Ernest Hemingway’s story “Hills Like White Elephants” is a perfectly simple story on the outside, but when you delve into the depths you uncover hidden meanings, symbols, and a tense situation. As Alex Link, a student from York University, explained, from an onlookers’ point of view there is very little that occurs between the two protagonists. Link describes the encounter as: “a couple has drinks at a train station in Spain and argues about something rather vague” (Link 66). To the untrained eye, this is exactly what happens. But when you take a closer look, we see a couple with a strained relationship discussing a complicated procedure and the outcome of their relationship in the long run.
Hemingway uses a plethora of symbolism in his story. …show more content…
Although there can be cheap ways to exterminate a fetus, it has never been one hundred percent safe for the mother, especially in nineteen twenty-seven. Abortions have always been looked down upon and are hardly acceptable in some areas in twenty fourteen. For the American to describe an abortion as “perfectly simple” is an insult to women. If an abortion is “perfectly simple” why are they illegal or severely restricted in every state (excluding Vermont) in twenty fourteen (Vestal, “States Probe Limits of Abortion Policy”)? The answer is because it is harmful, dangerous, and morally ambiguous. One could imagine abortions were not given easily to anyone during the period the story took place. Something ‘perfectly simple’ and ‘perfectly natural’ is keeping the child, plus Jig would have a better chance at …show more content…
[She] feels fine.” which leaves it very open-ended (Hemingway 98). A student from Georgia Southern University, Nilofer Hashmi, presents another possible outcome explaining that Jig could have the operation but once she does, the American would leave her anyway (Hamshi 72). This further proves his selfishness and her naivety. Hashmi concludes his analysis by describing the couple with the girl “willing to sacrifice that which is precious to her in order to preserve the partnership” and the gentleman who is “eager for the girl to be done with the abortion so he can be free of her” (Hamshi 81). This further confirms the theory of him abandoning the girl.
“Hills Like White Elephants” was written to tell a story and to help people realize not everything is what it seems, a conversation in a train station between a couple could easily have been a life-or-death matter. Hemingway 's unique story telling leaves us with an interesting outcome, leaving the question of whether or not Jig goes through with it completely up to the
Hemingway uses a plethora of symbolism in his story. …show more content…
Although there can be cheap ways to exterminate a fetus, it has never been one hundred percent safe for the mother, especially in nineteen twenty-seven. Abortions have always been looked down upon and are hardly acceptable in some areas in twenty fourteen. For the American to describe an abortion as “perfectly simple” is an insult to women. If an abortion is “perfectly simple” why are they illegal or severely restricted in every state (excluding Vermont) in twenty fourteen (Vestal, “States Probe Limits of Abortion Policy”)? The answer is because it is harmful, dangerous, and morally ambiguous. One could imagine abortions were not given easily to anyone during the period the story took place. Something ‘perfectly simple’ and ‘perfectly natural’ is keeping the child, plus Jig would have a better chance at …show more content…
[She] feels fine.” which leaves it very open-ended (Hemingway 98). A student from Georgia Southern University, Nilofer Hashmi, presents another possible outcome explaining that Jig could have the operation but once she does, the American would leave her anyway (Hamshi 72). This further proves his selfishness and her naivety. Hashmi concludes his analysis by describing the couple with the girl “willing to sacrifice that which is precious to her in order to preserve the partnership” and the gentleman who is “eager for the girl to be done with the abortion so he can be free of her” (Hamshi 81). This further confirms the theory of him abandoning the girl.
“Hills Like White Elephants” was written to tell a story and to help people realize not everything is what it seems, a conversation in a train station between a couple could easily have been a life-or-death matter. Hemingway 's unique story telling leaves us with an interesting outcome, leaving the question of whether or not Jig goes through with it completely up to the