hills like white elephants analysis essay

Analysis of 'Hills Like White Elephants' by Ernest Hemingway

A Story That Takes on an Emotional Conversation on Abortion

• Short Stories
• Best Sellers
• Classic Literature
• Plays & Drama
• Shakespeare
• Children's Books
• Ph.D., English, State University of New York at Albany
• B.A., English, Brown University

Ernest Hemingway 's "Hills Like White Elephants" tells the story of a man and woman drinking beer and anise liqueur while they wait at a train station in Spain. The man is attempting to convince the woman to get an abortion , but the woman is ambivalent about it. The story's tension comes from their terse, barbed dialogue .

First published in 1927, "Hills Like White Elephants" is widely anthologized today, likely because of its use of symbolism and demonstration of Hemingway's Iceberg Theory in writing.

Hemingway's Iceberg Theory

Also known as the "theory of omission," Hemingway's Iceberg Theory contends that the words on the page should be merely a small part of the whole story—they are the proverbial "tip of the iceberg," and a writer should use as few words as possible in order to indicate the larger, unwritten story that resides below the surface.

Hemingway made it clear that this "theory of omission" should not be used as an excuse for a writer not to know the details behind his or her story. As he wrote in " Death in the Afternoon ," "A writer who omits things because he does not know them only makes hollow places in his writing."

At fewer than 1,500 words , "Hills Like White Elephants" exemplifies this theory through its brevity and the noticeable absence of the word "abortion," even though that is clearly the main subject of the story. There are also several indications that this isn't the first time the characters have discussed the issue, such as when the woman cuts the man off and completes his sentence in the following exchange:

"I don't want you to do anything that you don't want to—" "Nor that isn't good for me," she said. "I know."

How Do We Know It's About Abortion?

If it already seems obvious to you that "Hills Like White Elephants" is a story about abortion, you can skip this section. But if the story is new to you, you might feel less certain about it.

Throughout the story, it is clear that the man would like the woman to get an operation, which he describes as "awfully simple," "perfectly simple," and "not really an operation at all." He promises to stay with her the whole time and that they'll be happy afterward because "that's the only thing that bothers us."

He never mentions the woman's health, so we can assume the operation is not something to cure an illness. He also frequently says she doesn't have to do it if she doesn't want to, which indicates that he's describing an elective procedure. Finally, he claims that it's "just to let the air in," which implies abortion rather than any other optional procedure.

When the woman asks, "And you really want to?", she's posing a question that suggests the man has some say in the matter—that he has something at stake—which is another indication that she's pregnant. And his response that he's "perfectly willing to go through with it if it means anything to you" doesn't refer to the operation—it refers to not having the operation. In the case of pregnancy, not having the abortion is something "to go through with" because it results in the birth of a child.

Finally, the man asserts that "I don't want anybody but you. I don't want anyone else," which makes it clear that there will be "somebody else" unless the woman has the operation.

White Elephants

The symbolism of the white elephants further emphasizes the subject of the story.

The origin of the phrase is commonly traced to a practice in Siam (now Thailand) in which a king would bestow the gift of a white elephant on a member of his court who displeased him. The white elephant was considered sacred, so on the surface, this gift was an honor. However, maintaining the elephant would be so expensive as to ruin the recipient. Hence, a white elephant is a burden.

When the girl comments that the hills look like white elephants and the man says he's never seen one, she answers, "No, you wouldn't have." If the hills represent female fertility, swollen abdomen, and breasts, she could be suggesting that he is not the type of person ever to intentionally have a child.

But if we consider a "white elephant" as an unwanted item, she could also be pointing out that he never accepts burdens he doesn't want. Notice the symbolism later in the story when he carries their bags, covered with labels "from all the hotels where they had spent nights," to the other side of the tracks and deposits them there while he goes back into the bar, alone, to have another drink.

The two possible meanings of white elephants—female fertility and cast-off items—come together here because, as a man, he will never become pregnant himself and can cast off the responsibility of her pregnancy.

"Hills Like White Elephants" is a rich story that yields more every time you read it. Consider the contrast between the hot, dry side of the valley and the more fertile "fields of grain." You might consider the symbolism of the train tracks or the absinthe. You might ask yourself whether the woman will go through with the abortion, whether they'll stay together, and, finally, whether either of them knows the answers to these questions yet.

• 'Popular Mechanics' Analysis
• Analysis of "Feathers" by Raymond Carver
• Islands in the Stream (c1951) by Ernest Hemingway
• Analysis of Flannery O'Connor's Story, 'A Good Man Is Hard to Find'
• Analysis of William Faulkner's "Dry September"
• 'A Farewell to Arms' Quotes
• A Full Analysis of the Story 'Wants' by Grace Paley
• Quotes From 'For Whom the Bell Tolls'
• Yeats and 'The Symbolism of Poetry'
• Biography of Ernest Hemingway, Pulitzer and Nobel Prize Winning Writer
• The 1969 Redstockings Abortion Speakout
• Use Verbs and Adjectives to Brighten up Your News Stories
• 24 Andrea Dworkin Quotes
• Definition and Examples of Asterisks (*)
• Biography of Norma McCorvey, 'Roe' in the Roe v. Wade Case
• Margaret Thatcher Quotes

Literary Theory and Criticism

Home › Literature › Analysis of Ernest Hemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants

