The two stories chosen are “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway written in 1927 and “The Horse Dealer’s Daughter” by D.H. Lawrence written in 1922. I decided to compare selfishness in both of these stories. The “Hills Like White Elephants” main characters are the American and girlfriend Jig, deals with an unwanted pregnancy and an operation. The story takes place at a train station, the two characters over a couple of beer strike up a conversation regarding Jig condition.
The ‘White Elephant’ When Facing an Abortion A white elephant can be defined as an interesting christmas surprise or an albino white elephant, a prized possession in Asia. Authors and readers from all over the nation have struggled with the true meaning behind Ernest Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants”, and are concerned with the fate of the girl’s pregnancy and the couples’ relationship. According to Stanley Renner, author at Illinois State University, Jig’s smile showed a “decisive change in mood that simply does not square with how she would feel if she were really facing an abortion” (Renner pg. 35). In a rather contradicting aspect, author Timothy O’Brien of the United States Naval Academy proposes that perhaps the girl decides to
“Hills like White Elephants” & “The Yellow Wallpaper” Once upon a time, a romantic fairy tale was a dream come true. A handsome prince and his beautiful princess fall in love and live happily ever after. Furthermore, in modern literature this phrase “happily ever after” is now questionable. In Ernest Hemingway’s “Hills like White Elephants” and Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” are short stories driven by conflict.
Hemingway is regarded as one of the most influential writers in American history. In his highly regarded short stories and novels he is remembered by his classic anti-hero who appears in most all of his works. This anti-hero represents clear and easily recognizable traits such as fractured relationships with women and constant exposure to danger. We see these traits and many more in the 1970 film starring Jack Nicholson, Five Easy Pieces. In this film the anti-hero archetype is clearly represented by the main character Bobby as he lives his life trying to deal with his girlfriend and his sick dad.
Never listening: Conflict In “Hills Like White Elephants” Communication is the key to any relationship and allows for people to understand each other. It’s a skill that expresses emotion.
Ernest Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants" and David Foster Wallace’s “Good People,” are respected, yet controversial text within American literature. In Both works they confront the hard-hitting reality of how couples face the struggles of an unwanted pregnancy when it occurs. These stories deal with realism at their cores but deal with them in their very own ways. Both stories share similarities and differences with each other and it’s all based on the authors Ernest Hemingway and David Foster Wallace views on these themes as well as their relationship.
Power is a fragile thing. It can be something physical and tangible or it can be something discarnate, something of the mind. Power can be fleeting; just because one side holds more power, doesn’t mean the other side is powerless, an idea exemplified in Hills Like White Elephants. Although the man hold more power within his relationship to the girl, she holds power in the fact that she understands their relationship is doomed. While he will be unable to comprehend the downward trajectory of their affair until it is too late, she knows that going through with it - whatever it is - will not save their relationship.
Correspondence is the way to building a solid establishment of trust between a man and lady. In Ernest Hemingway's "Slopes Like White Elephants" we find out about the correspondence breakdown, between a lady named Jig and her friend who is an American man. They should settle on a choice that will influence both of their lives, and conceivably end their relationship. The setting of the story speaks to Jig and her association with her American partner. "The slopes over the valley of the Ebro were long and white.
“Popular Mechanics” is a short story written by Raymond Carver. This story discusses a couple breaking apart. The male arrives at their home, starts packing his things, all the while, the woman shouts at him to leave through tears. As the man is packing, the woman picks up the picture of their baby, and he demands she give him the picture. When she will not let him have it, he demands that he wants the baby instead.
Raymond Carver was a blue collar worker turned poet turned writer in the early 1970s. He wrote about what he knew. His stories were about ordinary people going through difficult times. He wrote in a minimalist style about the blue collar life.