Hills Like White Elephants Literary Analysis

Nic Woodley
Professor Jeremy Bearden
English 102
June 10, 2013

Avoiding the Elephant In “Hills Like White Elephants,” Earnest Hemingway incorporates the style of writing he pioneered to help convey the central theme of the story. His unique approach to writing leaves the conclusion up for interpretation by the reader. Hemingway gives very little description of the American and Jig. Instead, the reader must infer through the characters’ actions and dialogue to gauge their feelings toward the issue. The internal conflict within Jig sets the foundation for the theme Hemingway portrays. Jig experiences a moral struggle when debating what she should do with the pregnancy. This internal strife is consistent with the everyday societal
Jig observes the scenery outside of the station and compares the hills to “white elephants”(351). Later on in the story when the conflict is brought to light, the symbolism of the “white elephants” can be seen. The “white” symbolizes the purity of the unborn child Jig carries. Without any input in the decision, the life of this child lies in the hands of a couple in the midst of an unhealthy relationship. The American is undoubtedly more concerned with his own life and selfish desires as he attempts to convince Jig to have an abortion. Jig, on the other hand, is unsure as to what should be done about the pregnancy. She fills the conversation with her uncertain and pessimistic attitude about the matter. Eventually, she begs the American to “please please please please stop talking,” as her frustrations become too much for her to handle (353). Either way, the fate of the child is unknown to the reader, as Jig cannot seem to make a decision. The figurative representation of “elephant” can be likened to the common expression of “elephant in the room.” Jig and the American speak of the situation at hand without directly referring to it. They both “beat around the bush” as they contemplate the destiny of their unborn child. This approach to the conversation from both angles embodies the central theme of avoiding problems at one’s convenience. The purity of the child and the
Hemingway leaves much of this story up for interpretation. The work never states many of the inferences that Hemingway’s audience has discovered over the years. The dialogue between Jig and the American is where the characterizations of the two are revealed. They dance around the subject of abortion with meaningless banter. Repetitive comments such as “Do you want it with water,” and discussions of the various types of drinks reveal to the reader the loathsome attitude the couple has concerning the pregnancy (351). The tension becomes obvious, as they awkwardly struggle to avoid the abortion issue. Hemingway’s stripped down style of writing leaves the reader liberty to infer what he or she feels is being expressed. The iceberg theory (giving only the bare essentials) employed by Hemingway is developed from a combination of his writing techniques that are imperative in conveying the theme in this work. The style in which the story is written complies with the attitude that humankind approaches such instances with and moreover reinforces the central theme of this