Analysis of Ernest Hemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants

By NASRULLAH MAMBROL on May 25, 2021

The frequently anthologized Hills Like White Elephants  first printed in transition magazine in 1927 is often read and taught as a perfect illustration of Ernest Hemingway’s minimalist, self-proclaimed “iceberg” style of writing: In much of Hemingway’s fiction what is said in the story often is less important than what has not been said. Like the iceberg—only one-eighth of which is visible above the surface—Hemingway’s fiction is much richer than its spare language suggests. Hemingway has great faith in his readers and leaves them to discern what is truly happening from the scant facts he presents on the surface of his story. On a superficial level, Hills is merely about a man, a woman, and an “awfully simple operation” (275). What the narrator never actually tells the reader, however, is that “awfully simple operation” is an abortion, a taboo subject in 1925. Underneath the surface of this story are THEMEs and motifs that are characteristic of many of Hemingway’s other works as well. As do many of those works, “Hills” tells the story of an American abroad and depicts the strained relationships between men and women that clearly intrigued the author. As with many of the relationships Hemingway portrays, this man and woman apparently have nothing in common but sex and the heavy consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Ernest Hemingway/Goodreads

Hills  is also a story of avoidance. Instead of having a significant, rational conversation about the issue at hand, the “girl,” Jig, says only that the hills of Spain look like white elephants. “Wasn’t that clever?” she asks the unnamed man (274). This rather inconsiderate male companion agrees, but he actually wants to talk about the procedure. Jig would rather not discuss it. When he pressures her, she replies, “Then I’ll do it. Because I don’t care about me.” Jig is the typical Hemingway female, selfless and sacrificial. She is prepared to have the abortion, but the reader is left with the distinct impression that any previous magic between the couple is gone. “It isn’t ours anymore,” Jig tells the American (276). The unfortunate accident of pregnancy has ruined the relationship; it will never be the same. Hemingway explores many of the same themes in his important war novel A Farewell to Arms and in The Sun Also Rises.

Analysis of Ernest Hemingway’s Novels

BIBLIOGRAPHY Hemingway, Ernest. “Hills Like White Elephants.” 1927. Reprinted in The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway: The Finca Vigía Edition. New York: Scribner, 1987. Johnston, Kenneth. “ ‘Hills Like White Elephants’: Lean, Vintage Hemingway.” Studies in American Fiction (1982). Renner, Stanley. “Moving to the Girl’s Side of Hills.” The Hemingway Review (1995).

Share this:

Categories: Literature , Short Story

Tags: American Literature , Analysis of Ernest Hemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants , appreciation of Ernest Hemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants , criticism of Ernest Hemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants , Ernest Hemingway , Ernest Hemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants , Ernest Hemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants criticism , Ernest Hemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants essays , Ernest Hemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants guide , Ernest Hemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants notes , Ernest Hemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants plot , Ernest Hemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants story , Ernest Hemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants structure , Ernest Hemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants summary , essays of Ernest Hemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants , guide of Ernest Hemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants , Hills Like White Elephants , Literary Criticism , plot of Ernest Hemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants , structure of Ernest Hemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants , summary of Ernest Hemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants , themes of Ernest Hemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants

Related Articles

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Hills Like White Elephants

49 pages • 1 hour read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Story Analysis

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Literary Devices

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Analysis: “Hills Like White Elephants”

Although the story’s historical setting is indeterminate, it appears contemporary with the story’s 1927 publication. During this period, Hemingway was preoccupied with the lives of expatriate Americans living in post-World War I Europe, the so-called Lost Generation—a term coined by Gertrude Stein but made famous by Hemingway’s 1926 novel The Sun Also Rises . The idea of lostness relates to the psychological aimlessness of this generation, who came of age during a war of such unprecedented inhumanity and destructiveness that it seemed to invalidate traditional beliefs about faith, meaning, or even inherent human goodness. To many, the American Dream now smacked of parochialism and vapidity, and expatriation to Europe was increasingly common. Partly because it forsook the traditional American work ethic and the “back to normal” postwar mindset, an indulgent and even superficial lifestyle became a leitmotif of Lost Generation literature. Nevertheless, while these writers might have honored postwar disillusionment, they sometimes critiqued their generation’s lifestyle as potentially hollow or disoriented.

Don't Miss Out!

Access Study Guide Now

Related Titles

By Ernest Hemingway

A Clean, Well-Lighted Place

Ernest Hemingway

Across the River and into the Trees

A Day's Wait

A Farewell to Arms

A Moveable Feast

A Very Short Story

Big Two-Hearted River

Cat in the Rain

For Whom the Bell Tolls

Green Hills of Africa

In Another Country

Indian Camp

In Our Time

Old Man at the Bridge

Soldier's Home

Solider's Home

Ten Indians

The Garden of Eden

The Killers

The Nick Adams Stories

Featured Collections

American Literature

View Collection

Nobel Laureates in Literature

Required Reading Lists

The Lost Generation

Hills Like White Elephants

Ernest hemingway, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

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. In this sense, the man and girl represent stereotypes of male and female roles: the male as active and the female as passive. In this gender framework, the man makes the decisions and the female complies. However, as the story illustrates, such a power dynamic is fundamentally flawed and destructive. The man is domineering in all his interactions, andthough he pays lip service to wanting to make the girl happy, his decisions are ultimately guided by his own desires. He wants the girl to seekan abortion in order to maintain the freedom he enjoys, but he wants it to be her decision. For the man,it is not enough for her to do what he wants, but she must also want what he wants. The man seeks to control both the girl’s actions and intentions as though she were a child, a deeply unhealthy and damaging pattern of behavior.

