Strings of beads are familiar infant's playthings; thus, to the woman the curtain may symbolize the unborn child . Such a thought would be no less likely in her mind, as she handles the beads, than her earlier perception of the distant hills as white elephants.
What is the symbolic meaning of Hills Like White Elephants in Hemingway's story?
A white elephant symbolizes something no one wants —in this story, the girl's unborn child.
What does the bead curtain symbolize in Hills Like White Elephants?
The curtain is also a comment on advertisement and communication, and an homage to the sport of bullfighting , which so fascinated Hemingway. ... If the man is anything like these other Hemingway characters, it seems unlikely that he would give Jig the kind of life she seems to want.
What does the railroad junction symbolize in Hills Like White Elephants?
Besides the landscape, the tracks also have a meaning. Railroad tracks run parallel, which means they never touch or run into one another. This could symbolize the relationship of Jig and the American man (Schaefers, Adam. “Analyzing the Symbolism of Hills like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway”.
What does alcohol symbolize in Hills Like White Elephants?
When reading Hills Like White Elephants, it is obvious that drinking alcohol is a large part of their relationship. ... The symbolic part of the alcohol is that it is the only functioning part of their relationship . It gives the couple a short-term relief from their real life problems and realities.
What is the significance of white elephant?
The white elephant—which was more often than not stricken with albinism, and thus more a ruddy-pink color—was, and remains to this day, a symbol of success. To possess a white elephant connoted political power, wealth and prosperity, great wisdom , and the love of one's people.
What is the symbolic meaning of white elephant?
A white elephant is an idiom for a valuable possession of which its owner cannot dispose and whose cost (particularly cost of upkeep) is out of proportion to its usefulness or worth. So, the white elephant is the unborn baby that the couple is discussing.
What is the symbolic significance of the hills?
In “Hills Like White Elephants,” the hills are symbolic of the relationship between the couple as well as the couple's unborn child .
What is the symbolic meaning of hills?
Hills carry their own significance least of which is the concept of higher and lower levels of land – the latter can contain swamps, people, darkness, fields, heat, unpleasantness, life whilst the former can suggest isolation, life, death, thin air, purity, clear views to name a few.
What does the white elephant symbolize in Buddhism?
A white elephant is rare and given special significance . It is often considered sacred and symbolises royalty in Thailand and Burma, where it is also considered a symbol of good luck. In Buddhist iconography, the elephant is associated with Queen Māyā of Sakya, the mother of Gautama Buddha.
What is the main point of Hills Like White Elephants?
Hemingway sets “Hills Like White Elephants” at a train station to highlight the fact that the relationship between the American man and the girl is at a crossroads. Planted in the middle of a desolate valley, the station isn't a final destination but merely a stopping point between Barcelona and Madrid .
What literary devices are used in Hills Like White Elephants?
Hemingway's work Hills Like White Elephants communicates several political viewpoints―such as abortion and nationalistic inferiority―and conveys conflict through the use of imagery, symbolism, point-of-view, and setting . In the beginning of the short passage, Hemingway presents multiple images to set the mood.
What is the symbolic significance of the railroad tracks?
OVERVIEW OF TRAIN SYMBOLISM IN STORIES
The straight line of the tracks is a symbol of fate . Tunnels (which are literally dark) can foreshadow emotional darkness to come. Trains represent how humans experience time even though this is not how time actually works.
What are the symbols in Hills Like White Elephants?
- Barren/Fertile Land. As the story opens, we are introduced first and foremost to the setting's barren landscape, which is described as “brown and dry,” with “no shade” and “no trees.” Yet while the story feels as though... ...
- Light. ...
- Alcohol. ...
- The Train Station.
What does alcohol represent in literature?
Alcohol is a symbolic vehicle for identifying, describing, constructing and manipulating cultural systems , values, interpersonal relationships, behavioural norms and expectations.
What does a white elephant mean spiritually?
White elephants are believed to be a symbol of purity, divinity and a calm mind , while grey elephants symbolize an untrained and agitated mind, which tends to wander off from the path toward enlightenment.
