Fifth Week Response Essay
In Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants” evidently, this is a conversation taking place between a young unmarried couple. The way the author gives no name to the man suggests that this is a situation that is common and can happen to anyone. Up until this point, this couple has only had to be responsible for themselves. Frequently, the two travel to see new things and to drink, seeming inseparable. For example, when the author describes the luggage with all the "labels" on it, this suggests the two have spent a significant amount of time together traveling. Furthermore, it seems that their carelessness or freedom has now put them into a difficult situation that will change them both forever especially their …show more content…
The author does a good job pointing out that they are not on the same page about the future. For example, the man sees this operation as simple and routine, it will forgive them of this burden so they can pick up where they left off. The girl sees the opposite, she is noticing how the hills look like white elephants, suggesting she is thinking about a different future, one that includes "life". At the same time the girl is also noticing on the other side of the tracks the river and field of grain, all resemblances of life. In the end, I think the author suggests that the man changes his mind and the two decide not to terminate the pregnancy. For example, “I’d better take the bags over to the other side of the station,” the man said. She smiled at him.” (p.598) By taking the bags over to the “other” side where the girl saw the river and the field of grain, it symbolically suggests that he has changed his mind. Also, when the author points out that the man “could not see the train” (p.598) this is because it is not coming and the two never go to Madrid. Finally, at the end of the story, after placing the bags on the “life” side of the tracks, he walks through the bar and notices the people waiting for the train are drinking, he does the same “He drank an Anis at the bar and looked at the people.”(p.598) here I think Hemingway is showing the man’s change of heart because he associates himself with the people in the bar waiting for the train. Lastly, after he finishes his drink “He went through the bead curtain.”(p.598) this is where I think the author shows he went through the bead curtain, or barrier of communication, to suggest that the man supports the girl 's decision to have the
In Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants” evidently, this is a conversation taking place between a young unmarried couple. The way the author gives no name to the man suggests that this is a situation that is common and can happen to anyone. Up until this point, this couple has only had to be responsible for themselves. Frequently, the two travel to see new things and to drink, seeming inseparable. For example, when the author describes the luggage with all the "labels" on it, this suggests the two have spent a significant amount of time together traveling. Furthermore, it seems that their carelessness or freedom has now put them into a difficult situation that will change them both forever especially their …show more content…
The author does a good job pointing out that they are not on the same page about the future. For example, the man sees this operation as simple and routine, it will forgive them of this burden so they can pick up where they left off. The girl sees the opposite, she is noticing how the hills look like white elephants, suggesting she is thinking about a different future, one that includes "life". At the same time the girl is also noticing on the other side of the tracks the river and field of grain, all resemblances of life. In the end, I think the author suggests that the man changes his mind and the two decide not to terminate the pregnancy. For example, “I’d better take the bags over to the other side of the station,” the man said. She smiled at him.” (p.598) By taking the bags over to the “other” side where the girl saw the river and the field of grain, it symbolically suggests that he has changed his mind. Also, when the author points out that the man “could not see the train” (p.598) this is because it is not coming and the two never go to Madrid. Finally, at the end of the story, after placing the bags on the “life” side of the tracks, he walks through the bar and notices the people waiting for the train are drinking, he does the same “He drank an Anis at the bar and looked at the people.”(p.598) here I think Hemingway is showing the man’s change of heart because he associates himself with the people in the bar waiting for the train. Lastly, after he finishes his drink “He went through the bead curtain.”(p.598) this is where I think the author shows he went through the bead curtain, or barrier of communication, to suggest that the man supports the girl 's decision to have the