Hills Like White Elephant Diction

462 Words1 Page

In Hills Like White Elephants, Ernest Hemingway uses diction to represent the situation and the characters. He highlights the differences between the two characters, and their difficulty communicating their thoughts and feelings. Hemingway deliberately uses words to convey his theme that the inability to communicate is detrimental during difficult times. Hemingway uses restrained language to establish the tone of the story right away. A mood of emptiness and anxiety is created by the first few words, which describe the scene: an abandoned rail station encircled by hills. As the couple consider the implications of their choice, the straightforward language reflects their emotional state. The language allows him to convey the underlying tension …show more content…

The man sounds practical and detached, focusing on the reality of the situation. The woman, on the other hand, seems more emotional and interested in connecting deeply. The American man keeps calling the procedure a "simple operation" and claiming that it's not a big deal, which shows he's trying to make it seem less serious. But Jig's words, like calling the hills "white elephants" and wanting to "have a fine time," show she's searching for a deeper connection and real conversation. Moreover, Hemingway uses stillness and silence in the dialogue to emphasize the characters’ unspoken thoughts and feelings. The gaps in conversation serve as reminders of the things left unsaid, highlighting the limitations of communication in expressing emotions. For example, when Jig asks the American what they will do after the operation, his response "We’ll be fine afterwards, just like we were before" is a bleak and true reflection of their relationship and its future. The silence that follows speaks volumes, increasing the tension between the characters. In addition to dialogue, Hemingway utilizes descriptive language to reinforce the theme of communication—or lack

Open Document