At first the girl is resistant to the man’s emotional manipulation. She attempts to paint a picture of the future life she and the man could have together if they were to have a child. The man, though, is unwilling even to entertain these notions, and yet he phrases his refu sal in the manipulative language of love, claiming that “I don’t want anybody but you.” Eventually the girl acquiesces to the man’s overbearing insistence, surrendering her personal freedom to his wishes. At the story’s conclusion, when he asks her if she feels better, the girl’s stiff reply reveals her true feelings: “I feel fine. There’s nothing wrong with me. I feel fine.” This final act of concealment and self-suppression suggests that this relationship, so representative of the traditional dynamic between men and women at the time,will remain stalled in its present unhealthy stateuntil it likely falls apart completely.

Men, Women, and Relationships ThemeTracker

Men, Women, and Relationships Quotes in Hills Like White Elephants

“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.”

“Oh, cut it out.” “You started it,” the girl said. “I was being amused. I was having a fine time.” “Well, let’s try and have a fine time.” “All right. I was trying. I said the mountains looked like white elephants. Wasn’t that bright?”

“I wanted to try this new drink. That’s all we do, isn’t it—look at things and try new drinks?”

“It’s really an awfully simple operation, Jig,” the man said. “It’s not really an operation at all.”

“I know you wouldn’t mind it, Jig. It’s really not anything. It’s just to let the air in.” The girl did not say anything.

“Then what will we do afterward?” “We’ll be fine afterward. Just like we were before.” “What makes you think so?” “That’s the only thing that bothers us. It’s the only that’s made us unhappy.”

“And you think then we’ll be all right and be happy.” “I know we will. You don’t have to be afraid. I’ve known lots of people that have done it.” “So have I,” said the girl. “And afterward they were all so happy.”

“Well,” the man said, “if you don’t want to you don’t have to. I wouldn’t have you do it if you didn’t want to. But I know it’s perfectly simple.”

“…But if I do it, then it will be nice again if I say things are like white elephants, and you’ll like it?”

“Then I’ll do it. Because I don’t care about me.”

“And we could have all this,” she said “And we could have everything and every day we make it more impossible.”

“What did you say?” “I said we could have everything.” “We can have everything.” “No, we can’t.”

“We can go everywhere.” “No, we can’t. It isn’t ours any more.” “It’s ours.” “No, it isn’t. And once they take it away, you never get it back.”

“Come on back in the shade,” he said. “You mustn’t feel that way.” “I don’t feel any way,” the girl said. “I just know things.”

“All right. But you’ve got to realize—” “I realize,” the girl said. “Can’t we maybe stop talking?”

“Doesn’t it mean anything to you? We could get along.” “Of course it does. But I don’t want anybody but you. I don’t want anyone else. And I know it’s perfectly simple.”

“Would you do something for me now?” “I’d do anything for you.” “Would you please please please please please please please stop talking?”

He did not say anything but looked at the bags against the wall of the station. There were labels on them from all the hotels where they had spent nights.

He drank an Anis at the bar and looked at the people. They were all waiting reasonably for the train.

• Undergraduate
• High School
• Architecture
• American History
• Asian History
• Antique Literature
• American Literature
• Asian Literature
• Classic English Literature
• World Literature
• Creative Writing
• Linguistics
• Criminal Justice
• Legal Issues
• Anthropology
• Archaeology
• Political Science
• World Affairs
• African-American Studies
• East European Studies
• Latin-American Studies
• Native-American Studies
• West European Studies
• Family and Consumer Science
• Social Issues
• Women and Gender Studies
• Social Work
• Natural Sciences
• Pharmacology
• Earth science
• Agriculture
• Agricultural Studies
• Computer Science
• IT Management
• Mathematics
• Investments
• Engineering and Technology
• Engineering
• Aeronautics
• Medicine and Health
• Alternative Medicine
• Communications and Media
• Advertising
• Communication Strategies
• Public Relations
• Educational Theories
• Teacher's Career
• Chicago/Turabian
• Company Analysis
• Education Theories
• Shakespeare
• Canadian Studies
• Food Safety
• Relation of Global Warming and Extreme Weather Condition
• Movie Review
• Admission Essay
• Annotated Bibliography
• Application Essay
• Article Critique
• Article Review
• Article Writing
• Book Review
• Business Plan
• Business Proposal
• Capstone Project
• Cover Letter
• Creative Essay
• Dissertation
• Dissertation - Abstract
• Dissertation - Conclusion
• Dissertation - Discussion
• Dissertation - Hypothesis
• Dissertation - Introduction
• Dissertation - Literature
• Dissertation - Methodology
• Dissertation - Results
• GCSE Coursework
• Grant Proposal
• Marketing Plan
• Multiple Choice Quiz
• Personal Statement
• Power Point Presentation
• Power Point Presentation With Speaker Notes
• Questionnaire
• Reaction Paper
• Research Paper
• Research Proposal
• SWOT analysis
• Thesis Paper
• Online Quiz
• Literature Review
• Movie Analysis
• Statistics problem
• Math Problem
• All papers examples
• How It Works
• Money Back Policy
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• We Are Hiring

Hills Like White Elephants by Hemingway, Essay Example

Pages: 3

Words: 841

Hire a Writer for Custom Essay

Use 10% Off Discount: "custom10" in 1 Click 👇

You are free to use it as an inspiration or a source for your own work.

At first look, Hills Like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway appears to be a simplistic argument between a man and a woman. The reader is provided little information about the couple, and is therefore forced to infer information about their situation based on the details. When the text is analyzed, one can learn a great deal about the pair that is not immediately apparent. Such understanding of detail is important because this conversation is representative of how a sensitive topic might be discussed in public. Ultimately, tone, symbolism and the use of context are among the literary devices utilized to confer an understanding of the story to the reader.

