Hemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants

“My aim is to put down on paper what I see and what I feel in the best and simplest way” (E. Hemingway, Brainy Quote). It is evident that this is why Ernest Hemingway writes the literary pieces he writes. Hemingway proves this by writing his short story, Hills Like White Elephants. Hemingway also quoted, “I never had to choose a subject - my subject rather chose me” (E. Hemingway, QuotesPedia). This also relates to Hemingway composing Hills Like White Elephants along with many of his other works.

Hemingway refers to past events in his life in his writings. For example, in Hemingway’s novel, A Farewell to Arms, Hemingway is referring to his service in World War I, and his relationship with his girlfriend that rejects his marriage proposal (Ball). The object of his affection was the young nurse Agnes von Kurowsky, who later rebuffed his offer of marriage. Seven and a half years his senior, she dismissed him as the "kid," a teenager too immature to match her twenty-seven years (V. Hemingway). In Hills Like White Elephants, Hemingway is referring to the relationship with his first wife, Hadley Richardson (Ball). In 1921, Hemingway marries Richardson (Ball). In this same year, the couple decides to move from America to Paris, France (Ball). Two years later, Richardson becomes pregnant (Ball). Due to the fact that there are more preferable doctors in America, the couple is forced to move back to America at the time that Hemingway is becoming well-known for his writings (Ball). Hemingway’s writing career is put on hold for a while (Ball). In 1924, the couple moves back to Paris (Ball). Around the same time that Hills Like White Elephants is written, the couple gets a divorce (Ball). Three years after a baby postpones Hemingway’s care...

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