In “Hills Like White Elephants,”
no one wins the argument
. In part, this is because the two characters are no in strict opposition to each…
What happens at the end of Hills Like White Elephants?
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
. … Hemingway's story “Hills Like White Elephants” is often included in curricula of literature and creative writing.
What is the argument about in Hills Like White Elephants?
Hemmingway uses time, place, and symbolism in “Hills like White Elephants” to intensify the
central dilemma in a story about a man and a woman deciding on whether to go through with an abortion
. Although a literal reading of the title may not seem to have any relation to the story, the title is rich in implications.
What does jig decide in Hills Like White Elephants?
wants the man to think she's smart. feels that she can only have an
abortion
if she no longer cares about herself. knows women who have had abortions, and implies that things didn't turn out well for them.
What is the summary of the Hills Like White Elephants?
The story focuses
on a conversation between an American man and a young woman, described as a “girl,” at a Spanish train station while waiting for a train to Madrid
. The girl compares the nearby hills to white elephants.
What do the white elephants 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 does the setting symbolize in Hills Like White Elephants?
The setting of “Hills Like White Elephants” in a railroad station exemplifies this sense of
being “lost
.” A railroad station is not a permanent place anyone inhabits but a place one passes through in transit to somewhere else. This lack of permanence is emblematic of the relationship between Jig and the man.
What is the conflict in Hills Like White Elephants?
Throughout “Hills Like White Elephants,” the dominant conflict that remains is
man vs. self
. The decision to have this be the conflict provides insight on the girl as a character and the relationship that she has with the man, as well as aiding in the resolution of the short story.
What is the resolution of Hills Like White Elephants?
“Hills Like White Elephants” is a very short story. Only about one thousand words, the story itself is comprised almost entirely of dialogue. Although there is a situation, there is no plot; although there are words spoken between the main characters,
there is no resolution.
What is the irony in Hills Like White Elephants?
The irony of the title, then, is that
the man “buys” a white elephant believing that the action under consideration can return him and his girlfriend to their former relationship, but the girl, like the reader, knows they will never be the same
, for she turns from the vision of life, fields of grain and trees, and …
What does the girl want in Hills Like White Elephants?
Everything in the story indicates that the man definitely wants the girl
to have an abortion
. Even when the man maintains that he wants the girl to have an abortion only if she wants to have one, we question his sincerity and his honesty.
How do the hills in the story spotlight jig's decision?
How do the hills in the story spotlight jig's decision? Answer: The hills in the story spotlight Jig's decision
by showing her pregnancy
. Explanation: The symbolism of the white elephants emphasizes the subject of the story.
How do we know the girl is pregnant in Hills Like White Elephants?
Hills Like White Elephants, written by Ernest Hemingway, is a story that takes place in Spain while a man and woman wait for a train. … In the story the woman's
pregnancy is implied through their conversation
. She refers to the near by hills as elephants; “They look like white elephants” (464).
What is the main point or theme of Hills Like White Elephants?
Men, Women, and Relationships. At the heart of “Hills Like White Elephants” is
Hemingway's examination of the man and girl's deeply flawed relationship
, a relationship that champions “freedom” at the cost of honesty, respect, and commitment.
What does the 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.
Are White elephants good luck?
They represent strength, protection, wisdom and good luck. Elephant symbols invite positive energies into your home and life. …
White elephants are considered very auspicious
. It is said that the Buddha's mother dreamt of a white elephant, before she gave birth to him.
