Hills Like White Elephant Symbolism Essay

A prime example of a short story with a deeper significance is Hills Like White Elephants. Ernest Hemingway - the author - is able to create this deeper significance through the use of such features as: symbolism, characterisation and setting.

Set at a Spanish train station, Jig and the man - out two main characters - bicker and drink. Although it is never said, the deeper significance of the story is that Jig is pregnant. They spend most of their time arguing over whether Jig should end her pregnancy.

Upon closer examination of the story we become aware of who the characters are as people. This characterisation in the story is detriment to its deeper significance. Hemingway characterises Jig and the man though what they say to each other. In fact, most of what we learn about them, we learn in the dialogue. In the quote below there is an example of Hemingway's characterisation:

"...Quote..."

In the quote the man is ordering beer

A prime example of symbolism is this: “Quote.” The symbolism is seen behind the white elephants. White elephants are revered in some cultures. They are also large creatures thus making their upkeep very expensive. Many who own a white elephant face bankruptcy. Sometimes a king or a ruler would gift a subordinate with a white elephant to intentionally ruin them financially. This animal symbolises Jig’s baby; expensive and difficult to look after. This suggests that the couple view the baby as a burden and as something to get rid of. A little later in the story, Jig recants her statement about the hills looking like white elephants. Evidence of which is as follows: “Quote.” This suggests that perhaps Jig no longer views the baby as a cumbersome responsibility as she no longer sees the white elephants in the hills. This is just one example of how Hemingway uses certain features - in this case symbolism - to create a deeper significance in his