Hemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants is a story that lends itself well to inferential analysis. Hemingway uses several techniques to hint at what is going on between the two main characters, Jig and the American, without explicitly stating it. This allows readers to make their own inferences about the characters’ relationship and what may happen next. Hemingway also employs foreshadowing in his story, which can help readers further their understanding of the events that take place.
I discovered many layers of symbolism and a fascinating psychological undercurrent in Hemingways Hills. It begins with the young woman’s comparison of a line of white hills in the distance to white elephants. The guy comments, I’ve never seen one.
Hemingway uses this simple exchange to set up the conflict between the two characters. The girl wants to have a baby, but the man does not want to be burdened with the responsibility. Hemingway uses the symbol of the white elephant to represent this conflict.
The white elephant is a rare and valuable animal, but it is also a burden to its owner. This is how Hemingway saw children at that time in his life they were a burden, but he also knew they were worth their weight in gold. Hemingway uses this symbol to show how the girl feels about having a baby she knows it will be a burden, but she also knows it will be worth it in the end.
The second layer of symbolism I found in Hemingways Hills Like White Elephants was in the way he described the American and the girl. The American is described as being very sure of himself, and always knowing what he wants. He is also described as being very good at what he does. Hemingway uses these traits to symbolize the United States at that time. The country was confident and sure of itself, and it was also very good at what it did. Hemingway saw the United States as a powerful force that was always moving forward.
The girl, on the other hand, is described as being more timid and unsure of herself. She is also said to be more emotional than the American. Hemingway uses these traits to symbolize Europe at that time. Europe was more timid and unsure of itself, and it was also more emotional. Hemingway saw Europe as a weaker force that was not moving forward as quickly as the United States.
The third layer of symbolism I found in Hemingways Hills Like White Elephants was in the way he described the setting. The story takes place in Spain, but Hemingway uses the Spanish landscape to symbolize the state of the world at that time. Spain was a country that was on the verge of civil war, and Hemingway saw this as symbolic of the world as a whole. The world was on the brink of World War II, and Hemingway saw this as a time when anything could happen. The landscape reflects this sense of foreboding and uncertainty.
The fourth layer of symbolism I found in Hemingways Hills Like White Elephants was in the characters themselves. The American is a very strong and forceful character, while the girl is more delicate and vulnerable. Hemingway uses these traits to symbolize the two different sides of human nature. The American represents the rational side of human nature, while the girl represents the emotional side. Hemingway saw this as a battle between the two forces that was taking place in the world at that time.
In American society, a white elephant is an inanimate object that is both enormous and visible but no one wishes to acknowledge or speak of. It’s an intriguing start to a tense discussion about an apparent pregnancy, and the guy’s wish to end it. The couple’s cautious refusal to describe the problem or the proposed treatment indicates that a spouse unwilling to accept responsibility, or unprepared for parenthood, is attempting to block it.
Hemingway uses the symbol of the white elephant to indicate how this couple’s relationship is strained, and how they are struggling to communicate about a difficult topic.
The story opens with a description of the scenery surrounding the train station where the couple is waiting for their train. The girl looks at the fields of grain and notices how dry they look. She comments on how it must be very hot in the sun. The man agrees, and then asks her if she would like a drink. She says that she does not want anything to drink. He asks her if she is sure, and she says that she is sure.
The conversation then turns to whether or not they should have something to eat. The man suggests that they might have something at the bar, but the girl says that she is not hungry. The man again asks if she is sure, and she says that she is sure.
The couple then begins to talk about the white elephant. The girl says that it is a silly idea, and the man agrees. He goes on to say that it is not worth getting worked up about. The girl agrees, and then asks him what he thinks they should do.
The man tells her that he thinks they should have the operation. The girl asked if he really wants to do it. He says that he does not want to do it, but he thinks it is best for her. She asked him why he wants to do it. He tells her that he does not want to have a child that is not wanted.
The girl then asks him if he would still love her if she had the operation. He says that he would still love her, but it would be better for her if she did not have the operation.
The question of whether or not to go through with the abortion is a major source of conflict between the two characters. Hemingway’s use of dialogue throughout the story effectively communicates the tension and frustration that both characters are feeling.
The girl asks the man what he will do if she has the abortion, to which he replies that he will be happy and things will go back to being the way they were before. He insists that having the baby would “ruin everything.” The girl seems unconvinced, telling him that he does not really know what it is like for her.
She points out that he has never even seen the place where she grew up, suggesting that he cannot truly understand her perspective. The man responds angrily, accusing her of trying to make him feel guilty. It is clear that he does not want to have the baby, and is pressuring the girl to have an abortion.
The story ends with the girl looking out at the landscape and saying that everything looks like a “wasteland.” This final line could be interpreted in a number of ways. It could simply be a reflection of her emotional state, or it could be a comment on the relationship between her and the man. The wasteland could also represent her feelings about getting an abortion. Hemingway’s use of symbolism throughout the story helps to convey the characters’ inner thoughts and emotions.
In conclusion, Hemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants is a complex story that uses dialogue and symbolism to communicate the characters’ feelings and thoughts about a difficult situation. The woman is clearly reluctant to have an abortion, while the man is eager to go through with it. Hemingway skillfully uses literary devices to convey the tension and conflict between the two characters.