Ernest Hemingway Hills Like White Elephants Analysis

“Hills Like White Elephants” Analysis “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway follows an American couple. The American man and his girlfriend Jig are on vacation. They sit waiting at a train station in Spain next to the Ebro valley. The couple drink together and talk about the hills which “look like white elephants” (Hemingway). As the conversation goes on the American man brings up an operation which Jig was to undergo. The couple then argues whether or not Jig should get the operation. This story is mostly dialogue and told from a dramatic point of view which leaves it up to the reader to interpret the characters emotions and thoughts. “Hills Like White Elephants” shows that miscommunication can lead to a dysfunctional relationship. “Jig” (Hemingway), as the American man calls her, is the protagonist of this story. Jig is a round static character who …show more content…
The couple begin their conversation with a pair of beers with Jig exclaiming that the hills look like white elephants. The American man responds by saying that he has never seen a white elephant but Jig has “Just because you say I wouldn't have doesn't prove anything” (Hemingway) the American man tells Jig and she does not reply but rather changes the subject and starts talking about the bead curtain. They clearly have a communication problem which shows anger between them. They cannot hold a conversation without conflict. The American man then brings up the operation and the classical internal conflict is revealed. Jig is unsure about the operation as shown by her lack of response when the topic is brought up. The American man attempts to convince Jig of the operation, Jig takes it into consideration but also thinks of afterward saying “And you think then we'll be alright and happy” (Hemingway). Jig is having trouble in validating such an operation unless it brings back the way their relationship used to