Hills Like White Elephants Character Analysis

208 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: Essays on alcohol abuse

Throughout the two stories we read they both show a form of alcohol used to try to escape whatever problem the characters are facing. In both of these stories the characters are struggling with their relationships. in “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway Jig and the American are sitting outside a lot drinking at one point joig says “I wanted to try this new drink. That’s all we do, isn’t it-look at the things and try new drinks?” (Hemingway 476) This shows how often Jig and the American drink. They spend most their time trying new drinks and trying to avoid and problems they could possibly be facing. In “You Were Perfectly Fine” by Dorothy Parker. Peter doesn’t start off drinking, but he eventually does at one point he says “do

Show More
Related

  • Chris Mccandless Failure

    432 Words  | 1 Pages

    Before going to Alaska, Chris McCandless had failed to communicate with his family while on his journey; I believe this was Chris’s biggest mistake. Chris spent time with people in different parts of the nation while hitchhiking, most of them whom figured out that McCandless kept a part of him “hidden”. In chapter three, it was stated that Chris stayed with a man named Wayne Westerberg in South Dakota. Although Westerberg was not seen too often throughout the story, nevertheless he was an important character. Introducing himself as Alex, McCandless was in Westerberg’s company for quite some time: sometimes for a few days, other times for several weeks. Westerberg first realized the truth about Chris when he discovered his tax papers, which stated that “McCandless’s real name was Chris, not Alex.” Wayne further on claims that it was obvious that “something wasn’t right between him and his family” (Krakauer 18). Further in the book, Westerberg concluded with the fact that Chris had not spoken to his family “for all that time, treating them like dirt” (Krakauer 64). Westerberg concluded with the fact that during the time he spent with Chris, McCandless neither mentioned his

    Read More

  • 1962 Film Days Of Wine And Roses: Alcohol Addiction

    1881 Words  | 4 Pages

    As Herie and Skinner state “Beverage Alcohol can be described as a depressant drug which diminishes the activity in parts of the brain and spinal cord in accordance with the amount of alcohol in a person’s bloodstream” (Herie & Skinner, pg. 42). With its long history and unique properties such as the cure of all diseases “prolongs life, clears away ill humours, revives the heart and maintains youth”, alcohol is often related to tradition and expressions; many of these traditions are adaptation from earlier times where it was believed alcohol reflected water of life (Herie & Skinner, 2010). This is quite evident in Days of Wine and Roses where Joe is first seen drinking because “it was part of his job” and because “he had to because of everyone

    Read More

  • Analysis Of William Rorabaugh's The Alcoholic Republic

    1164 Words  | 3 Pages

    Most people point to wars, Presidents or the economy when asked to describe the history of the United States, but what about alcohol. Social history in general has always taken a back seat to political and economic history, mostly because many aspects of social history are not exactly bright spots from the past. Alcohol, for example, is actually a much bigger aspect of our history than one may expect. As a matter of fact, early America was centered around drinking as a kind of social event. William Rorabaugh’s book Alcoholic Republic outlines how prevalent drinking really was during the years after the Revolutionary War. Rorabaugh argues that post-colonial Americans should be considered alcoholics. However, the evidence Rorabaugh uses

    Read More

  • Character Analysis: One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

    1205 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Ken Kesey’s novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, the reader has the experience to understand what it was like to live in an insane asylum during the 1960’s. Kesey shows the reader the world within the asylum of Portland Oregon and all the relationships and social standings that happen within it. The three major characters’ groups, Nurse Ratched, the Black Boys, and McMurphy show how their level of power effects how they are treated in the asylum. Nurse Ratched is the head of the ward and controls everything that goes on in it, as she has the highest authority in the ward and sabotages the patients with her daily rules and rituals. These rituals include her servants, the Black Boys, doing anything she tells them to do with the patients.

    Read More

  • The Glass Menagerie Character Analysis Essay

    1021 Words  | 3 Pages

    The “Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams shows a family facing economic and social hardships due to the father abandoning them. The father’s absence forces the rest of the family to fill roles that they wouldn’t be obliged to face if the father remained. The mother, Amanda, is a strong single mother who pushes her kids to be economically self-sustaining individuals. Amanda tries to impose her desires for her kids in a very direct and controlling manner which causes them to dislike her initiatives. The son, Tom, is the breadwinner for the family, however is dissatisfied with his situation due to his increased responsibilities. The daughter, Laura, is handicapped and dropped out of business school. Each member of the family is limited by their ability to grow out of their negative habits, however, it is likely that these habits or characteristics came from the family situation and the roles that each member was forced to fill.

    Read More

  • Character Analysis: The Odyssey

    698 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Odyssey portrays Odysseus as a man that showed many bold traits. Written by Homer in 800 B.C.E. Set in greek mythological times The Odyssey showcases a series of islands and kingdoms. The Odyssey visualized in Greek mythology shows many heroes, Gods, and enemies. Odysseus’ many eccentric traits had a great contribution to his journey in The Odyssey. Cleverness, pride, and strength shapes Odysseus and is in place as the backbone of the story.

    Read More

  • Rise of Crime in the 1920's

    874 Words  | 2 Pages

    As World War I ended people began to bring their attentions back to the domestic issues of the United States, specifically drunkenness. The average person in 1910 was consuming about 1.6 gallons of alcohol, which led to everything from general drunkenness to abuse within families and this was not a new problem either; since the mid 1800s temperance movements had been popping up across the United States. These temperance movements were more within small towns though and had little to no effect on big cities, but were becoming increasingly popular expecially with religious groups, who believed drinking led to sinful behavior and with women, mostly of whom were abused by their drunk husbands (Brown, 704). As mentioned above with alcohol related crime and death rate at a high and temperance movements being p...

