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Dependence to Independence in Hills Like White Elephants
In Ernest Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants,” the lives of Jig and the American, the main characters, are put on display for a brief period of time. Jig and the man have had a romantic relationship for quite some time, and now their future together is in jeopardy. The impregnation of Jig has caused the American to pressure her into getting an abortion. We find these two individuals in the Valley of the Ebro. Traveling from Barcelona to Madrid, the couple takes these few minutes to discuss the future of their baby. Jig now must make one of the most important decisions of her life – to have the abortion and stay with the American, or to have the baby and end the relationship with the male. The forty minutes of dialogue we observe detail the need both have the control the situation. The dialogue between these two individuals, and the comments by the narrator gives reference to the dry and despair atmosphere that flows throughout the setting of this event.
The introductory narrative provides a prophetic setting for this forty-minute glimpse into the life of Jig and the American. The names of the two characters offer insight into the relationship of the two individuals. A “jig” is a “fast, springy dance.” (Webster’s New World Dictionary, p.320) This is reminiscent of the abortion. The decision to have the abortion will have to be made quickly. The lack of a name for the man also provides insight to his character. By leaving the male nameless, Hemingway does not allow the reader to personalize the man. Thus, it is easier for one to dislike him.
“On this side there was no shade and no trees and the station was between two lines of rails in the...
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...another path that she may take, a path that leads away from all of the other paths, a path leads away from the barren land, a path that leads toward a brighter future.
During the forty-minute snippet of time in Jig and the American’s conversation, a decisions are rendered that will have a life-long impact. Jig must overcome her dependence of the man in order to truly decide for herself what is more important – to continue the relationship, or to save the life of the baby inside her. The fate of their baby, their “white elephant” will be decided in these few moments of time. Throughout their conversations, numerous references to the setting are stated. The symbolisms in the descriptions of the setting by the narrator allude to the abortion that the American wants Jig to have, and the dialogue between the couple alludes to their superficial relationship.
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...
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...
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
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 ...
is out of sight and “busy”. She finally finds a doctor and begs him to check on Elf but
“The Hills Like White Elephants” is a short story that is about an American man and a girl called Jig. They are sitting at a table outside a train station, waiting for a train to Madrid. While they wait they order drinks and have a heated ongoing conversation over whether or not Jig will have an operation that would be of great significance to their relationship. “The Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway has two important symbols in the story, the hills and the drinks both of which help to give us a better understanding of what is going on between the American and his girl.
Mainly from the dialogue between America and Jig, it seems that the two are an unmarried couple. Their discussion suggests that they are facing some kind of problem. With further analysis, we can begin to discern that the couple was actually talking about having an abortion. It was not explicitly stated, but with their words, "this is really not an operation at any" one can perceive that they were in fact talking about having an abortion.
Hemingway's characters in the story represent the stereotypical male and female in the real world, to some extent. The American is the typical masculine, testosterone-crazed male who just ...
,Jig is pregnant and she’s not sure if she wants to get rid of it or keep it. She asks The American what he thinks and he tells her that “‘It’s really an awfully simple operation, Jig’, ‘It’s not really an operation at all.’ (24) The American is telling Jig that her getting rid of the baby is a simple operation. He basically tells her that it wouldn’t be a big deal if she got rid of it. Later in the conversation, The American tells her “That’s the only thing that bothers us. It’s the only thing that’s made us unhappy.” (24) The American is manipulating Jig by telling her that the baby is the only thing that is keeping them from being happy. Because Jig is so worried about what The American thinks, she asks him “And if I do it you’ll be happy and things will be like they were and you’ll love me?” (25) Jig is making sure that if she does get the abortion that The American man will still love her and be
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 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.
where beetles found only in the eastern United States. They also found the back leg of a
The first stop on Gulliver's many journeys was the island of Lilliput. This is a civilization filled with people only a fraction of the size of human beings. Gulliver is a "man-mountain" compared to the tiny Lilliputians. It is here that Gulliver discovers what it is like to have immense power. He is ordered to "be our ally against our enemies"(34) and "at his times of leisure, be aiding and assisting our workmen"(34). Even though they are smaller then he they try to control him. The emperor even comments that "he hoped I should prove a useful servant"(35), which shows what the people truly saw him for. Gulliver lives up to the emperors' expectations in the battle against Blefuscu. "I took up the knotted ends of the cables...and with great ease drew fifty of the enemies men-of-war after me"(43). This act of heroic servitude gained hi...
On his first voyage, Gulliver is washed ashore after a shipwreck and awakes to find himself a prisoner of a race of 6 inch (15cm) tall people, inhabitants of the neighbouring and rival countries of Lilliput and Blefuscu. After giving assurances of his good behaviour he is given a residence in Lilliput and becomes a favourite of the court. There follow Gulliver's observations on the Court of Lilliput, which is intended to satirise the court of then King George I. After he assists the Lilliputians to subdue their neighbours the Blefuscudans (by stealing their fleet) but refuses to reduce the country to a province of Lilliput, he is charged with treason and sentenced to be blinded. Fortunately, Gulliver escapes to Blefuscu, where he builds a raft and sails out to a ship that he spotted on the horizon which takes him back home. The feuding between the Lilliputians and the Blefuscudans is meant to represent the feuding countries of England and France, but the reason for the war is meant to satirize the feud between Catholics and Protestants.
The below examples will hopefully outline the characteristics of charismatic leaders and the ideas of the model in a tangible manner.