“Hills Like White Elephant”: Dominance and persuasion.
In Ernest Hemingway’s complex short story “Hills Like White Elephant” , two characters also known as The American and The girl (Jig) argue with each other in order to effectively reach a compromise on whether Jig should participate in a life altering operation. The American’s attempt to convince The Girl (Jig) to have an abortion is what eventually leads to their failed relationship.
Jig and the American have a series of conversations that reveals the dysfunction, awful communication and manipulation in their relationship; the more these character continue to converse the more Jig becomes aware of their differences. She becomes more realistic about their future and understands that …show more content…
This plays a role in dysfunction, because if both characters were in a proper relationship Jig would not feel the need to be validated by The American. Jig’s tone changes as the American gains control of their conversation, “‘All right. I was trying. I said the mountains looked like white elephants. Wasn’t that bright?’” (445) in which the American replys “‘that was bright’” (445). Jig impatience navigates her toward bring on the topic of her pregnancy. When the term “white elephant” is defined, it means “a possession that is useless or troublesome, especially one that is expensive to maintain or difficult to dispose of...” Jig use of this metaphor was done on purpose; she wanted to introduce the topic into their conversation and find out how he felt about it. As stated before Jig opposes having the operation but in wanting the Americans approval she shows that she cares more about his wants and need that she does he own. Once the topic of abortion has been invited into the conversation the Americans desire to go through with the operation, pushes Jig to realise that this choice is greater than the wants of both her and the American. It is about preserving something that can never be recreated once
In Ernest Hemingway’s complex short story “Hills Like White Elephant” , two characters also known as The American and The girl (Jig) argue with each other in order to effectively reach a compromise on whether Jig should participate in a life altering operation. The American’s attempt to convince The Girl (Jig) to have an abortion is what eventually leads to their failed relationship.
Jig and the American have a series of conversations that reveals the dysfunction, awful communication and manipulation in their relationship; the more these character continue to converse the more Jig becomes aware of their differences. She becomes more realistic about their future and understands that …show more content…
This plays a role in dysfunction, because if both characters were in a proper relationship Jig would not feel the need to be validated by The American. Jig’s tone changes as the American gains control of their conversation, “‘All right. I was trying. I said the mountains looked like white elephants. Wasn’t that bright?’” (445) in which the American replys “‘that was bright’” (445). Jig impatience navigates her toward bring on the topic of her pregnancy. When the term “white elephant” is defined, it means “a possession that is useless or troublesome, especially one that is expensive to maintain or difficult to dispose of...” Jig use of this metaphor was done on purpose; she wanted to introduce the topic into their conversation and find out how he felt about it. As stated before Jig opposes having the operation but in wanting the Americans approval she shows that she cares more about his wants and need that she does he own. Once the topic of abortion has been invited into the conversation the Americans desire to go through with the operation, pushes Jig to realise that this choice is greater than the wants of both her and the American. It is about preserving something that can never be recreated once