Hills Like White Elephants Rhetorical Analysis

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The Ultimate Choice In “Hills like White Elephants”, Ernest Hemingway uses tone, symbolism and imagery to enhance the struggle of power between the protagonist and antagonist. Jig wants to have the child, but her fear of abandonment and reliance on the American makes it difficult for her to reach a decision. It seems that she never had to make a decision during the relationship, but now she has a chance to redeem herself. She can either take the honorable path, keep the baby or abort the child. Her decision will have an immense impact on the relationship. Although Jig's want to have the child, she will terminate her pregnancy to save the relationship. Although Hemingway offers little exposition in the short story, the tense tone of the dialogue between Jig and the American indicates the deep problems in the relationship. It …show more content…

Although she wants the baby, she loves the American more. Despite of realizing that the man does not care about her and that things will never be the same between them. She still do the operation to save the relationship. When she stated “I feel fine, there nothing wrong with me. I feel fine.” It implies that she will have the operation. She feels that will save her relationship, but the relationship is over and the man will leave since he is finally liberated. Blakemore's analysis of the story, gave readers a greater understanding of the relationship. After tasting absinthe, Jig claimed “Everything tastes like licorice. Especially all the things you’ve waited so long for like absinthe”(70). This reveals Jig wanted to have a child for a long time, however the American is ruining it since he wants her to abort the child (Abdoo). At first she was optimistic about the idea of having a child, she thought that it would bring them together. However, the American unwillingness to take responsibility for his action had made them more distant

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