Illusion of Love

Hills Like White Elephants" by Ernest Hemingway is a story of a man and a woman having beer as they wait in a railway station. The man is trying to persuade the woman to get their child aborted but the woman is hesitant about it. The story deals with their heated discussion and shows that the American does not love the woman rather he is under the assumption that he does. The concept of love being illusionary is depicted here.

Analysis:

Right from the beginning until the end, it is vivid that the American wants the Jig to be operated. He says that it is "perfectly simple," and "awfully simple," and "not really an operation at all." He gives her a word that he would be with her at all circumstances and they could be happy but the child is the only factor that is causing trouble. This is proved in the statement "That's the only thing that bothers us." The reader is not given a direct understanding about the argument but the statement "just to let the air in," brings forth that the man is talking about abortion rather than other medical issues or affairs. The American cleverly speaks with sugar-coated words to convince his woman about having an abortion. The statement, "I don't want anybody but you. I don't want anyone else," clearly indicates that he is sure he doesn’t want a child but her and her alone. Getting a beer and anise liqueur is also a cheap trick to make the woman calm down so that he could ask about the abortion while she is in a good mood. Hence, I strongly believe that the American is not at all in love with his woman rather he is under the illusion of love. This is imaginary and not real. There is no place for true love and affection in this story and the American only proves to be a super actor.

Conclusion:

Love is magical and sometimes illusionary. The deepest emotions of human beings turn out to arise between two people of opposite gender. "Hills Like White Elephants" is a story that provides more information about the man who is not happy...