What Is Wrong In Hemingway's Hills Like White Elephants?

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Recommended: Symbolic interaction and abortion

Abortion in the eyes of society has become a crime and a sin to many people. Only 17 states in the US fund abortions and many require the women having the procedure done to receive lectures concerning the topic beforehand. Supreme Court legalized abortion in 1973, however, this would continue to be a ongoing controversial event for long after, as it had been for quite some time before. In 1927 Ernest Hemingway wrote the short story “Hills Like White Elephants,” this, for the first time, brought up the idea of abortion to be thought of in a different way than it had been before. The story focuses more on the girl, Jig’s, ability to make a decision on her own despite her boyfriend, The American’s, constant pressure to make her do something he thinks would be better for them as a couple. The American is relentless in his pursuit to push Jig to receive the abortion. His controlling manor is displayed in many ways throughout the story along with his careless attitude in regards to her morals and how she feels about the abortion. Multiple times The American explains to her how simple the operation would be to try to convince her to go through with the procedure. He says, “It’s really a simple operation, Jig. It’s really not anything. It’s just to let the air in.” He continues to …show more content…

A white elephant is often considered a precious and rare animal, therefore symbolizing an unborn child. There are two sides to the hill, same as there are to the couples opinions. One side symbolizes fertility and the chance to start a family. The other can be seen as barren, or how it would be if she makes the decision to have the abortion. After Jig makes this comparison, The American says that he’s “never seen one.” Jig however seems to lack surprise at his comment. Being pregnant she is more likely to see the symbolic imagery the saying “hills like white elephants” has while The American is being rational and is unlikely to

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