Symbolism In Hills Like White Elephants
The story “Hills Like White Elephants” is a short story in which a man and his girlfriend have a discussion at while waiting for a train at the station. Though it is not specifically mentioned, one can conclude that discussion is about getting an abortion. It is obvious that the man wants it more than his girlfriend, which leads to the conflict of the story. They end up boarding the train without making the decision. It is worth noting that this short story has a degree of vagueness to it that most stories do not have. The author gives people just barely enough details and dialogue for readers put together what’s going on. The author uses dialogue, characterization, and symbolism to display the theme of “choices” throughout the story.
The way
…show more content…
There is the symbolism of elephants, which could refer to the saying “the elephant in the room”. That saying means there is an obvious situation that no one wants to discuss. This could be further supported by the girl’s reluctance to discuss the topic or make a choice. She tries the end the conversation multiple times by saying things like “Can’t we maybe stop talking?” and “Would you please please please please please please please stop talking?” (Hemingway 185). That would explain the vagueness of the story and, why no choices are made. The one that stands out the most is the train station. It symbolizes the idiom “at a crossroads”. That means that one is in a situation where a choice has to be made. Since most of the story revolves around the idea of making a choice, it is a big indicator of the theme.
There are many different themes in “Hills Like White Elephants”. However, the way Hemingway manipulated dialogue, characters, and symbols within the story helps define the main one of choice. Despite the lack of important choices being made by the man and woman, the idea of choices still resonates. Mainly because whole story revolves around a choice being made. Though it is not specified, it’s obvious that they have to come to a decision soon. There is a lot left out in this story. Nevertheless, even when Hemingway says so little, he means so
Compare And Contrast Hills Like White Elephant And The Story Of An Hour
1004 Words | 5 PagesChopin may suggest that Mrs. Mallard feels restricted to live her life with a partner in her life. Hemmingway does not reveal the thoughts of the characters leaving readers at suspense. Readers must interpret what is going on between the girlfriend and her boyfriend in Hills Like White Elephants (Hemmingway). The white elephants in his story represent fertility. Both the woman and her boyfriend struggle to speak of abortion.
Essay On Hemingway's Short Story 'Hills Like White Elephants'
640 Words | 3 PagesFertility is contrasted with the barrenness of the operation they are discussing. Hemingway uses little detail it his works, although clear understanding is present through symbolism, dialogue, and use of metaphors. His style forces readers to understand the meaning as a whole with only the surface level art that he creates. Hemingway's uses his own theory of omission to talk about man’s dominance without directly stating it.
Summary Of Hills Like White Elephants
753 Words | 4 Pages(Baccellia, 2007) The second story is about a woman named Jig and a nameless American man waiting in Barcelona for a train trip to Madrid. Assuming that the man involved in this story is Jig 's boyfriend or husband due to their interactions with one another, the two discussed the possibility of abortion, which leads to Jig describing the two hills she sees while waiting for the train as white elephants. The meaning of the hills looking like white elephants is that Jig is debating if the abortion procedure is the best decision. Almost like she has something precious that she has to get rid of.
Hills Like White Elephants Literary Analysis Essay
832 Words | 4 PagesLiterary Analysis: Hills Like White Elephants The “Hills Like White Elephants”, written by Ernest Hemingway, is a story about a couple who have a decision to make. Though it is never said anywhere throughout the story, the couple is faced with an unwanted pregnancy. The characters have a tough decision to make nd they have different opinions on what the right choice is.
Hills Like White Elephants Symbolism Essay
622 Words | 3 PagesEssentially, getting on the train to Madrid would lead to the abortion, and the train to Barcelona could lead to life, the birth of a baby, and the start of a family. Hills Like White Elephants is a short-story with a much deeper meaning than first perceived. What can appear to be a casual conversation is actually the turning point in a couple’s relationship, and could either lead to the formation of a family and the birth of love or the backtracking in their relationship. Rereading stories and looking for deeper meaning in symbolism is vital, and can lead to a better understanding of life and it's
Deep Symbolism In Ernest Hemingway's Hills Like White Elephants
991 Words | 4 PagesSo many times, one reads a story, and only sees what is right in front of them, but other times, they notice much more depth to what they are reading. This is most often used in short stories, and every single small detail is crucial. In Ernest Hemingway’s, Hills Like White Elephants, there are many secrets and deep details hidden into this story that all point to the very sensitive subject of abortion: this subject is disguised in the elephants, the characters’ drinking habits, and the landscape. The whole story in itself represents abortion.
Hills Like White Elephants Literary Analysis
1554 Words | 7 PagesThe setting (7) of the story, the train station, is a symbol for the place where Jig and the American man are at in their relationship and what lies ahead for them. This symbol also portrays the theme (8) of choice and consequences. They are at an impasse due to the pregnancy, and the train tracks are the futures that could happen based on Jig’s decision about the abortion and the baby. For instance, Jig could agree politely to the American man and go ahead
Hills Like White Elephants Character Analysis Essay
1267 Words | 6 PagesThe characters of Hills Like White Elephants Hemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants short story takes place in a train station in Spain around the 1920s. The two main characters of his story are that of a man and girl waiting for train while drinking and the story is almost entirely told through a conversational dialogue of the characters with a few small descriptive paragraphs of the surrounding scenery of the train station in between. Additionally, Hemingway doesn’t give any characterisation of the mood or theme of the conversation, it is written in a completely neutral manner as if he were only reporting the conversation. He also doesn’t give any context to this conversation leaving the reader for the most part in the dark in regards to the subject matter of the dialogue of the main characters. This can lead many readers to view the story and characters essentially without any actual character or plot making the story pointless.
