Hills Like White Elephants Point Of View Analysis

The short story, "Hills Like White Elephants" was written by Ernest Hemingway and narration and point of view are used together in the story. The author uses the third person for storytelling and the feelings and thoughts of the characters are not revealed directly. Each character can only be deciphered through their dialogues only. Their conversation might appear causal, but they reveal a sense of tension amongst the two characters, Jig a woman travelling with an American man. Hemingway casually mentioned a topic of serious concern amongst the two with limited information. There is lack of consensus and a silent conflict amongst the two, which is not clearly mentioned, but left open for the readers to assume because of the dramatic point of view undertaken by author’s narration. The plot opens, “The American and the girl with him sat at a table in the shade, outside the building.” The relationship between the two as of a mistress, wife or girlfriend is clear from neither the narrator’s point of view, nor form the characters’ point of view. It is worth …show more content…
The point of view of the man remains firm and constant in the story. He seeks to be with Jig, but is also clear over the fact that the operation must be done and tries best to convince Jig. His outlook differs from that of the girl, the hills do not look like the white elephants and they do not have skins and their life would be better if the girl gets the abortion done. On the other hand, there is a shift in the girl’s point of view. From being dependent upon the man for even ordering a drink because of her inability to speak Spanish, she assumed a more independent tone towards the end of the story. She tells the man to shut up and stop speaking. She completely takes control over herself and asserts, “I feel fine. There is nothing wrong with me. I feel