First published in 1927, "Hills Like White Elephants" is widely anthologized today, likely because of its use of symbolism and demonstration of Hemingway's Iceberg Theory in writing. In this sense, the man and girl represent stereotypes of male and female roles: the male as active and the female as passive. Complete your free account to request a guide. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. Notice the symbolism later in the story when he carries their bags, covered with labels "from all the hotels where they had spent nights," to the other side of the tracks and deposits them there while he goes back into the bar, alone, to have another drink. "What is the relationship between the two characters in the story "Hills Like White Elephants"? They look like white elephants, she said. The man is domineering in all his interactions, andthough he pays lip service to wanting to make the girl happy, his decisions are ultimately guided by his own desires. Without a baby anchoring them down, they can continue to travel; they can "have everything." Download the entire Hills Like White Elephants study guide as a printable PDF! With or without the abortion, things will never be the same. "Hills Like White Elephants" is told by a third-person, objective narrator who primarily observes and records what he sees from the outside. The "white elephants" is a play on the idea of a white elephant, something that a person has, but wants to get rid of even at great expense. 31, 2021, thoughtco.com/hills-like-white-elephants-analysis-2990497. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. This couple fears that a child will ruin their relationship because they will no longer be free to live the carefree existence they have ostensibly enjoyed to date. for a customized plan. Momentarily silenced, the two drink their last beer before the American carries their bags to the platform in preparation for the train soon on its way. (one code per order). on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. The story was published in 1927, when abortion was strictly illegal almost anywhere in the world. But if the story is new to you, you might feel less certain about it. The early editors returned it because they thought that it was a "sketch" or an "anecdote," not a short story. He is a drunk who has just tried to kill himself. Renews March 8, 2023 Make sure your essay is plagiarism-free or hire a writer to get a unique paper crafted to your needs. Instant PDF downloads. 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Neglecting to acknowledge something one finds unwanted in a relationship, can cause previous issues to remain unsolved, thus linger underneath the surface like an iceberg in the ocean, as it is shown in "Hills Like White Elephants" by Ernest Hemingway. Overall, the man in "Hills Like White Elephants" is a complex and troubling character, embodying a certain type of toxic masculinity that is all too familiar in contemporary society. While stopped at a railway junction in northeastern Spain, these two - known as the American and the girl - are the only people who directly speak except for 'the woman' who brings them drinks. Ernest Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants" is a very short story about a man and a girl (also known as "Jig") having a conversation at a train station. The girl also tries to put her two-cents in, using the fertile landscape on the other side of the tracks as a metaphor for the life they could have as a family. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. SparkNotes PLUS They sit down at a train station in Spain, between Barcelona and Madrid, and order beers from a waitress ("the woman," the only other character in the story). Refine any search. This juxtaposition isn't explicit in the story but is important thematically. The girl says the hills across the valley look like white elephants, and she and the man argue briefly. She alternates between wanting to talk about the operation and wanting to avoid the topic altogether. Hi! Readers in the 1990s had become accustomed to reading between the lines of fictional narrative and didn't like to be told, in minute detail, everything about the characters. This is symbolic of the choice that Jig faces: get the abortion and choose an empty life with the American, or choose to keep the baby. Purchasing When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Ultimately, the American is an insecure and manipulative man who wants to maintain control over the girl by remaining the sole object of her attention and affection. Compared to the American, Hemingway's overly masculine character, the girl is less assertive and persuasive. Throughout this work, the American presents Hemingway . Unlike the American, the girl is less sure of what she wants and appears reluctant to have the operation in question. "Harry is a protector. The American, or the man, does most of the talking in the story, and if one of "Hills Like White Elephants"' characters can be considered a villain, it's him. Communication barriers and openness are another major theme here. $24.99 Later in the story, Jig goes back on her observation; she doesn't think they look like white elephants after all. Unlike traditional stories, wherein the author usually gives us some clues about what the main characters look like, sound like, or dress like, here we know nothing about "the man" or "the girl." Just like we were before.What makes you think so? Thats the only thing that bothers us. Instant PDF downloads. More directly, the setting is a railway