Hills Like White Elephants, by Ernest Hemingway

"Hills like White Elephants"

By Ernest Hemingway

In Ernest Hemingway's "Hills like White Elephants" the author addresses a subject that was thought to be taboo in the 1920's. The subject that the author addresses is that of abortion. During the roaring 20's people were consumed with having a good time and living a care free lifestyle. As it is evident in the great American classic "The Great Gatsby" which gives a depiction of the lifestyle that people led in the 1920's. During the decade that the story was written for abortion was not talked about nationally nor was there any education on it. Abortion was only talked about amongst friends and their inner circles. The couples of the time, especially the couple in our story, seemed to be more concerned with enjoying their care free lifestyle and not wanting anything to change that. In the 1920's the emotions or feelings couples go through when making a life altering decision, like having an abortion, are the same back then as they are today. This can be seen through different examples found in the main character's conversation through out the story.

As the reader begins to read the story it seems that everything is fine between the woman and the American man. They are having a normal conversation. Then the American man mentions to the woman that the operation she is going to have is nothing big. "It's really an awfully simple operation, Jig," the man said. "It's not really an operation at all. (253)" After this statement the reader can sense the woman seems to be worried or concerned about the operation. She does not answer the man with any quickness. She is said to be just starring at the ground. When she finally speaks to the man, she wants reassurance that after the operation everything will be fine and back to normal. "We'll be fine afterward. Just like we were before. (253)" At this point the reader can sense some tension between the man and woman.

The tension sensed in this small dialogue between the couple is our first example of the emotions the couple are going through with making this big decision, whether to have the operation or not. The couple seems to be teetering on what their decision is going to be.