One of the most important literary elements that help the reader understand the meaning of Hills Like White Elephants is the tone. When the reader is first introduced to the characters, it appears that the two are having a casual conversation and decide to drink beer while waiting for the train. After the initial word exchange, the careful reader can observe that the woman feels forlorn, as she abandons her empty conversation about beer to stare longingly at the mountains in the distance. The conversation that follows becomes an argument, and although the two seem to be arguing about nothing, it clearly concerns the matter that put the woman in such a strange mood. After more debate, now regarding an operation, the man convinced the woman to calm down. In the end, she proclaims that she feels fine and that there is nothing wrong with her. The tone of this story is therefore indicative of the plot. As a consequence of this literary element alone, the reader is now aware that the woman was worried about an operation that is traveling to receive. However, it appears that the operation is optional and that the man would prefer her to get it done so things can go back to the way that they were “before”.

Symbolism also plays an important role in the meaning of the story. The woman keeps telling the man that she believed that the hills resemble white elephants, and that he wouldn’t know much about white elephants. After all of the details of the story have been compiled, it becomes clear that the operation that the man and woman are talking about is an abortion and that the white elephant is symbolic for the woman’s pregnancy or the potential of her having a child. When she looks at the hills, she thinks about whether or not she is making the right choice by getting an abortion. At first, she engages in an argument with her partner because she believes that there’s no way he had ever seen a white elephant, which is indicative of the fact that he couldn’t possibly know the struggle that she is currently facing. By the end of the story, the woman ceases to discuss the beauty of the hills, demonstrating that she has been convinced by her partner to get the surgery. The symbolism of the white elephant is important to this story because it reflects the changing mood of the woman towards her impending situation. After recognizing what both options would entail, she finally decides to ignore the beauty of the hills because doing so will be more immediately relevant to her happiness.

The use of context is also an important literary element that helps one to gain a greater understanding of this story. In this case, the two clues that are the most helpful are those that indicate that the man and woman are located at a train station and that the woman will be receiving an operation. This information allows the reader to infer that this is the purpose for travel and question why this is necessary. This evidence, combined with the tone of the story in addition to an understanding of symbolism helps the reader understand why the woman must travel out of the country for the operation. Since she is getting an abortion, she must do so away from her friends and family since this type of operation is not considered to be socially acceptable. Furthermore, it is likely that the operation is not legal where she is living. The details of this situation demonstrate the extent to which the woman must go to in order to make her partner, and potentially herself, happy in the end.

In conclusion, knowledge of tone, symbolism, and context are necessary to gain a true understanding of this story. The author is very subtle throughout the passage so that only one who has great analytic skill can gain a true understanding of the words before them. Ultimately, these literary elements allow one to be aware that the plot concerns a man and woman traveling so that the woman can receive an abortion. She is sad about the situation, but is convinced to go ahead with it, which ends her sadness. The use of these literary elements make the story more meaningful because it reflects the secrecy of the situation that the couple would have wished to have.

Stuck with your Essay?

Get in touch with one of our experts for instant help!

Everyday Use, Essay Example

Dreaming of Mars, Essay Example

Time is precious

don’t waste it!

Plagiarism-free guarantee

Privacy guarantee

Secure checkout

Money back guarantee

Related Essay Samples & Examples

Voting as a civic responsibility, essay example.

Pages: 1

Words: 287

Utilitarianism and Its Applications, Essay Example

Words: 356

The Age-Related Changes of the Older Person, Essay Example

Pages: 2

Words: 448

The Problems ESOL Teachers Face, Essay Example

Pages: 8

Words: 2293

Should English Be the Primary Language? Essay Example

Pages: 4

Words: 999

The Term “Social Construction of Reality”, Essay Example

Words: 371

Hills Like White Elephants - Essay Samples And Topic Ideas For Free

Hills Like White Elephants is a short story by Ernest Hemingway known for its minimalist style and iceberg theory exemplification. It explores communication and the personal implications of consequential decisions through a conversation between a couple at a Spanish train station. Essays might delve into the stylistic analysis, the thematic exploration of communication and choice, or the gender dynamics at play. The ambiguity in the narrative also allows for a broad spectrum of interpretation and analysis. We have collected a large number of free essay examples about Hills Like White Elephants you can find at Papersowl. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

The Iceberg Theory: ‘Hills Like White Elephants’

At one point or another, everybody has ever been in a situation that seemed complicated and had no possible solution at hand. At such a time, you try talking to your friends or those that you are close to. After all the efforts, you still lack the exact answers to your questions. Our minds are made to think broadly, but while talking, we cannot let out all that we are thinking about (Piglia and Ricardo 66). This is the feeling […]

Characters in “Story of an Hour” and “Hills Like White Elephants”

Freedom: a noble ideal many strive for, but yet so undefined. We all want to be free, but we don’t know what it really means. In “Story of an Hour” and “Hills Like White Elephants” freedom plays a powerful motivator to the main characters. They all strive for a different kind of free, and it’s either a blissful experience or something that’s awful. Comparing these stories shows the different meanings freedom could have for different people. They both show different […]

Ernest Hemingway’s Short Stories

EErnest Hemingway’s Short Stories: The Iceberg Theory “We are all tips of the iceberg”- Ashlecka Aumrivani once said when she was defining the invisibility of the whole picture of the human nature as a mystery that makes our lives more interesting. In a similar manner, we can enjoy Hemingway’s style of writing that makes his readers think and guess if they want to fully understand the whole plot of his stories. To put it simpler, let’s figure out what “The […]

We will write an essay sample crafted to your needs.