station, as illustrated by Hemingway when he states "between two lines of rails in the sun" (Hemingway 275). But I know its perfectly simple., But if I do it, then it will be nice again if I say things are like white elephants, and youll like it?, Then Ill do it. He assures her that he does love her "now" but that he is simply worried and preoccupied. The "White Elephants" across the valley are one of the first images in the story, and they break the ice of the conversation between the man and the girl. It was published later that year as part of Hemingway's short story collection Men Without Women. For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more! This is especially true since he's taken it upon himself to speak for the both of them. Because these elephants were considered sacred, they could not be put to work, they would cost a small fortune to feed and house, and receivers could be bankrupted by the cost of caring for these animals. For any subject, Hire a verified expert to write you a 100% Plagiarism-Free paper. Hoping perhaps to break the ice, the woman observes the hills off in the distance: They look like white elephants, she said. The white elephant was considered sacred, so on the surface, this gift was an honor. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. What is "Hills Like White Elephants" About? The point of contention, as you put it, between them is what the American says is "really an awfully simple operation" where "they just let the air in and then its all perfectly natural." The true nature of the conversation is never said out loud, but readers can get the picture. The girl seems torn between the two landscapes, not only commenting on the beauty of the hills but also physically walking to the end of the platform and gazing out at the brown emptiness around the station. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. -Graham S. Below you will find the important quotes in, Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. 'Hills Like White Elephants' (1927) is one of Ernest Hemingway's best-known and most critically acclaimed short stories. Thats all we do, isnt itlook at things and try new drinks?, Its really an awfully simple operation, Jig, the man said. The two possible meanings of white elephantsfemale fertility and cast-off itemscome together here because, as a man, he will never become pregnant himself and can cast off the responsibility of her pregnancy. SparkNotes PLUS Chat with professional writers to choose the paper writer that suits you best. But youve got to realize I realize, the girl said. I wouldnt have you do it if you didnt want to. white elephant something of little or no value. Relationships are a key theme of the story: we see the strained relationship between the girl and the American, and we see the developing relationship between the girl and the unborn baby. "Hills Like White Elephants" is set in Spain. 'The hills across the valley of the Ebro were long and white'. That evolved into modern-day "White Elephant" Christmas giving. Early objections to this story also cited the fact that there are no traditional characterizations. What does the name Jig mean in "Hills Like White Elephants" and why does he call her that? The Girl The Girl, called Jig at. The girl seems to relent at one point, agreeing to have the procedure if it will make the man love her, but by the end of the story she remains unconvinced and tells the man to quit talking. He holds a Master's of Education in Learning and Technology from Western Governor's University and a Master of Arts in Writing and Publishing from DePaul University. Through the context of their dialogue and the thematic elements Hemingway includes, it eventually becomes clear that the American and the girl are talking about the prospect of an abortion. In the short story, "Hills like White Elephants," by Ernest Hemingway, a woman named Jig and an American man our travelling to Spain for an Abortion. He always orders the drinks, and they reference him wanting to try absinthe in the past. Repetition of words and phrases is a common trait found within Hemingway's short story, a habit that is not done without cause. The discussion about whether to go through with the abortion reveals underlying fissures in their relationship that they refuse to openly acknowledge. Please wait while we process your payment. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. In the story, the pregnancy is the white elephant: she's got it, and it'll be difficult to get rid of it. Thus, the "gift" could become a sort of curse, though it was meant to be a blessing. However, he clearly is insisting that she do so. In "Hills Like White Elephants," though, Hemingway completely removes himself from the story. It is not revealed that the topic of conversation is the couples decision to abort the pregnancy, but its not difficult to figure out. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. The girl is hurt by the man's fraudulent, patronizing empathy, and she is also deeply apprehensive about the operation that she will undergo in Madrid. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. ThoughtCo, Jul. The symbolism of the white elephants further emphasizes the subject of the story. He is determined to convince the girl to have the operation but tries to appear as though he doesn't care what she does. You can read 'Hills Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. 2023 Course Hero, Inc. All rights reserved. Ive never seen one, the man drank his beer. 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