Hills Like White Elephants

Earnest Hemingway presents to us his readers a straightfoward short story of a man and young woman who battles over a life changing decision. The interaction of Jig and her American man where not completely of the norm of 1927. You have a man whom of which comes off as if he is in control of the decisions of his mate Jig (from what she drinks right down the obortnation of her child) yet still concerned with his mates overall happiness against his own and Jig a woman who comes into acuantance and realization of her strong femenist side. Back during 1927 it was most likely that the man posessed the power and the woman was more submisive and went easily along with all decisions made by him. However, here in this peace we have Jig who speaks her mind all while being somewhat submisive, but wins her battle of personal choice in the end.

Hemingways dialogue usage between his two main characters is much more than a brief conversation between two lovers, it shows us his themes, characterizations and even gives those of us readers who pay close attition, the eventual outcome and posible final decision. Two seasonal travelers whom look to have been together for quite some time sit on the side of the train staition where the view is of barren and desolate land, with “no shade and no trees refered to as hills like white elephants by Jig; this sybolizes the unwanted baby, (white elephant: a possession entailing great expense out of proportion to its usefulness or value to the owner) (White elephant, n.d).The White Elephant is an animal that is considered rare, precious and sacred—symbolizing their unborn child (Weeks 1).   Hints of hotel labels are given to us pointing out that the two live a transient lifestyle and gives us the reason and understanding of why the two are sitting at the train station discussing whether or not the girl should get an abortion. Throughout the conversation we see the American man constantly attempt to downplan the abortion procedure“It’s really...