Analysis of Hemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants

In Ernest Hemingway “Hills Like White Elephants”, the author reveals a state of depression and oppression setting. He emphasizes on how an American girl and Spanish speaking man are using alcohol to avoid having a real conversation about an operation, later understood to be an abortion, and her decision will eventually dictate the status of their relationship. Having the male translate shows the role or power dynamics in their relationship; showing there little in common interest and the language limitations […]

Symbolism in “Hills Like White Elephants”

In Ernest Hemingway’s “Hills like White Elephants” a man and a woman are having a conversation over beers and anise while they wait for a train in Spain. They share a great deal of words that go round and round but they never clearly identify what they are talking about. The man wants the woman to do something that she clearly does not want to do and is anxious about and upset even that he wants her to do it. […]

The Greater Impact of Symbolism in Literature

Authors often use symbolism to not only enhance the story being read but also give it a deeper meaning, adding many more layers on top of layers to the writing. This pushes the readers to analyze the text to discover the hidden clues and meanings referencing the symbolic object. Symbolism can help readers figure out why the author wrote in a certain way, or even help others understand the true purpose of the symbol. This eventually helps build upon the […]

The Girl (Jig) Character Analysis in Hills Like White Elephants

In the short story "Hills Like White Elephants," the main argument of the story is abortion. The character Jig and her significant other argue over whether to have the abortion or not. The characters, Jig and her significant other, are on opposing sides vaguely describing their sides with descriptions of the "hills". Throughout the story Jig and the man are talking back and forth about “something”, the abortion, that will make both of them happier. Jig keeps on coming back […]

Relationship in Hills Like White Elephants

Ernest Hemingway's story "Hills Like White Elephants" sheds light on the vulnerability and emotional void within a relationship threatened by the impending arrival of an unborn child. The narrative portrays a couple deeply involved in a romantic relationship that is undeniably strained. Evidence of this tension surfaces at the beginning of the story as the couple anxiously waits for a train, struggling to engage in meaningful conversation. In an attempt to ease the discomfort, the woman remarks on the distant […]

The Meaning of “White Elephant”

“Hills Like White Elephants” was a good read for me and I am glad I was able to broaden my horizons in the literary world, (although I had to read it two times to really comprehend what was going on). This short story left me speechless both times I read it. I like a story that can leave me without words. As the story progressed, pieces started to fit together in my mind about what was going on, and they […]

Social Issues in “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway

"Hills like White Elephants" written by Ernest Hemingway provides various messages and provides the reader with various social issues on subjects such as patriarchy and gender inequality. The short story “Hills like White Elephants" is how the woman is pregnant and the choice of how to deal with the pregnancy. The man and the woman don't know whether to have an abortion or have the baby. There is an internal conflict within the woman with the decision to have the […]

Hills Like White Elephants Analysis

The phrase “there’s an elephant in the room” is used when, in a social group, there is a major issue—an elephant—that is on everyone’s minds, and yet nobody will discuss it until someone becomes the first to acknowledge it. Hemmingway’s iceberg principle is fitting for this concept as, under his principle, the immense mass of the iceberg is hidden, and must be acknowledged and found to truly gain an understanding of the story. Hemmingway, in his story “Hills Like White […]

All Good Things Come to an End

According to an article by the Atlantic, in the United States, “In the late 1920s some 15,000 women a year died from abortions.” Abortion has always been a wildly controversial topic that eventually became politicized. For years, people have argued that it’s either something that should or should not be practiced. Something that isn’t talked about as much, is the difficult conversation one must have with their partner or themselves to determine if this is a good option. In Ernest […]

Symbolism of Hills Like White Elephants

The short story “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway is a subdued account of a couple’s meandering discussion of an unwanted pregnancy and the implied possibility of resolving the issue with an abortion. Hemingway uses the objective point of view throughout the story, allowing the reader to act as a clandestine observer and to witness a deeply personal but indirect exchange between the characters. The tale is allegorical, and presents a topic that is morally complex and controversial, especially […]

Review on the Short Story Hills Like White Elephants

The short story “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway has a thought-provoking yet simple central plot. The plot revolves around a man and a woman named Jig who are torn between a decision that will affect their lives no matter the outcome. The story never explicitly tells what the issue is, however; it is easy to understand that Jig is pregnant, the man wants an abortion, and their relationship is not as good as it once was. The author […]

Hills Like White Elephants: Socially and Emotionally Trapped

“Hills like White Elephants” is a short story written by Ernest Hemingway. The title has significant importance to the rest of the story. The story is a conversation between the two main characters, The American and his girlfriend, who he calls Jig. Although neither of them actually communicate with each other, giving the idea that there is a conflict between the two. At the start of the story, Jig makes a comment about the surrounding hills looking like white elephants. […]

Analysis of Abortion and Ambiguity in Hemingway’s ‘Hills Like White Elephants’

Written In 1927 by Ernest Hemingway, the short story “Hills Like White Elephants” tells about a young woman named Jig and an American man drinking at a bar close by a train station in Spain. Throughout the story, the author gives us dialogue of the conversation between the two but many readers actually misread the ongoing tension between the two characters. Ernest arranged what is called the “Icebreaker theory”, meaning that the underlying theme of the story is hidden, a […]

The Effect of Decision Making

Decision making is something that everyone does everyday, whether it stands an effortless or a difficult decision. Many elements in life influence decisions and make them easier or more complicated for people to come up with an agreement or a compromise. Sometimes an agreement or compromise is not possible, and someone does not get his or her way. In Ernest Hemingway’s short story, “Hills Like White Elephants,” a couple waits at a train station in Spain and they begin conversing […]