    Read More

  • A Comparison Of Hills Like White Elephants And Raymond Carver's Cathedral

    1495 Words  | 3 Pages

    Both stories mention alcohol an excessive amount. In Hills Like White Elephants Jig and the American order drinks before discussing the elephant in the room: abortion. They talk about drinks almost as much as they talk about the operation and it seems as if their relationship is based around alcohol. The couple agrees that all they do is, “. . . look at things and try new drinks” (Hemingway 116). That seems like a pretty surface level relationship. The alcohol highlights the talking aspect rather than the communicating aspect of the theme: talking versus communicating. It helps to convey the idea that their relationship is not deep and the couple does not communicate well. The alcohol tells the reader that a lot is lacking from the couple’s relationship if the reoccurring topic of conversation for them is about drinking alcohol. Anyone can talk about alcohol; couples should talk about more important things and get to know each other on an intimate level. Alcohol poses the idea that perhaps the pair is not in an exclusive relationship at all, but only know one another from parties and social events. Alcohol serves as a distraction from the heavy subject that they should converse. Like Hills Like White Elephants, all three characters in the Cathedral drink alcohol constantly. Before every main event a character is preparing or drinking an alcoholic beverage. Once again, this symbolizes

    Read More

  • Prohibition and the Birth of Organized Crime

    2133 Words  | 5 Pages

    In the 1600's and 1700's, the American colonists drank large quantities of beer, rum, wine, and hard cider. These alcoholic beverages were often safer to drink than impure water or unpasteurized milk and also less expensive than coffee or tea. By the 1820's, people in the United States were drinking, on the average, the equivalent of 7 gallons of pure alcohol per person each year (“drinkingprohibition” 1). As early as the seventeenth century, America was showing interest towards prohibition. Some people, including physicians and ministers, became concerned about the extent of alcohol use (“There was one...” 1). They believed that drinking alcohol damaged people's health and moral behavior, and promoted poverty. People concerned about alcohol use u...

    Read More

  • Alcoholism

    651 Words  | 2 Pages

    When society thinks about people drinking alcohol, the first assumption is that there is a drinking disorder occurring. There are thousands of ways to get help and for one to learn the correct way to drink alcohol. Society, however, doesn’t realize that there are steps and reasons alcoholism occurs within society.

    Read More

  • A Man Called Horse Character Analysis

    350 Words  | 1 Pages

    Dorothy Johnson in “A Man Called Horse” writes about a young man who was born and raised in Boston. He lives in a gracious home under his grandmothers and grandfather’s loving care. For some reason, he is discontent. He leaves home to try to find out the reason for his discontent. Upon leaving he undergoes a change in status and opinion of himself and others. He begins a wealthy young man arrogant and spoiled, becomes a captive of Crow Indians- docile and humble, and emerges a man equal to all.

    Read More

  • Death of a Salesman Character Analysis

    1323 Words  | 3 Pages

    Alistair Deacon from As Time Goes By once said that, “The people in the book need to be people.” The main character in a story or in a play always has to be somewhat likeable or relatable. Who doesn’t like to feel like they can relate to their favorite character in a story? In many cases the authors of stories or books always try to make the reader feel like they are not the only ones with problems or going through a crazy situation. Wanting the reader to become engaged in the characters' conflicts is what they aim for. In Arthur Miller’s play, Death of a Salesman, many people were gripped by Willy Loman’s, the main character, problems because they too struggle with many of the conflicts that Willy faces. Willy could not keep his life together, failing to see reality and pursuing the wrong dream, with a wrong viewpoint, ended up causing others around him and himself to hurt.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Characters And Plot: Backroads By Tawni ODell

    2302 Words  | 5 Pages

    Backroads begins with Harley being questioned by the police for a crime that the reader knows not of. He delves into the story that has brought him up to this point, beginning from a year after his mother shot his father. The events in the course of this are breath taking.

    Read More

  • Overcoming Life's Hurdles: A Study of 'The Glass Menagerie'

    613 Words  | 2 Pages

    Life is full of difficulties. People are compelled to face these from time to time. In some cases, an individual is unable to progress in life because of their inability to deal with the reality of their predicaments. However, some of these drastic incidents are necessary for individuals to overcome these difficulties and move on in life. In The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, a few of the characters portrayed successfully overcome the hardships while others remain held up in their predicaments and are hence, unable to make any progress in life. In this play, Tom fails to overcome the boredom of living with his family, Laura fails to confront her fears of schooling while Amanda succeeds in accepting that she has raised her children well despite their stubbornness.

    Read More

  • The Bridges Of Madison County Character Analysis

    1425 Words  | 3 Pages

    Beginning as a best-selling novel by Robert James Waller, The Bridges of Madison County tells of a love that grew between two middle aged adults; a lonely housewife and a traveling photographer. Francesca Johnson feels overlooked in her family so when the intriguing Robert Kincaid comes along, she all but jumps at the chance to escape her lonely dwelling. As Francesca shows Robert the historical bridges found in Madison County, Iowa, she is seen to be seeking the attention of a complete stranger. After, she offers him some tea; tea becomes dinner and dinner becomes the start of an infatuation. In the days to come, Francesca listens to the stories of Robert’s journey all over the world and while she lives vicariously through his stories, she

    Read More

More about Hills Like White Elephants Character Analysis

Open Document