Hills Like White Elephant Rhetorical Analysis

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Olivia Mandell 6/3/2024 Kelly 1 English 10 Final. Addressing the Elephant in the Room When dealing with a life-altering decision, would you give into the pressure of others weighing in or stay true to yourself and do what is right? In Ernest Hemingway's short story, “Hills like white elephants'', the author presents a strained relationship that is held on by a thread as the couple decides how to juggle their own bias’ and determine how they will make the right decision and not leave an everlasting scar on their bond. Through a seemingly mundane conversation between a man and a woman waiting for a train, there is an unspoken element that Hemingway sprinkled in to invite the reader to dig deeper to uncover secret meanings and themes that otherwise …show more content…

From the beginning, the conversation is fraught with tension, as they navigate their different perspectives and struggle to communicate effectively. They look like white elephants," she said. "I've never seen one," the man drank his beer. No, you wouldn't have to. I might have," the man said. "Just because you say I wouldn't have doesn't prove anything." (Hemingway, 182) The woman's observation about the hills resembling white elephants serves as a metaphor for the looming problem they face, a problem they both dance around, unwilling to confront directly. The couple's bickering about whether or not the man would have seen a white elephant to which the woman replies with ‘No you wouldn't have.’ is a clever play on words that indicates that even though not said directly everything is about the pregnancy. Reading between the lines can also be interpreted as the man not wanting to even try to slow down and have children because he knows how it will end, while she is saying well, how would you know you have never raised a child before? Her remark is met with the man's dismissive response, indicative of his desire to maintain …show more content…

As the story closes we are left with the line, "There's nothing wrong with me." I feel fine with that." (Hemingway, 186) With this closing line we as the reader are left to wonder and interpret the double meaning of the woman's words. The repetition of "I feel fine" serves as self-reassurance and a mechanism of denial. By repeating the phrase, she attempts to convince both herself and the man that she is unaffected by their current situation and the decision about the abortion. By refusing to accept the truth, the woman hopes that all issues will melt away and she can continue the lifestyle she has painted with her partner. A little voice in the back of her mind says that she should make her own decisions and have the baby. While we are left with no clear answer of what happens to this couple, we are left to wonder if she let the pressure from her partner get to her or if she is able to make her own decision that her partner will abide by. Hills Like White Elephants offers an exploration of gender roles, denial, manipulation, and coercion within the context of a troubled relationship. Through Hemingway's masterful storytelling and use of symbolism, readers are invited to dissect the layers of meaning embedded

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