Hills+Like+White+Elephants

= Group names- Kim Harris, Mary LaBarge, Rat Mamage =



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=//** Summary **//=

In this story by Ernest Hemingway, a man and a woman sit at a train station in Spain and enjoy a few beers and some liquor. While drinking, they initially talk about mundane topics, but later discuss their relationship and the possibility of the female having an operation done. The man (an American) is trying to convince the female, named Jig, to have an operation. This procedure is not disclosed, but one can assume that Jig is pregnant and the American is referring to an abortion. The American tries to persuade Jig into having an abortion by telling her of others who had one and were so happy afterward. He also mentions that this event is "the only thing that bothers us. It's the only thing that's made us unhappy." She eventually agrees to the abortion in hopes that "things will be like they were." The American tries to bring the subject back up, but Jig reassures him that she's fine.

=// ** Analysis ** //=

From the Feminist Perspective...

The American man in this story treats Jig poorly. He is the dominant person in the relationship, trying to persuade Jig to have an abortion (something that she does not want to do). He tries to make her feel that she //needs// this abortion to be happy. He is able to convince her to be submissive to his ideas of an abortion.

**"They look like white elephants," she said. "I've never seen one," the man drank his beer. "No, you wouldn't have." "I might have," the man said. "Just because you say I wouldn't have doesn't prove anything." The girl looked at the bead curtain. "They've painted something on it," she said. "What does it say?" "Anis del Toro. It's a drink." "Could we try it?"** 

This excerpt above reveals a lot about the relationship between the American and Jig. Jig draws a comparison between the hills and white elephants, however, instead of the American listening to her opinion, he immediately denies it. She also acts in a submissive behavior, asking permission to order a drink. In the end, although it is Jig's body and ultimately her decision, the American persuades Jig into getting the abortion.

Analyzing Symbols...

//"On this side there was no trees and no shade"// - symbolizes opposition (one side versus the other) //"Two lines of rails"// - two parallel lines, parallel lines never intersect, similar to a relationship between a couple who cannot connect with one another //"It tastes like licorice"// - reveals Jig's innocence, having never tasted liquor gives her a sense of innocence and an inability to describe the drink or compare it to other alcohols, except to the taste of licorice //"The man said into the curtain"// - shows separation between the natives and the foreigner, the natives make no effort to be hospitable to the foreigner and he addresses the curtain, not the other people - shows the hostility towards foreigners and the attitudes of the people during this time period "white elephants" - baby who is a valuable possession that they cannot get rid of "Jig" - the name "Jig" is not a real name, but a slang term, the American might view her more as a lover than as a partner in a relationship