“Hills like White Elephants,” by Ernest Hemmingway and, “The Story of an Hour,” by Kate Chopin are both short stories that take place in short periods of time and focus on the relationship of a couple. Though the stories differ greatly, they are similar in that they both include the use of a train as a symbol and in their focus of the women in the relationships introduced. The trains in both stories are the most significant similarity because they represent the different futures that Jig and Mrs. Mallard could have. While Hemmingway leaves his short story with an open ending regarding Jig’s future, Chopin reveals the outcome of Mrs. Mallard’s future.
Hemmingway’s short story takes place at a train station. The train station is painted by Hemmingway …show more content…
“The Story of an Hour,” takes place in the time span of one hour while, “Hills like White Elephants,” takes place in the short time between the arrival of one train and the next. The short time periods are an emphasis on how quickly the relationships change in both stories from the perspective of the women. When the time comes to talk about Jig’s pregnancy, there is a clear disconnect between Jig and The American Man and the opening ending paired with the inevitable arrival of the train is a hint in the ending of the life and relationship that the couple had. When Mrs. Mallard comes to grieve the loss of her husband so quickly, followed by her enlightened hope for a new and happy future and then her sudden death, the short time period is to emphasize how long Mrs. Mallard has been unhappy and how short a time she was happy at the end of her life. The abrupt changes for these women and their long histories that are implied contrast and while, “The Story of an Hour,” is emphasizing the long unhappy past of Mrs. Mallard and her short, happy future, “Hills like White Elephants,” emphasizes Jig’s short, happy past travels with The American Man and her long, unhappy future that awaits with whatever path she
Hemmingway’s short story takes place at a train station. The train station is painted by Hemmingway …show more content…
“The Story of an Hour,” takes place in the time span of one hour while, “Hills like White Elephants,” takes place in the short time between the arrival of one train and the next. The short time periods are an emphasis on how quickly the relationships change in both stories from the perspective of the women. When the time comes to talk about Jig’s pregnancy, there is a clear disconnect between Jig and The American Man and the opening ending paired with the inevitable arrival of the train is a hint in the ending of the life and relationship that the couple had. When Mrs. Mallard comes to grieve the loss of her husband so quickly, followed by her enlightened hope for a new and happy future and then her sudden death, the short time period is to emphasize how long Mrs. Mallard has been unhappy and how short a time she was happy at the end of her life. The abrupt changes for these women and their long histories that are implied contrast and while, “The Story of an Hour,” is emphasizing the long unhappy past of Mrs. Mallard and her short, happy future, “Hills like White Elephants,” emphasizes Jig’s short, happy past travels with The American Man and her long, unhappy future that awaits with whatever path she