Masculinity Portrayed In Ernest Hemingway's Hills Like White Elephants
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Masculinity Portrayed in Hemingway’s “Hills like White Elephants” Within literature, a reader can identify the author’s intentional messages. The messages portrayed can be positive or negative and can deal with issues relevant to everyday life. In Ernest Hemingway’s “Hills like White Elephants” the presence of masculinity can be detected when reading the dialogue amongst his characters. By writing with such masculinity, Hemingway showcases an ugly side of humanity through dialogue. Not only is masculinity felt through his characters, but also through his writing style and certain things he intentionally places throughout the passage.
The biggest contribution to the presence of masculinity in the piece is Hemingway’s main character, the American. He is perceived as somewhat mysterious because not much is known about him except for his nationality. In the piece he speaks Spanish to the waitress who brings drinks, which suggests that he is intelligent or at least experienced in two languages. Meanwhile Jig, his girlfriend, does not comprehend Spanish. This gives the man a superior stance from the very beginning of the short story. His demanding speech also supports his masculine characterization. He never asks, but instead simply calls upon the woman serving drinks. Jig is clearly …show more content…
Jig is not portrayed as a grown woman; she is simply called “the girl,” which makes her look weak, naïve, and frail. Jig’s inability to speak Spanish and little experience with alcohol makes her look inferior to the man, which only fuels the masculine atmosphere in this story. Jig states she does not care about herself, which clearly tells the reader she cares about what the man thinks. When speaking of the abortion she says, “’and if I do it you’ll be happy and things will be like they were and you’ll love me?’” (Hemingway 554), which proves she finds her happiness, security, and assurance in
The biggest contribution to the presence of masculinity in the piece is Hemingway’s main character, the American. He is perceived as somewhat mysterious because not much is known about him except for his nationality. In the piece he speaks Spanish to the waitress who brings drinks, which suggests that he is intelligent or at least experienced in two languages. Meanwhile Jig, his girlfriend, does not comprehend Spanish. This gives the man a superior stance from the very beginning of the short story. His demanding speech also supports his masculine characterization. He never asks, but instead simply calls upon the woman serving drinks. Jig is clearly …show more content…
Jig is not portrayed as a grown woman; she is simply called “the girl,” which makes her look weak, naïve, and frail. Jig’s inability to speak Spanish and little experience with alcohol makes her look inferior to the man, which only fuels the masculine atmosphere in this story. Jig states she does not care about herself, which clearly tells the reader she cares about what the man thinks. When speaking of the abortion she says, “’and if I do it you’ll be happy and things will be like they were and you’ll love me?’” (Hemingway 554), which proves she finds her happiness, security, and assurance in