Hills Like White Elephants

“Hills like White Elephants”

By Ernest Hemingway

The Short story “Hills like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway is about a couple traveling through Spain. We meet the couple at a train station and witness a conversation between the two. While waiting for their train to arrive and bring them to Madrid, their next destination, they continue an on-going discussion. This discussion is about an operation that Jig, the women in the story, is going to have that the American, the man in the story, is pushing for. The operations we are lead to believe is an abortion.

After reading the story, it is apparent that Hemingway does not give any minor details. Instead he gives the reader just enough information by using imagery and symbols so that the readers can develop a more profound meaning than just what is said in the discussion. Ernst Hemingway’s title “Hills Like White Elephants” is symbolic because it implies to a deeper meaning right away. If we break it down into two separate symbols you have the hills and the white elephants.

First, let’s take a look at the symbolism of the hills. I think this is one of the more important symbols because it has a number of significances. In literature hills or mountains are commonly used to refer to an obstacle that is difficult to overcome. The issue that Jig is facing is like the hills, both hard to walk over them and it’s hard to walk around them. Regardless of her choice it will be a long difficult journey before she feels are back to “normal”.

Another meaning that can be taken from the hill imagery is stability. Hills are remarkable, natural occurring objects and are immobile. I think Hemingway was trying to depict how having a baby, which is a natural thing, can be amazing but also would tie down the couple. Also, a pregnant belly, besides the rounded shape itself, is much like the hills. The fact of being pregnant ties down the mother, making her stationary, like the hills. Also, the fact hills are large,...