Hills Like White Elephants Imagery

Ernest Hemingway is a renowned author and journalist who used his personal experiences into the characters he creates in his stories. He focuses on their challenges when they give up and lose hope when the challenges get tough (Nobel Prize). In 1927 the short story by Ernest Hemingway, “Hills Like White Elephants,” was published. It is about a couple who are waiting at a train station for the next train to Madrid from Barcelona. Ernest Hemingway gives a more realistic […]

Hills Like White Elephants Title Meaning

“Hills Like White Elephants,” written by Ernest Hemingway in 1927, is a short story that describes a seemingly casual, but slightly tense, conversation between a couple at a train station in the Ebro Valley in Spain. These two characters are the only two introduced in the story (besides a bartender), and not by name - only “the American” (“the man”) and “the girl.” The girl is later nicknamed “Jig” by the man (2). Throughout the story, the two are seated […]

Analysis of “Hills Like White Elephants”

“Hills like White Elephants” is a short story written by Ernest Hemingway, which presents an idea of an “unknown operation” being taken place. There are two main characters, American man and his girlfriend, who sit at a train station in Barcelona, Spain. While waiting for a train to Madrid, they talk about the girlfriend going through an unknown operation. The author tells the story in the third person point of view. Although the operation is never stated clearly, the author […]

Hills Like White Elephants: an Analysis

Ernest Hemingway, perhaps the most well known writer in literature history, was no exception to the art of conveying life experience onto paper. Known for quite the controversial life, he was married four times; The writer blamed his mother for his father’s suicide, perhaps explaining his detachment from close family relations. Subsequently, depression and ill mental health drove him to commit suicide in 1961. Nevertheless, his brilliant mind aided in the success of a Pulitzer prize in 1953 and the […]

Life until Death in Hemingway’s Stories

"In Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants", the characters - a girl and a man - are at a bar, drinking to evade the reality of the girl's pregnancy. The man tries to persuade her to abort the baby, refusing to accept her condition. She attempts to alleviate the situation, suggesting they can endure it and live with the child, but his response doesn't align with hers. "Hills Like White Elephants" raises the question: "What is the best decision in this […]

“Ernest Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants”

"Ernest Hemingway’s “Hills like white elephants” is a story about two people “Jig” and “The American”. The two people are travelling and decided to stop at a train stop to relax and drink until the next train arrives. They are having a discussion about Jig being pregnant and the american wanting an abortion but Jig not knowing if she wants one. Although it is never stated that Jig is pregnant Hemingway uses symbols to infer that she is indeed pregnant. […]

“Where are you Going, where have you Been” and “Hills Like White Elephants”

In the story, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” by Joyce Carol Oates she talks about a young girl, Connie, who is insecure making herself vulnerable to a man, Arnold Friend. In comparison, the “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway, talks about a man who convinces a woman to have an abortion. Both stories were written decades ago, discussing the way men manipulate women, both symbolizing a deeper meaning throughout the short stories. In both stories, the […]

Analysis on Hills Like White Elephants

Ernest Hemingway uses setting, dialogue, theme and symbolism in ‘Hills like White Elephants” to emphasize the tense situation between a man and woman’s decision on getting an abortion. Although his words are very brief, the author is able to get his point across to the readers, the couple is undecided on whether or not to keep their unborn child. Critics like Timothy D. O’Brien, David Wyche, and Lewis E Weeks Jr. have analyzed the story and documented their findings. O’Brien […]

Story “Hills Like White Elephants”

The kind of narration used in the story “Hills like White Elephants” is the third person narrator. What is different is that it takes a style of documentary-making used in film and television production to extreme in “Hills Like White Elephants”. both the journalist and the storyteller in Hemingway working together to construct the story. It doesn’t tell us what the character are thinking, only what they do, see, and mostly importantly, what they say. Hemingway’s wrote “Hills Like White […]

Contained in Stories from all over the World

"Contained in stories from all over the world, symbolic imagery is a method authors use to add more substance to the stories that they are painting, with each author having their own way of doing it.. Symbolic imagery gives stories flavour, such as in Ernest Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants”. Glancing through the story, it may seem like an ordinary couple waiting for the train, commenting on their surroundings while sipping on a beer or two, and talking about a […]

What is the Conflict in Hills Like White Elephants

In the story Hills Like White Elephants, Ernest Hemingway tells a story of a fragile and emotional bareness at the center of a relationship that is threatened by an unborn child. The story portrays a man and a woman obviously in a romantic relationship that is just as obviously failing and fast. Evidence of the tensions in the relationship is shown at the story’s beginning, as the couple await the arrival of a train and struggle to pass the time […]

The Type of Play in ‘Babylon Revisited’ and ‘Hills Like White Elephants’

A Tragedy is an action or event caused by great suffering, or destruction. Tragedies are common among humanity, an author can create an immediate connection between the reader and the storyline with the use of a great tragedy. "Babylon Revisited" is one of F. Scott Fitzgerald's most meticulous short stories, considered by many to be one of his most expressive emotional narratives. A tragedy which follows the misfortunes of Charles Wales around the time of the “Jazz Age”. This short […]

About “The Birth-Mark” and “Hills Like White Elephants”

"For this essay, I chose to write about "The Birth-Mark" and "Hills Like White Elephants", focusing on the characters in these stories that are searching for a sense of belonging and how they arrive at this feeling. Personally, I hold the view that no one should change who they are for another person or do something they are against. I have been through a similar experience; I had an abortion just to please another person. In the end, the experience […]

Additional Example Essays

• Ernest Hemingway : “I drink to make other people more interesting.”
• How the Roles of Women and Men Were Portrayed in "A Doll's House"
• Positive Effects of Social Media
• Importance Of Accountability
• Oedipus is a Tragic Hero
• Medieval Romance "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight"
• Analysis of Letter from Birmingham Jail
• Anne Bradstreet's "The Prologue" Analysis: A Reflection on Gender Inequality
• "A Doll's House" as a Modern Tragedy
• Poems “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” and “Still I Rise”
• My Personal American Dream
• A Critique of Tone and Diction "A Doll's House"

How To Write an Essay About Hills Like White Elephants

Introduction to hemingway's "hills like white elephants".

