Jig’s Rebirth in Hemmingway's Hills Like White Elephants
Ernest Hemmingway has a specific style of writing. Most of his short stories are terse, short, and objective. Not only does he like to use short, simple sentences, but he also repeats them over and over for effect. Hemmingway is also known being blunt. In his short story "Hills Like White Elephants," he is just the opposite. He dances around the truth and never reveals Jig’s final decision. Does Jig go through with this "simple operation"?(616). Just what is this operation that is so very simple? Though Hemmingway never tells, an insightful reader can conclude that the "simple operation" is an abortion. Whether she goes through with the abortion or not is up to us to decide. Through careful examination of several of her lines, we can interpret her thoughts, understand her feelings, and assume that Jig does not go through with the abortion.
The story is set in a bar beside train station. A couple sits together at a table discussing something that is unknown to the reader. "You started it. I was being amused. I was having a fine time"(616). This line suggests how Jig might have acted in her younger days. Because Hemmingway gives no concrete clues as to Jig’s former life, an interpretation is necessary. One guess is that she was lively. This girl knew how to have fun. She was a party girl that did not live life in the slow lane. The excessive drinking in the story alludes to her younger days. One would guess that her taste for alcohol came from her youthful years. One would also assume that Jig was a strong person. The reader can conclude this when Jig says "I wanted to try this new drink: That’s all we do, isn’t it – look at things and try new drinks"(616). This sh...
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... woman inside of her. She will survive.
In conclusion, Hemmingway may not have given us many clues as to the thoughts and feelings of Jig, but through interpretation, we are able to get some idea as to the person she used to be. Interpretation also gives us an inkling as to her final decision. On the surface, Jig’s final decision is to keep the baby. However, on the inside, her decision is to rediscover herself. She gradually breathes life back into her old self. Jig’s rebirth of the vitality she once had is one of the themes in "Hills Like White Elephants." Though she lost her herself in him, she finds her strength returning in this child. The strength and determination she once had is now alive and kicking.
Charters, Ann, ed. "Hills Like White Elephants." The Story and Its Writer: An Introduction to s Short Fiction, IV, 615-618. Boston: Bedford Books, 1995.
In Hemingway’s “Hills like White Elephants” and Wallace’s “Good People,” both of the young females, Jig and Sheri, experience an unplanned pregnancy and must decide whether an abortion is the right choice. While the former story employs dialogue to depict the relationship of an adventurous, carefree couple in the 1920s, the latter uses third person limited point of view to show a faithful young couple whose religion is their source of morality. Thus, Wallace digs much deeper since both religion and love are a factor in Sheri’s ultimate decision. The enigmatic endings of both stories leave us questioning Jig and Sheri’s choice and its impact on the future of their relationship with their respective partners. The text suggests that Jig will not comply with the American’s wish of aborting the baby because of her vision and the indicative dialogue between her and the American, and Sheri will conform to her religious beliefs and carry the child.
Elephants'." Studies in Short Fiction. 17.1 (Winter 1980): 75-77. Rpt. in Literature Resource Center. Detroit: Gale, 75-77. Literature Resource Center. Gale.
There is a common theme in “Hill’s like White Elephants” and “The Birthmark” of a life altering decision. Both women are thinking about having an operation that will affect them for the rest of their lives. In “Hill’s like White Elephants”, Jig and the American are debating whether or not they should have an abortion. This decision is something that will affect both of them deeply throughout their lives together. By the way the two characters interact with each other the reader can deduce how important they feel the operation is. There seems to be a tension in their sentences with each other. Jig says things like “Everything tastes of licorice. Especially all the things you've waited so long for” and “That's all we do, isn't it-look at things and try new drinks” (Hemingway 841)? These responses to the American show that Jig is in a distasteful state of mind which would most likely stem from her thoughts about the operation and what they will do in regard to it. Because these thoughts of the operation are affecting her socially, it shows just how important the operation is to her. How Jig interprets the scenery around them while they are discussing the operation also suggests the importance ...
Rankin, Paul. Hemmingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants.” Explicator. 63.4 (Summer 2005): 234-237. Rpt. In Short Story Critisism. Ed. Jelena O. Krstovic. Vol. 117. Detroit: Gale, 234-237. Literature Resources from Gale. Gale. . 12 Jan. 2015.
