Society is pressuring people so much to succeed in life and to become someone they can not be, that people act in any way they can to reach this goal. Often, they use power and domination to show that they are important and can influence the world. Hills Like White Elephants reflects the power of men over women. The plot, characterization and semic codes prove this claim. .
First of all, the plot of the story shows that the man has more control and authority than the woman. Since he is the protagonist, he takes more space in the story. He has more influence because he is the main character and because the story is based on what he wants. His goal is to convince Jig to get aborted; so once again, he is more important since he wants something in particular. On the contrary, Jig is the antagonist because she is opposed to the idea of getting an abortion. She wants to keep her child, but her husband is insisting so much that she can not transmit her opinion and express how she feels. The plot of Hills Like White Elephants clearly demonstrates the power of men over women. .
Secondly, the man has more power than his wife because the characterization proves it very well. The woman is very weak and consults her husband before doing anything, as if she could not make a decision by herself. .
'What should we drink?' .
'Should we have another drink? .
She is unable to use her judgment and has to have her husband's approval before doing anything. Also, even though she would like to keep the child, she puts his feelings before hers and would do almost anything to make him happy. .
'And you think then we'll be all right and be happy' .
'And you really want to?' .
'And if I do it you'll be happy and things will be like they were and you'll love me?' .
She is willing to sacrifice what she desires the most to please her husband. This is a very big sign of inferiority and being manipulated by her husband. She cares more about his happiness than hers.