When writing an essay about Ernest Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants," it's important to start with an understanding of the story's subtlety and nuanced narrative style. This short story, known for its sparse dialogue and minimalist description, explores themes of communication, choice, and the complexities of human relationships. In your introduction, offer a brief overview of the plot, which revolves around a couple's conversation at a train station in Spain. Set the scene for a deeper analysis by introducing the central themes and the unique narrative technique employed by Hemingway. This introduction should engage the reader and provide a clear thesis statement that will guide your subsequent analysis.

Analyzing Hemingway's Narrative Technique

The body of your essay should delve into Hemingway's distinctive narrative technique, particularly his use of dialogue and symbolism. Discuss how Hemingway's "iceberg theory" is at play in the story, where the surface-level conversation between the characters hides deeper meanings and emotions. Analyze how the dialogue subtly reveals the tension between the characters and their differing perspectives on the issue at hand, which, while never explicitly stated, is understood to be an abortion. Additionally, explore the symbolic significance of the story's setting and the title. Explain how the landscape imagery and the metaphor of the white elephants contribute to the story's thematic depth.

Exploring Themes and Character Dynamics

In this section, focus on the themes and character dynamics in "Hills Like White Elephants." Examine how Hemingway addresses the theme of choice and its implications, both explicitly and implicitly, through the characters' conversation. Discuss the characters' differing approaches to the situation they are facing and how this reflects broader themes of communication, gender roles, and personal freedom. Consider the historical and cultural context of the story, particularly how it shapes the characters' perspectives and the choices available to them. This analysis should provide insight into the complexity of the characters' relationship and the universal themes that Hemingway explores through their interaction.

Concluding Your Analysis

Conclude your essay by summarizing your main points and reaffirming the significance of your analysis of "Hills Like White Elephants." Reflect on the story's enduring relevance and the ways in which Hemingway's narrative technique and thematic exploration contribute to its power. Consider the broader implications of the story for understanding human communication and the complexities of decision-making in relationships. A well-crafted conclusion will not only bring closure to your essay but also highlight the depth of Hemingway's storytelling and the richness of the story's interpretation, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.

1. Tell Us Your Requirements

2. Pick your perfect writer

3. Get Your Paper and Pay

Hi! I'm Amy, your personal assistant!

Don't know where to start? Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert.

short deadlines

100% Plagiarism-Free

Certified writers

Analysis of Hills Like White Elephant and Sonny’s Blues: Plot, Setting, and Characters Essay (Critical Writing)

The variety of literary works can easily teach the reader or make to change the reader’s mind and attitude to a situation. On the one hand, the works and their messages differ because of various authors, periods of time, and interests.

On the other hand, the similarities between the works of absolutely different authors are united by their messages to help the reader evaluate this life and make the necessary improvements.

The analysis of Hills Like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway and Sonny’s Blues by James Baldwin proves that different approaches to life and its challenges, unique visions of the writers, and certain writing techniques may lead to one purpose – promote the reader to think about people around and grasp the ways of how to understand each other.

Such fiction elements like plot, characters, and settings in the two short stories are perfectly described and serve as powerful means to explain the essence of the stories: plots of the stories touch upon the relations of two relatives (a couple in Hills Like White Elephants and brothers in Sonny’s Blues ), who need to takes important decisions and think about their future lives in spite of rather depressive and disappointing settings.

The success of the story usually depends on a properly chosen author’s technique. In case with the works of Hemingway and Baldwin, their choices of techniques are justified and rather effective. The plots of the stories under discussion are all about human relations and the necessity to find out the connection and understanding.

The peculiar feature of Baldwin’s plot is the idea to use flashbacks and add to the plot more captivating details and facts. It may seem that the reader knows enough to accept one more idea, however, a new flashback adds another circumstance that should be evaluated on a new level, and the relations between two brothers become more interesting and understandable.

Hemingway describes a certain period of time between two people, who are going to make one of the most important decision in their lives. And even in the situation, when the decision should be taken by both, male domination is still evident, and a girl does not have enough powers and skills to live in accordance with her own principles and demands.

In Hills Like White Elephants , a young couple is bothered with an idea of having a baby. A girl believes that “things are like white elephants” so strange, so innocent, and so beautiful (Hemingway 121). She wants her unborn child help her to accept this world as it is and enjoy its beauty and charm.

However, her couple is not ready to forget about his interests and desires and devote his life to their baby. Almost the same is observed in relations between two bothers in Sonny’s Blues. Sonny tries to demonstrate his brother the beauty of music and the grounds of his choice, but it is hard for the elder brother to follow his brother’s dreams and thoughts.

Settings of the stories deserve more attention, especially the one used by Hemingway. His idea to unite setting with symbolism is winning and more noticeable in comparison to Baldwin’s attempts. Though “there was no shade and no trees” (Hemingway 119), the situation seems to be uncertain.

Everything is not as it should be, and the characters should be ready for a new challenge. The author does not give concrete descriptions but it becomes clear that the idea of abortion is burning. The setting of Sonny’s Blues is clearer: “the people, the houses, the music, the dark, quicksilver barmaid, with menace” (Baldwin 11). The author does not want to use specific setting to attract the reader but relies on his powerful use of flashbacks.

