Hills Like White Elephant Symbolism Analysis

Ernest Hemingway's usage of symbolism that is found throughout the short story “Hills Like White Elephants”, adds on an important significance to it and makes a big impact on the story, whether you are able to catch it or not. The outcome of grasping onto the symbolism he gives us can put several different meanings to the interpretation that ends up being revealed to you. Elephants are more than just a huge and strong, plant-eating mammal, especially in this short story. Elephants, across the world happen to have different symbolisms in religion, cultures, dreams and Hemingway’s way of usage of them pulls you into that world of the story in such a drastic way. This journey in search for that light in our lives through either spiritually or …show more content…
When she first sees the white elephants she admits herself that she was indeed having a good time, “‘ I was being amused. I was having a fine time.’” (197) and then after she says, “‘They don’t really look like white elephants. I just meant the coloring of their skin through the trees’” (197), her name and her state of mind is revealed to us. Jig which happens to be her name, uncovers the weakness of her emotional strength, practically leaving her at nude. She begins to just question everything the American man tells her and the sign of questioning everything just shows the level of self-esteem this girl has for herself at the moment. She ends up openly admitting herself that she does not care about her own self (198). Like in Hinduism, Ganesha the god of luck, fortune, protection, and blessing, whether good or bad, happens to be an elephant as well. The denial of the appearance of these white elephants turned the tables around for Jig. The contradiction of the appearance of the white elephants that she brings to light her own self shows the stability she does not have within her