Ernest Hemingway's Hills Like White Elephants

In “Hills Like White Elephants” the reader is set inside the troubled relationship of the man and the girl. First, the man tries to tell the girl what to do with her body. Next, the man and the girl only find temporary relief from their arguing. Lastly, the man tries to control the direction of their relationship. The man is controlling while the girl is hopeless in several ways. First, the man tries to tell the girl what to do with her body. The girl brings to the man’s attention the hills: “They look like white elephants” (9). The white elephant symbolizes an object that is not wanted, which describes that the girl does not want the baby. Shortly, the girl changes her opinion about the mountains and says that they do not look as if they are white elephants anymore, symbolizing her now wants to keep the baby. The man, however still attempts to convince the girl that this is a natural operation and they will be better-off after it is completed. …show more content…
The man and the girl start to order drinks to find temporary relief from the heat while waiting for their train. The girl tries to pass the time by trying many drinks to avoid thinking and arguing about her decision on whether or not she will go along with the operation. Out of frustration the girl brings to the man’s attention about trying new drinks: “That’s all we do isn’t it- look at things and try new drinks” (34-35). The man and girl continue to drink one drink after another drink symbolizes temporary relief from their problems as a couple and discussion about the