Hills Like White Elephants Language Analysis

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By 1927 Hemingway’s protagonists had developed to present The Man in Hills Like White Elephants. The Man seems to be living in the moment as he is enjoying his life and his relationship with The Girl, and is distressed at the idea that his world may have to change. Pamela Smiley suggests The Man’s statements are only misconstrued due to gender miscommunication. Men’s speech is specific and directed. Men speak little about their state of mind or bearing. Women speak a much more indistinct language. Her listener may not know specifically what she’s talking about but often times she doesn’t either. For a woman the important thing is the conversation yet for a man the important thing is the goal. “There are three major areas of gender­ linked …show more content…

You know I love you.”
“I know. But if I do it, then it will be nice again if I say things are like white elephants,
And you’ll like it?” (Hemingway 169)
It can be argued this comment is said in a dismissing fashion. In considering whether this protagonist is insensitive, the comment might be made in a manner to imply obviousness. There is a very different way men speak then the way women speak. The Girl asked whether or not he will love her as a conversation starter yet The Man saw it as a yes or no question. To him the answer is apparent and it seems crazy to him that she would even ask such a thing.
More of the same misunderstanding of the way men speak and demonstration of The Man’s love for The Girl shows in:
“I don’t care about me.”
“Well, I care about you.” (Hemingway 169)
The Man takes this statement to be as crazy as the question about whether or not he will love her. The Girl not caring about herself is a familiar cultural norm for many women. Women are taught to care for and see to the needs of others. The Man cares about her and tells her so but the literary analytical establishment chooses to read The Man’s statement as disingenuous. “Male-female conversation is cross-cultural communication” and needs to be analyzed in its native

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