Hills Like White Elephants
Source Material
Pg. #
Respond, Analyze, and Evaluate
Imagery
“The girl was looking off at the line of hills. They were white in the sun and the country was brown and dry.
563
I can see the silent couple staring into the hills, pondering their uncertain future.
Hemingway uses the words “white” and “sun” for the hills, while using “brown” and “dry” the country. Displaying the contrast may be showing a symbolism to what the girl is feeling herself.
Theme: Talking vs. Communicating
“Would you please, please, please, please, please, please stop talking?”
566
They seem to only have short serious conversations then go back to talking about beer or the scenery.
Realizing the futility of their conversation. In fact, the girl’s nickname, “Jig,” subtly indicates that the two characters merely dance around each other and the issue at hand without ever saying anything meaningful.
The girl’s inability to speak Spanish with the bartender not only illustrates her dependence on the American but also the difficulty she has expressing herself to others.
Motif: Drinking
“Let’s drink beer.”
563
Both the American man and the girl drink alcohol throughout their conversation to avoid each other and the problems with their relationship. They start drinking large beers the moment they arrive at the station as if hoping to fill their free time with anything but discussion.
As soon as they begin talking about the hills that look like white elephants, the girl asks to order more drinks to put off the inevitable conversation about the operation. Although they drink primarily to avoid thinking about it, readers sense that deeper problems exist in their relationship, of which the operation is merely one.
The girl herself implies this when she remarks that she and the American man never do anything together except try new drinks, as if constantly looking for new ways to avoid each other. By the end of their conversation, both drink
Pg. #
Respond, Analyze, and Evaluate
Imagery
“The girl was looking off at the line of hills. They were white in the sun and the country was brown and dry.
563
I can see the silent couple staring into the hills, pondering their uncertain future.
Hemingway uses the words “white” and “sun” for the hills, while using “brown” and “dry” the country. Displaying the contrast may be showing a symbolism to what the girl is feeling herself.
Theme: Talking vs. Communicating
“Would you please, please, please, please, please, please stop talking?”
566
They seem to only have short serious conversations then go back to talking about beer or the scenery.
Realizing the futility of their conversation. In fact, the girl’s nickname, “Jig,” subtly indicates that the two characters merely dance around each other and the issue at hand without ever saying anything meaningful.
The girl’s inability to speak Spanish with the bartender not only illustrates her dependence on the American but also the difficulty she has expressing herself to others.
Motif: Drinking
“Let’s drink beer.”
563
Both the American man and the girl drink alcohol throughout their conversation to avoid each other and the problems with their relationship. They start drinking large beers the moment they arrive at the station as if hoping to fill their free time with anything but discussion.
As soon as they begin talking about the hills that look like white elephants, the girl asks to order more drinks to put off the inevitable conversation about the operation. Although they drink primarily to avoid thinking about it, readers sense that deeper problems exist in their relationship, of which the operation is merely one.
The girl herself implies this when she remarks that she and the American man never do anything together except try new drinks, as if constantly looking for new ways to avoid each other. By the end of their conversation, both drink