Hills Like White Elephants

Decisions The short story, Hills Like White Elephants, written by Ernest Hemingway, is an intriguing piece of literature that captures the true emotion behind conflict and disagreement. The short story takes place? at a train station by the Ebro River valley of Spain. There is a couple that are talking and ordering drinks that are named The American, the man, who is nameless? and his female companion named Jig. Hills Like White Elephants shows Hemingway’s use of theory of omission, a message presented through a story’s subtext. For instance, the short story is? perceived to be about abortion, however, the actual word abortion? s never? mentioned and The American seems to be attempting to convince his girlfriend to have an abortion. Through the use of first person and the literary tool of symbolism, Ernest creates a scene of discomfort by? having the two main characters? in conflict and allows the reader to interpret the basis for? it.? ?In this short story, Ernest Hemingway wants to reveal the coming of age of a woman and how a woman can be controlled psychologically and be manipulated into what the partner wants. From the beginning of the story it is evident that Hemingway intends to focus on Jig and the issues at hand that will directly impact her.

Through the use of third person objective, Hemingway leads the reader to believe that the couple are going through a rough patch due to Jig becoming pregnant. Jig, the only character granted a name within the story, has mixed feelings about the pregnancy on whether or not she wants to keep the child. “Well the man said, ‘if you don’t want to you don’t have to. I wouldn’t have you do it if you didn’t want to. But I know it’s perfectly simple’. ‘And you really want to? ‘ ‘I think it’s the best thing to do. But I don’t want you to do it if you really don’t want to’. ‘And if I do it you’ll be happy? This simple sentence displays how the man is manipulating Jig into something she is not entirely sure about. Jig asks if the man will be happy after she does “it”, showing how she wants to please her partner and make him happy, regardless of the consequences. Jig seems to be dependent on her partner both physically and emotionally. This means that Jig does not want to anger her partner for the fear of losing him and the child.

Hills Like White Elephants incorporates numerous symbols within the story which facilitates what the story is about and what the characters are feeling. “The girl was looking off at the line of hills. They were hite in the sun and the country was brown and dry. ‘They look like white elephants,’ she said. ‘I’ve never seen one’, the man drank his beer. ‘No, you wouldn’t have. ” Hills are beautiful, natural and completely stationery. They have always been in the same place, and they always be. Jigs comment about how the hills looked symbolizes how settling down would be a necessity with a baby. It also implies how being pregnant is not a small task and requires an enormous amount of commitment and effort. In addition, the hills also symbolize the major obstacle that Jig and The American must climb and get over, but it is not the end of their lives.

The element of the railroad station is symbolic of being at the crossroads of life during a time of crisis. The American man and Jig can not stay at the station forever and must make a decision on where to go, and what to do about the pregnancy. Ultimately, The Hills Like White Elephants is a story about crisis. The American man and Jig the girl have a decision to make and they are at odds on what path to chose. Even not making a decision is a decision, which they will both have to endure. The American chooses to manipulate his partner, so he is not burdened with a family and can continue to live freely without any responsibility.