Conversation In Jig's Hills Like White Elephants

The short story, Hills like White Elephants, is essentially a conversation between a woman (Jig) and a man (unnamed, but referred to as The American) at a train station. Although this story is a conversation, neither of them truly communicate with each other, and they do not seem to care about the point of view of one another. The American is exasperatingly trying to convince the girl to have an operation. The nature of this operation is never clearly stated, but it is assumed to be an abortion. The man repeatedly tells her how simple the operation would be, and how everything would go back to normal after she got it done, and they would be happy again. Jig is very indecisive, and it is obvious that this topic of conversation makes her uncomfortable. She refutes all of the man’s pleads by questioning him, saying, “What makes you think so,” or “And you think then we will be alright and happy?” The man persists despite her clear hesitance, and then she finally begs him to “please, please, please, please, please, please” stop talking, realizing that the conversation is pointless. The author highlights the …show more content…
Early on in the story, Jig alludes to the hills looking like white elephants, which could represent an unborn child; a sacred and precious creature. The side of the hill that the couple are sitting on at the train station was described as, “No shade and no trees...” or in other words, the side they were sitting on was barren; without much life. On the other side of the hill, the woman said it was, “…fields of grain and trees along the banks of Ebro. Far beyond the river, were mountains.” This difference is sides represent the difference in life and death, keeping the baby or getting an abortion. The first side is lacking life and dry; which reflects the decision to have an abortion. The other side of the hills is full of life and nature; representing keeping the baby and starting a family with the