The story "Hills Like White Elephants" is a conversation between a young woman `Jig' and an American man waiting for a train at a station in Spain. The author never names the topic of their discussion but as their dialogue progresses; it becomes evident that Jig is pregnant. The man wants Jig to abort the unborn child but she is unconvinced and wants to become a mother. Hemingway has brilliantly written the story's dialogue which "captures the feel of a private conversation while at the same time communicating the necessary narrative background" (O'Brien 19). At the end of the story, it is unclear as to what decision has been made; however, Hemingway gives the reader several clues regarding what Jig feels, and what she wants to do. Jig's private thoughts are illuminated by Hemingway's description of the setting, the character, and the conflict. Stanley Renner suggests that, as a result of the couple's discussion, "Jig has become able to make a more clear-sighted estimation, and perhaps a better choice, of men" Wyche(59). The couple's inability to communicate effectively their true thoughts and emotions makes their dialogue very appealing. The story examines the gender differences and miscommunications as they influence the decision whether to abort the unborn child or not (Smiley). In his book on Hemingway, published in 1999, Carl P. Eby points out that "[f]or the past two decades, Hemingway criticism has been dominated by a reconsideration of the role of gender in his work" (Bauer 125).
Hills Like White Elephants, written by Ernest Hemingway, is a story that takes place in Spain while a man and woman wait for a train. The story is set up as a dialogue between the two, in which the man is trying to convince the woman to do something she is hesitant in doing. Through out the story, Hemingway uses metaphors to express the characters’ opinions and feelings.
“Hills Like White Elephants” depicts a private discussion between the American and Jig over a touchy subject to where a vital choice must be made. Normally, Ernest Hemingway does not give sensitivity to his female characters, yet Jig is distinctive for this situation. Hemingway’s utilization of symbolism to hint Jig’s choice is made evident in numerous ways.
...tributes to Redcrosse’s journey and the plot of this epic poem. It is clear that Spenser views the Catholic Church as weak and sinful. Also clear is that he view Christianity as the true faith.
Stukas, Jake. "Literary analysis: Hills Like White Elephants, by Ernest Hemingway." Helium.com. Web. 21 Nov. 2009. .
... ballet teacher. In fact, when Cuban ballet is discussed, her name is always associated with it. Her ballet skills and ability has credited the country with high respect and approval. Alicia has formed the Ballet Alicia Alonso which was renamed in 1955 to Ballet de Cuba and Ballet Nacional de Cuba in 1959. “Its ballet school earned admiration for the quality of its training and recruiting system. Ballet is still very popular in Cuba and can be admired almost daily in the countries capital, Havana.” (cuban-culture.com).
Cuba is by far the largest in the chain of island, and constitutes one of the four islands of the Greater Antilles. The long and narrow island runs from northwest to southeast and is—777 miles long and, 119 miles across its widest point and 19 miles at the narrowest. Cuba’s geography consists of one-fourth mountainous terrain. The Sierra Maestra is the most rugged landscape. It stretches roughly 150 miles along the southeastern coast and ranges the island’s highest elevations—6,476 feet. The Cordillera located far west stretches from southwest to northeast for 110 miles, with huge shaped vegetation-clad hillocks called mogotes interrupt central-western
These “Inner Six” nations thus laid the framework for further integration of other nations within the region and its supranational principles were what led to the creation of the European Economic Community in 1957, further assimilating the European countries’ economies. The creations of these communities for economic purposes were meant to promote cooperation amongst European nations to prevent the further outbreak of violence which had subsided with the end of WWII. Through these general agreements of economic importance came further integration through the creation of more agreements throughout the 1960s, such as the abolishment of customs duties amongst their borders, creating free trade and border trade tax pacts among the Inner Six and across their borders to other signatory nations.
Hemingway’s short story “Hills like White Elephants” fluctuates many sparse details to compel a young couple’s life. It introduces multiple critics towards its interesting use of symbolism towards religious outlook. “Hills like White Elephants” connects multiple accusations with religious perspective amongst its very own characters, and is rather deeply assumed to open a deeper inside of the story. Hemmingway’s short story sure does bargain with such deep religious out take on everything when observed obscurely.
After WWII, many politically influential people saw a need to create some form of interdependence between the nation states of Europe as a means to preventing further war (Watts, 2008: p6). In 1951 Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg all signed the Treaty of Paris creating the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC); the beginnings of an integrated Europe which has seen many changes since its creation (Thody, 1997: p1). Today it has become the highly integrated European Union with 28 member states, 18 of which share a single currency (Archick, 2014: p1). The process of EU integration is a complex one, as can be seen in its history and will surely be seen in its future. There is no simple explanation that can successfully explain the growth of the EU from a economic community of six nation states to the political and economic union it has become today. However there are two competing theories for explaining EU integration that give opposing views on the matter, neo-functionalism and intergovernmentalism. In this essay I will examine both theories and attempt to reach a conclusion if either successfully explains EU integration.
“From time to time it is worth reminding ourselves why twenty-seven European nation states have come together voluntarily to form the partnership that is the European Union.” 1