Both reading unite all fictional techniques in a proper way; each writer uses one certain technique better that makes these stories captivating and effective in their own ways. Flashbacks in the plot make Sonny’s Blues more captivating and intriguing for the reader, and powerful examples of symbolism in setting cannot stop amazing the reader of Hemingway’s works.

Works Cited

Baldwin, James. “Sonny’s Blues.” In Sascha Feinstein and David Rife The Jazz Fiction Anthology . Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, 2009.

Hemingway, Ernest. “Hills Like White Elephants.” In Margaret Bishop Single Scene Short Stories . Layton, Utah: Gibbs Smith, 2007.

• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2020, July 7). Analysis of Hills Like White Elephant and Sonny’s Blues: Plot, Setting, and Characters. https://ivypanda.com/essays/analysis-of-hills-like-white-elephant-and-sonnys-blues-plot-setting-and-characters/

"Analysis of Hills Like White Elephant and Sonny’s Blues: Plot, Setting, and Characters." IvyPanda , 7 July 2020, ivypanda.com/essays/analysis-of-hills-like-white-elephant-and-sonnys-blues-plot-setting-and-characters/.

IvyPanda . (2020) 'Analysis of Hills Like White Elephant and Sonny’s Blues: Plot, Setting, and Characters'. 7 July.

IvyPanda . 2020. "Analysis of Hills Like White Elephant and Sonny’s Blues: Plot, Setting, and Characters." July 7, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/analysis-of-hills-like-white-elephant-and-sonnys-blues-plot-setting-and-characters/.

1. IvyPanda . "Analysis of Hills Like White Elephant and Sonny’s Blues: Plot, Setting, and Characters." July 7, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/analysis-of-hills-like-white-elephant-and-sonnys-blues-plot-setting-and-characters/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Analysis of Hills Like White Elephant and Sonny’s Blues: Plot, Setting, and Characters." July 7, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/analysis-of-hills-like-white-elephant-and-sonnys-blues-plot-setting-and-characters/.

• Sonny's Character in the "Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin
• “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin
• "Sonny's Blues": Perspective and Plot Correlation
• Narrative Ambiguity in the "Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin
• Two Brothers in Sonny’s Blues by James Baldwin
• The Story "Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin Literature Analysis
• Analysis of “Sonny’s Blue” of James Baldwin
• Silent Suffering and Racism in Baldwin's "Sonny's Blues"
• Drug Use in "Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin
• Racism in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin
• Zora Neale Hurston: Their Eyes Were Watching God
• Novella "Cathedral" by Raymond Carver
• How Different Love Between Catherine And Henry Could Be If There Was No War?
• For Whom the Bell Tolls
• “The Most Dangerous Game” Narrative Essay

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Ernest Hemingway — Analysis of “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway

Analysis of "Hills Like White Elephants" by Ernest Hemingway

• Categories: Ernest Hemingway Hills Like White Elephants Short Story

About this sample

Words: 1210 |

Published: Mar 1, 2019

Words: 1210 | Pages: 3 | 7 min read

In Ernest Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants," a couple engages in a cryptic conversation at a train station, addressing the topic of abortion without explicitly mentioning it. The man is pushing for an abortion, while the woman, known as Jig, leans towards keeping the baby.

The story's subtext reveals that they are discussing an abortion, with the man insisting it's a common "operation." He desires to maintain the status quo in their relationship, which suggests that a baby would disrupt their current dynamic.

Jig's behavior throughout the story reflects her growing frustration with the man. She belittles him early on when discussing white elephants, implying he lacks depth. Jig's sarcasm and condescension highlight her disdain for the man's narrow-mindedness. She recognizes that he avoids dealing with unwanted things, much like their unborn child.

As the story unfolds, Jig's attitude becomes more assertive. She becomes exasperated by the man's insincere statements and attempts to silence him. This shift suggests that she has made her decision.

The story's conclusion, with the man going to the bar and Jig smiling, implies that the abortion has occurred in her mind, and she knows what she must do. The relationship is terminated, and she seems resolved to move forward with her choice.

You May Also Like

• The Role of Black Feminism in Advancing the Black Consciousness Movement
• Reconciling Neoclassical Ideals in An Essay of Dramatic Poesy
• Gender Roles in The Doll’s House
• Dreams and Hope in “A Raisin in the Sun”
• Because I Could Not Stop for Death: Symbolism and Reflections

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Dr. Heisenberg

Verified writer

• Expert in: Literature

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

1 pages / 665 words

2 pages / 1078 words

1 pages / 655 words

6.5 pages / 3030 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

In the realm of literature, there are tales that transcend time and space, delving deep into the human psyche to unearth universal truths and emotions. One such poignant narrative is Ernest Hemingway's "Now I Lay Me," a short [...]

Ernest Hemingway's novel, The Sun Also Rises, is a classic work of American literature that has captivated readers for generations. One of the most notable aspects of the novel is the profound and thought-provoking quotes that [...]

A Farewell to Arms is a novel by Ernest Hemingway that explores themes of love, war, and the human condition. Set during World War I, the novel follows the story of an American ambulance driver, Frederick Henry, and his [...]

A major consequence of war is in its ability to demolish traditional values and introduce drastic changes in the perceptions of the world among those who experience the horror and devastation that define war. For military [...]

The literature in the 19th century was divided by modernist and traditionalist. These two sides divided society into sectors with different ideas. These different viewpoints created conflict in the United States in the 1920s. [...]

'A Clean, Well-Lighted Place' is Hemingway's paean to a kind of existential skepticism, an investigation of the significance, or deficiency in that department, of presence. It plainly communicates the way of thinking that [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free