Communicating well can become very difficult, especially when faced with a tough decision. This short story is a dialogue between a couple from the third person objective point of view. Throughout the story the two protagonists argue back and forth while drinking beer. In the short story “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway the theme is how difficult choices can cause negative communication in relationships, which Hemmingway develops through symbolism, tone, and irony.
Hemmingway revealed the most significant symbolism in the short story through the setting and environment. Early in the story the narrator notes, “The girl was looking off at the line of hills. They were white in the sun and the country was brown and dry.” Then the …show more content…
For example, in the first quote about the mountains looking white in the sun and how the country was brown and dry, the tone suggests sympathy for the characters. The author indicates sympathy for the conflict between Jig becoming pregnant and the man wanting to end their pregnancy with an abortion. The couple struggle, at a public train station, to communicate their opposing opinions on which path their relationship should take. The mood of the short story quickly becomes tense. The couple is at a crisis point in their relationship, and instead of communicating and talking to one another about the elephant in the room, all they do is avoid the issue by drinking beer and trying new drinks. Jig notes, “Let’s drink beer” (275). The only way the woman can make a decision is if she stops ignoring the way she feels. She became frustrated when the man tried to communicate his feelings and asks, “Would you please please please please please please please stop talking?” (278). She asks him to stop, and even though she begs him to stop talking seven times, the man does not stop talking. The story comes to an end without a clear decision, and that leaves the audience guessing how or if the couple manages to find common ground. Even though communication is key, throughout the whole story the couple has muddled communication
Hemmingway revealed the most significant symbolism in the short story through the setting and environment. Early in the story the narrator notes, “The girl was looking off at the line of hills. They were white in the sun and the country was brown and dry.” Then the …show more content…
For example, in the first quote about the mountains looking white in the sun and how the country was brown and dry, the tone suggests sympathy for the characters. The author indicates sympathy for the conflict between Jig becoming pregnant and the man wanting to end their pregnancy with an abortion. The couple struggle, at a public train station, to communicate their opposing opinions on which path their relationship should take. The mood of the short story quickly becomes tense. The couple is at a crisis point in their relationship, and instead of communicating and talking to one another about the elephant in the room, all they do is avoid the issue by drinking beer and trying new drinks. Jig notes, “Let’s drink beer” (275). The only way the woman can make a decision is if she stops ignoring the way she feels. She became frustrated when the man tried to communicate his feelings and asks, “Would you please please please please please please please stop talking?” (278). She asks him to stop, and even though she begs him to stop talking seven times, the man does not stop talking. The story comes to an end without a clear decision, and that leaves the audience guessing how or if the couple manages to find common ground. Even though communication is key, throughout the whole story the couple has muddled communication