Hills Like White Elephant Analysis

There are several themes and symbols that can be taken out of the short story by Ernest Hemingway, “Hills Like White Elephants.” The first symbol that is significant and deepens the story, is indeed the white elephants. In the beginning, the girl states that the hills look like white elephants (9). This comparison of the hills and white elephants can symbolize several things. White elephants are a symbol for something that is unwanted, or a burden. This baby, like a white elephant is supposed to be a gift, that the man see’s as useless, something that doesn’t hold enough importance to keep. This relates to the fact that the girl is pregnant, and he doesn’t want the baby. Like a white elephant, the baby should be sacred, and special, a gift. The girl, at the beginning, says that the hills look like white elephants at first glance. After all, she begins to realize that the hills to do not resemble white elephants
The curtain is separating and blocking the sun from the side of the store. This can be viewed as symbolizing the blocking of their communication. The whole story, there is an obvious barrier between them and their communication. The two could have gone inside away from the flies and sun, however, they stay at the table. They do not enter the place, but allow the curtain to be a barrier between them and staying away from the flies, just like they allow themselves to have a block between their communication. The two are allowing themselves to continue this unhealthy way of not having any communication between them. The girl holds two strands of the bead curtain (51). She then continues to ask if she will be happy after they get rid of the child. The action of her holding the two strands can also be a symbol of the catholic faith. She seems to have a struggle with the idea of abortion. This is something that will go against her morality in the catholic faith, as the two strands represent the rosary