| “Hills Like White Elephants” | Published in Men Without Women | Publication type short story collection | Publication date 1927 | Preceded by “In Another Country” |
|---|
When was Hills Like White Elephants electronically published?
| “Hills Like White Elephants” | Published in Men Without Women | Publication type short story collection | Publication date 1927 | Preceded by “In Another Country” |
|---|
Why did Hemingway write Hills Like White Elephants?
He
had gotten rid of many things
by writing them.” I believe that Hemingway was trying to “get rid” of some bad personal feelings he had about being in a situation with a woman which was similar to that involving Jig and the American in “Hills Like White Elephants.” I do not believe he was trying to communicate any ” …
Who was the publisher of Hills Like White Elephants?
First published in the collection, Men Without Women (New York:
Scribner's Sons
) 1927. Also available in: The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway: The Finca Vigia Edition (New York: Scribner) 1998.
Where did Hills Like White Elephants take place?
“Hills Like White Elephants” opens with a long description of the story's setting in a train station surrounded by hills, fields, and
trees in a valley in Spain
.
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 does the white elephant symbolize in Hills Like White Elephants?
A white elephant symbolizes
something no one wants
—in this story, the girl's unborn child. Comparing the hills—and, metaphorically, the baby—to elephants also recalls the expression “the elephant in the room,” a euphemism for something painfully obvious that no one wants to discuss. …
What is the iceberg theory Hemingway?
The iceberg theory or theory of omission is
a writing technique
coined by American writer Ernest Hemingway. … Hemingway believed the deeper meaning of a story should not be evident on the surface, but should shine through implicitly.
What is the conflict in Hills Like White Elephants?
The main conflict in the story “Hills Like White Elephants” is
the debate between the man and his girlfriend Jig over whether or not to abort their unborn baby that Jig is carrying
. The man obviously wants—and pressures—Jig to have an abortion while Jig is reluctant to go through with the procedure.
What is the symbolism of a 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.
Where did white elephants come from?
The origins of the phrase come from
Siam (modern-day Thailand)
. White or very pale elephants were so highly prized that when one was discovered, it immediately became the possession of the King. Such was the reverence held for the animal in Siam that it appeared on the nation's flag until 1917.
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 the railroad tracks symbolize in Hills Like White Elephants?
The entire story takes place at a train station—a physical and metaphorical crossroads of railroad tracks in the couple's journey. Each track symbolizes
a possible life path
. They are waiting for a train that would take them to Madrid.
What is the ending of Hills Like White Elephants?
Abstract. The ending of Hemingway's 1927 story, “Hills Like White Elephants” was interpreted for decades in one way:
the female protagonist surrenders to her partner's wishes that she undergo abortion.
What does the train symbolize in Hills Like White Elephants?
Symbolically, the train represents
girls choice
. Like the coming of the train, if she decides to abort the baby, there is no turning back. As the man takes both of their bags over to the tracks, he is hoping that Jig will go through with the surgery.
What does absinthe symbolize?
Absinthe, an alcoholic drink introduced to France in the 1840s, developed a decadent though violent reputation. To some the drink symbolized
creativity and liberation, and to others, madness and despair
.
