. This paper will examine the impact that Hemmingway’s first born child, his alcohol addiction and his separation from Pauline had on the popular short story of Hills like White Elephants.
The subtle manipulative control that the American has over Jig’s thoughts and actions transforms itself into a complete control over her decision. After finding out that she is pregnant, Jig has a difficult time weighing her options because of her dependence o...
It is the early afternoon of a Tuesday, and it is raining. Surrounded by the calming non-inspiration of bare off-white walls, I sit and listen to the railing of my peers as they attempt to deconstruct the brilliance of a deceased writer. It is a usual Tuesday this semester. Seated in my accustomed place in the front row, just left of center, my eyes close to the high-keyed soprano and alto ranting of all the outspoken students, who are today, sadly, entirely female. They discuss back and forth the short story "Hills Like White Elephants," by Ernest Hemingway, and all that its symbolism means. They chat about choices and decision and isolation and worry. The speak of Jig, the girl in the story, and how she is facing the knowledge of the child she is carrying, and what she will do about it. They talk of the girl's youth and the imagery of setting of the tale - between a desert and lush valley, and how it represents the paths of her choice. Most evident to me, however, and indeed what moves me more than the story itself did, is that they thrash on about the overbearing and egotistical nature of the crass, thoughtless and blind Man in the writing, and how he is trying to force her to bend to his wishes. Nowhere in the room is there an once of compassion spoken on behalf of the Man, the father of the child. Not a peep is mentioned in reference to his own pain and struggle; it is an overlooked and disbelieved element in the conversation, and that fact haunts me. There is clear and reasonable evidence to support that the Man is going through just as much heartache over this decision as is the girl.
Through his endless amounts of pestering he never finds a way to get his desire and true feelings across to the young lady and becomes increasingly bothersome because of his inability to convey his feelings. “‘We can have the whole world,’ the American declares. ‘No we [cannot],’ Jig retorts. ‘ We can go everywhere.’ No, we [cannot]. It [is not] ours any more.’ ‘[It is] ours.’ ‘No, it [is not].’” (3) The American is insistent on continuing the nomadic lifestyle that the couple lives by aborting this baby, and pesters Jig continually hoping to sway her with the thought of living their same lifestyle that they currently live. However he never directly tells her his desires and instead attempts to manipulate her as he feels his desire is in their best interest regardless of how he achieves his desire. However he does not realize that in his examples he is strengthening Jig’s resolve and conviction in her own wishes. Earlier on in the narrative the American is quick to turn and begin attempting to conform Jig, without any warning or inkling of a change in topic he quickly turns it into what he wants: “‘Should we have another drink?’ ‘All right.’ ‘The [beer is] nice and cool,’ the man says. ‘[It is] lovely,’ Jig agrees. ‘[It is] really a simple operation, Jig… I know you [would not] mind it.’ [Jig] did not say anything.” (2) Without transition or a telling sign, the American quickly turns an agreement about how lovely the cool beer is on a warm day, into pressuring Jig to conform to his desires. All because of his selfish need and lack of responsibility to settle down and lead a life where they can raise the child, and his desire to continue living a life of excess and materialism, yet he cannot convey these desires of him
“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
Hemingway, does not, however, tell us that there is in fact an abortion. Jigg and her lover lead a very simple life before they are forced to consider a solution to their situation. “That’s all we do, isn’t it—look at things and try new drinks?” said Jigg (Hemingway 2). With the “awfully simple operation” (Hemingway 2), however, their entire world will be turned upside down. The American reassures Jigg “It’s really not anything…” and the entire process will be over in a few minutes; everything will be completely natural and fine. Yet Jigg, worried about their life together afterwards, asks the American what will happen. He responds, “Just like we were before.” (Hemingway 2). This leads one to believe absolutely no change will happen, at least in the eyes of the characters. In the story of Jigg and the American, there is what some consider a death (abortion) and what some simply consider an operation. Jigg is worried things will change from the way things were between herself and the American. The American continues to reassure Jigg that by having the “perfectly natural” operation things will go back to normal and “We’ll be fine afterward.” (Hemingway
Renner, Stanley "Moving to the Girl's Side of `Hills Like White Elephants'." The Hemingway Review, 15 (1) (Fall 1995): 27-41. As Rpt. in Wyche, David "Letting the Air into a Relationship: Metaphorical Abortion in `Hills Like White Elephants'. The Hemingway Review, 22 (1) (Fall 2002): 56-71. EBSCOhost.
On average, around 15 million abortions occurred among younger, unmarried women ranging within the childbearing ages of 15-44. In which case, the reader could infer that Jig was among that age range in the text because she was bearing a child. It does not state if the man and Jig were married, but one could infer that they were not married due to the way they were described as young and were traveling instead of settled while Jig was pregnant. This could also infer that Jig became pregnant unexpectedly and very sudden. Becoming pregnant unexpectedly leaves a woman at a higher risk for considering an abortion. The higher risk could be due to her or her partner unready for a child or have an unmet need for contraception. Which could explain why the young couple was highly considering the abortion. Allowing the reader to know this information, it could enlighten them to realize why the man is encouraging Jig to have the abortion at a subtly aggressive extent. He is unready to have the responsibility of a child or a family. In Spain, where the story occurs, abortion is a legal option for women in the first 14 weeks of their pregnancy. This implies that Jig would receive a safe abortion, meaning after receiving the