Hills Like White Elephants Rhetorical Analysis
739 Words | 3 PagesIn the short story “Hills Like White Elephants,” by Ernest Hemingway, there is a relationship unfolding, a complex relationship difficult to understand. The relationship is revealed by a conversation between a man and a woman, a topic of conversation that people rarely discussed in the period that the story was set. After researching interpretations, it is consistently said “She is pregnant, and he wants her to have an abortion” (Weeks 76), to which I agree that this conversation is about abortion. With the man seemingly pushing the topic and the girl hesitant and questionable, it is unsure as to the result of their conversation. However, it is my belief that she chose to follow her heart and not get the abortion.
Hills Like White Elephants Literary Criticism
1098 Words | 5 PagesFor example, when she said, “And if I do it you will be happy, and things will be like they were.” (255), she is lonely and desperate girl who is still having hope of being happy. She is in a bad mood and depressed too much to even ready to die, it is obvious from her reply, “I don’t care about me” (255) multiple times, waiting for him to say nice words or even make her feel good. He seems as being selfish and careless by starting this relationship and then lacking the support Jig needs from him. Hills Like White Elephant has a huge description on the story’s sitting in the train station, surrounded with hills, fields, and tress in a valley in Spain.
Hemingway's 'Hills Like White Elephants'
512 Words | 3 PagesThroughout the dialog, the girl is telling him she does not want to have the abortion, but to please him she agrees. She depends on him so much, and she is willing to do anything to keep the relationship going; however, she realizes that nothing can save their affair. The girl looks at the hills and compares them to white elephants. The term white elephants are associated with possessions
Relationships In Ernest Hemingway's Hills Like White Elephants
853 Words | 4 PagesThe struggles presented between these two characters bring to light issues in human relationships that weigh into everyday life. Hemingway’s short story reveals to readers how relationships affect communication, decision
The Theme Of Abortion In Hills Like White Elephants
893 Words | 4 PagesIn the short story, “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway, Hemingway from the start makes us draw out our own conclusions and does not give us a great deal of information. For example, we are only told about two characters, an American man and a girl who are waiting for their train to arrive. Other than this, we are not told what relationship the characters share together or where their final destination is. The protagonist who is referred to as “the girl” is in the middle of a tragic situation which can take a turn for the best or the worst and her partner, the “American man” is not helping but making the situation more heated.
Symbolism In Ernest Hemingway's Hills Like White Elephants
1013 Words | 5 PagesIf analyzed in a more generic view, the short story can be used to show how a male and female stereotypically understand a subject. The American speaks more literal and materialistic as Jig is seen to speak in a more figurative and abstract manner. Ernest Hemingway’s use of symbolism gives the reader a more visual effect to the conflict between the man and the girl as well as the idea of their inner thoughts. The white rounded hills, the beads on the curtain hanging from the bar’s doorframe, and the cool shade and blazing light all represent different aspects of the two choices that the American and the girl have to decide on, just like the railroad tracks on either side of the
Hills Like White Elephants Character Analysis
1044 Words | 5 Pagesthe girl asked. She had taken off her hat and put it on the table.” She opens the crucial issue in an implicit way when she describes the “hills like white elephant”. Which suggests her imaginative way of thinking: she relates to the hills as the physical shape of her pregnancy, and the white elephants is “something she cannot just throw away but for which, in her present circumstances, she has no use; something that is awkwardly, burdensomely in the way” (Renner 30). The girl faces difficulties in expressing her feelings, but she does not surrender and keeps
More about Symbolism In Hills Like White Elephants
Compare And Contrast Hills Like White Elephant And The Story Of An Hour
1004 Words | 5 PagesEssay On Hemingway's Short Story 'Hills Like White Elephants'
640 Words | 3 PagesSummary Of Hills Like White Elephants
753 Words | 4 PagesHills Like White Elephants Literary Analysis Essay
832 Words | 4 PagesHills Like White Elephants Symbolism Essay
622 Words | 3 PagesDeep Symbolism In Ernest Hemingway's Hills Like White Elephants
991 Words | 4 PagesHills Like White Elephants Literary Analysis
1554 Words | 7 PagesHills Like White Elephants Character Analysis Essay
1267 Words | 6 PagesHills Like White Elephants Rhetorical Analysis
739 Words | 3 PagesHills Like White Elephants Literary Criticism
1098 Words | 5 PagesHemingway's 'Hills Like White Elephants'
512 Words | 3 PagesRelationships In Ernest Hemingway's Hills Like White Elephants
853 Words | 4 PagesThe Theme Of Abortion In Hills Like White Elephants
893 Words | 4 PagesSymbolism In Ernest Hemingway's Hills Like White Elephants
1013 Words | 5 PagesHills Like White Elephants Character Analysis
1044 Words | 5 Pages