In “Hills Like Elephants,” Ernest Hemingway constructs a story that revolves around the double entendre of a couples much heated conversation. Thus, Hemingway places the focal point of the story within the subtle implications of the two parties exchanging dialogue. This purposeful omission aims to not only deflect the true context and theme of the story, or at least at face value, but also highlights the importance of truly listening and comprehending the different viewpoints of an individual. The story deals with abortion and the difficult choices that a couple must confront when faced with it.
The omission of the story’s true context and theme are largely due in part to its third person narration. This third person narration is channeled …show more content…
The setting takes place at a train station in some part of Spain—specifically between the two cities of Barcelona and Madrid. The importance of this vague location lies within its horizon of hills. The hills at first glance appear to be, “…brown and dry,” or rather lifeless. In contrast, as Jig moves along to the other end of the station she observes that on a different side of the hills there were also “fields of grain and trees,” a place full life. She says that the hills appear to be like “white elephants”, a symbolism that refers to her unborn child. This dichotomy of imagery, within the context of the story, represents a division of choices that Jig must inevitably face: to marry the man of her child or get an abortion. However, this is not a lone decision and as a consequence she alters her initial choice to suite that of the American man. This dilemma uncovers a deeper understanding of both …show more content…
This is due in part to their double entendre and aversion of the looming “elephant in the room” through alcohol. In regards to the abortion, the American man states that Jig doesn’t have to get an abortion. However, he later declares, “I think it’s the best thing to do,” while again asserting to Jig that, “But I don’t want you to do it if you don’t [really] want to.” Though it appears as if the American man is willing to comply with Jig’s desires of getting married, he later says, “But I know it’s perfectly simple.” This repetition of the word “simple” alludes back to his previous comment of the abortion being a “simple operation.” This heavily implies that it would be easier to abort the unborn child rather than to stick around in a marriage. Jig on other hand is unwilling to stand behind her desires of keeping the unborn child. She states, “… I don’t care about me. And I’ll do it and everything will be fine,” while restating that she doesn’t care about herself despite knowing that this situation is gnawing away at her very conscious. Both characters are incredibly flawed, Jig fails to effectively communicate her desires while the American man is unable to emphasize with Jig’s
The omission of the story’s true context and theme are largely due in part to its third person narration. This third person narration is channeled …show more content…
The setting takes place at a train station in some part of Spain—specifically between the two cities of Barcelona and Madrid. The importance of this vague location lies within its horizon of hills. The hills at first glance appear to be, “…brown and dry,” or rather lifeless. In contrast, as Jig moves along to the other end of the station she observes that on a different side of the hills there were also “fields of grain and trees,” a place full life. She says that the hills appear to be like “white elephants”, a symbolism that refers to her unborn child. This dichotomy of imagery, within the context of the story, represents a division of choices that Jig must inevitably face: to marry the man of her child or get an abortion. However, this is not a lone decision and as a consequence she alters her initial choice to suite that of the American man. This dilemma uncovers a deeper understanding of both …show more content…
This is due in part to their double entendre and aversion of the looming “elephant in the room” through alcohol. In regards to the abortion, the American man states that Jig doesn’t have to get an abortion. However, he later declares, “I think it’s the best thing to do,” while again asserting to Jig that, “But I don’t want you to do it if you don’t [really] want to.” Though it appears as if the American man is willing to comply with Jig’s desires of getting married, he later says, “But I know it’s perfectly simple.” This repetition of the word “simple” alludes back to his previous comment of the abortion being a “simple operation.” This heavily implies that it would be easier to abort the unborn child rather than to stick around in a marriage. Jig on other hand is unwilling to stand behind her desires of keeping the unborn child. She states, “… I don’t care about me. And I’ll do it and everything will be fine,” while restating that she doesn’t care about herself despite knowing that this situation is gnawing away at her very conscious. Both characters are incredibly flawed, Jig fails to effectively communicate her desires while the American man is unable to emphasize with Jig’s