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White Elephants

However, Hemingway then prevents that from becoming the focus by never naming the procedure being discussed. This draws attention away from what the couple is arguing about and, as Margeret Bauer points out in her article "Forget the Legend and Read the Work", prevents morality from becoming the focus (129). Absence of the morality argument is important because discussions about abortion are normally accompanied by debates about the rightness and or wrongness of it. Hemingway manages to further eliminate the morality issue by writing an argument in which the couple is not at all concerned about the moral consequences of the procedure but is instead worried about the effect it will have on their relationship. In fact the main question they discuss is if everything will go back to "normal". Hemingway's purpose in withholding important information is to guide the reader to focus on the couple's argument and their dynamic, causing one to recognize the negative treatment of Jig by "the American".
             In "Hills like White Elephants" Hemingway takes great care in his portrayal of the characters because this is essential to his argument. The first point is seen in the way that Hemingway refers to Jig as "the girl". Many assume that this is because she is young; however this is doubtful because she seems very intelligent and is obviously old enough to be in a serious relationship and old enough to be pregnant. It is because she is viewed that way by the man and that he treats her in such a way. This is backed up by their conversation in which the man mention's abortion and she only agrees because she is afraid it will harm their relationship. Instead of allowing her to decide he patronizes her and plays on her emotions by continually saying "I don't want you to do it if you don't want to" and then follows with " it is perfectly simple (procedure)". He is trying to make her feel as if he will support her in whatever decision, but he is instead telling her that he wants her to have an abortion because he would be happy and he is not making any promises to stand by her if she does not.


Essays Related to White Elephants

1. Hills Like White Elephants

As I read over Ernest Hemingway's short story, Hills Like White Elephants, there is one powerful theme that clearly stands out. ... The woman comments on the hill looking like white elephants. A white elephant is seen as something wonderful and rare, yet undesirable. If I were given a white elephant as a gift, it would be amazing because a white elephant is very rare. ... This goes back to that white elephant conservation. ...

  • Word Count: 963
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

2. A White Elephant

A White Elephant In reading Karen Horney's "The Distrust between the Sexes" and Ernest Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants", it is apparent that Horney's piece sheds light on Hemingway's piece. ... This helps to better understand what is happening between Jig and The American in Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants". In the beginning of "Hills Like White Elephants" Jig and The American are discussing the option of aborting their unborn child; however, neither Jig or The American are willing to be direct about the topic. ... Throughout "Hills Like White...

  • Word Count: 673
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Hills like white elephants

The symbols in "Hills like white elephants- give the reader clues of what the writer wants to say. In "Hills like White Elephants- the author does not actually say in the text what is happening. ... On one side there is no shade, no trees, only hills, which are white, like elephants. ... The title of this novel "Hills like White Elephants- symbolize her pregnancy where the hills symbolize her belly and the white elephant symbolize something that a person normally does not want (You can buy a white elephant in a market place). The American does not really want the baby so for him the baby ...

  • Word Count: 499
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Hills Like White Elephants

Analysis of "Hills Like White Elephants" by Ernest Hemingway. ... Jig sees the hills as resembling white elephants. ... "Hills like White Elephants." ... ""Hills Like White Elephants:" lean Vintage Hemingway." ... "Hemingway Hills: Symbolism in "Hills Like White Elephants."" ...

  • Word Count: 1359
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

5. Hills Like White Elephants

An Analysis of Ernest Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants" "Hills Like White Elephants", by Ernest Hemingway, is a short story published in 1927, which is set at a train station in Spain. ... Our first encounter with Hemingway's symbolism is in the title, "Hills Like White Elephants", which offers some hints to the ensuing conflict within the story. ... White elephants are considered to be a sacred being something to be revered, whereas in American culture a white elephant is a gift that is unwanted. ... Another use of symbolism in "Hills Like White Elephants" is during on...

  • Word Count: 1031
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Hills Like White Elephants

Hills Like White Elephants By Ernest Hemingway Hills Like White Elephants Hills Like White Elephants, is a short story, written by author Ernest Hemingway. ... She looks at the hills in the distance and says They look like white elephants (282). ... The fact that she is not surprised he's never seen a white elephant. ... A white elephant is something that is unwanted. ... Most likely, drawing on the evidence of the discussion of white elephants, we can conclude that Jig is being sarcastic here. ...

  • Word Count: 1085
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Hills Like White Elephants

In the commentary on Ernest Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants", we are asked why the title refers to the setting. ... The setting of Ernest Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants" is comprised of two landscapes. One landscape is long and barren with white hills that stretch out over the Ebro valley. ... In Hemingway's title "Hills Like White Elephants", he has used Jig's thoughts about the landscape surrounding her to provide the reader with insight into her indecisiveness concerning the abortion. ...

  • Word Count: 300
  • Approx Pages: 1
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Hill Like White Elephants

A spectacular setting is created by Hemingway in his short story, "Hills Like White Elephants." ... Just as when the girl says, "They look like White Elephants" (514) referring to the hills in the background. ... With the American a White Elephant, in western culture, is representative of useless items, which is what he feels the baby is. ... In the eastern culture a White Elephant symbolizes fertility and knowledge. ... The girl comments, "No, you wouldn't have" (514) when he tells her that he has never seen a White Elephant. ...

  • Word Count: 1498
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: High School

9. Hills Like White Elephants and The Metamorphosis

The phrase, "like white elephants" is used in the short story five times. The last time the phrase is used the word "hill" is replaced with "things" allowing for other possible "white elephants" to exist in the story (Link 4). Scholars have suggested the white elephant may be the man himself, or the couple's relationship or the costly act of getting an abortion (Link 4). ... An argument that can be made is that the girl is the white elephant because the couple is not in a relationship, and rather, they are having an affair. ... The couple talk only...

  • Word Count: 3072
  • Approx Pages: 12
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

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