hills like white elephants research paper topics

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Order bidding, 30 paper topics for ‘hills like white elephants’.

Many students have tasks to present interesting essays in literature class. There is no secret that Ernest Hemingway is a great author that grabs the reader’s attention immediately. Therefore, if a student decided to write a short formal essay about ‘Hills Like White Elephants’ topic, success is ensured to them.

Our service composes the most exciting topics on any subject, and this short story by Ernest Hemingway is not an exception. Read the list of ‘Hills Like White Elephants’ essay topics and get your dose of inspiration for your essay.

‘Hills Like White Elephants’ Research Paper Topics

How do relationships described in ‘Hills Like White Elephants’ relate to people from real life?
Analysis of the man character from ‘Hills Like White Elephants’ based on in-text citations.
Does Ernest Hemingway’s ‘Hills Like White Elephants’ have a feminist perspective?
The description of the woman character in ‘Hills Like White Elephants’ based on quotes from the short story.
How does Jig from ‘Hills Like White Elephants’ see the setting around her and the two sides of the valley as symbolic of her choices?
How does Hemingway use setting and concrete detail to achieve compression in ‘Hills Like White Elephants’?
Describe your opinion of how ‘Hills Like White Elephants’ ends. What will happen to this couple?
Is ‘Hills Like White Elephants’ biographical towards Hemingway’s life? How do aspects of his life apply to the hesitation of the two characters in the story?
Differences and similarities of ‘Good People’ by David Foster Wallace and ‘Hills Like White Elephants’ by Ernest Hemingway.
Does the central theme of ‘Hills Like White Elephants’ reveals insight about all of humanity?
The themes of ‘Hills Like White Elephants’ and its significance to the central characters.
What is the idea that bridges the short stories: ‘Hills Like White Elephants’ and ‘A Good Man Is Hard to Find’?
Comparison of the role of women in Hemingway’s ‘Hills Like White Elephants’ and Faulkner’s ‘A Rose for Emily.’
The elements of setting and characterization Ernest Hemingway uses to convey the deceptive side of human nature in ‘Hills Like White Elephants.’
A comparison of two characters from Hemingway’s ‘Hills Like White Elephants.’
What kind of relationship is in ‘Hills Like White Elephants’ between the woman and the man? What was their past life, and do they seem to get on well together now?
Does the conflict between men and women described in ‘Hills Like White Elephants’ reveal global conflict in real life?
What is the “operation” the man and the woman in ‘Hills Like White Elephants’ are discussing about? How do their opinions differ about it?
Is Ernest Hemingway’s ‘Hills Like White Elephants’ a story about a doomed relationship? Is “operation” going to change things for a better future of this couple, or separate after?
Does Ernest Hemingway’s ‘Hills Like White Elephants’ indicate that the two young people are not close enough? How does this lack of communication dictate the outcome of this story?
The title of Hemingway’s short story ‘Hills Like White Elephants’ and the meaning of this idiomatic expression.
The meaning of the beaded curtain in ‘Hills Like White Elephants.’
What is the sense in Jig’s final statement: “I feel fine… There’s nothing wrong with me. I feel fine’?
How is the short story ‘Hills Like White Elephants’ relevant today in terms of society, culture, and politics?
Does the male protagonist manipulate the female protagonist to do what he wants? What is the motif of his manipulation?
What differentiates the fears of man and woman in ‘Hills Like White Elephants’?
What have critics published about Hemingway’s short story ‘Hills Like White Elephants’?
In the dialogue between the man and woman in ‘Hills Like White Elephants,’ do the characters speak in report talk or rapport talk?
The similarities between two stories by Ernest Hemingway: ‘Cat in the Rain’ and ‘Hills like White Elephants.’
What is the descriptive function of setting this story in Spain? How could the story be changed if it took place in any other country?

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104 Hills Like White Elephants Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Hills Like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway is a classic short story that explores complex themes such as communication, decision-making, and the nature of relationships. If you are struggling to come up with an original essay topic for this story, we have compiled a list of 104 ideas to help inspire you.

Analyze the symbolism of the title "Hills Like White Elephants."
Explore the theme of communication in the story.
Discuss the significance of the setting in "Hills Like White Elephants."
Compare and contrast the characters of the American and the girl.
Examine the role of alcohol in the story.
Discuss the theme of power dynamics in the relationship between the American and the girl.
Analyze the use of dialogue in the story.
Explore the theme of abortion in "Hills Like White Elephants."
Discuss the theme of ambiguity in the story.
Compare and contrast the perspectives of the American and the girl on the decision they are facing.
Analyze the role of gender in the story.
Discuss the theme of manipulation in "Hills Like White Elephants."
Examine the theme of independence in the story.
Explore the theme of love and sacrifice in "Hills Like White Elephants."
Discuss the theme of regret in the story.
Analyze the theme of guilt in "Hills Like White Elephants."
Compare and contrast the symbolism of the train and the hills in the story.
Discuss the theme of freedom in "Hills Like White Elephants."
Analyze the theme of identity in the story.
Explore the theme of decision-making in "Hills Like White Elephants."
Discuss the theme of perspective in the story.
Analyze the theme of consequences in "Hills Like White Elephants."
Compare and contrast the American's perspective on the decision with the girl's perspective.
Discuss the theme of sacrifice in the story.
Analyze the theme of fear in "Hills Like White Elephants."
Explore the theme of manipulation in the story.
Discuss the theme of regret in "Hills Like White Elephants."
Analyze the theme of guilt in the story.
Compare and contrast the symbolism of the landscape with the characters' emotions.
Analyze the theme of communication in "Hills Like White Elephants."
Analyze the role of gender in "Hills Like White Elephants."
Explore the theme of independence in the story.
Discuss the theme of love and sacrifice in "Hills Like White Elephants."
Analyze the theme of regret in the story.

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72 Hills Like White Elephants Essay Topics

🏆 best essay topics on hills like white elephants, ✍️ hills like white elephants essay topics for college, 👍 good hills like white elephants research topics & essay examples, 🎓 most interesting hills like white elephants research titles.

Symbolism, Setting, Irony in Hemingway’s ”Hills Like White Elephants”
Jig in Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants”
Setting of “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway
“Hills like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway: Problem of Choice
Ernest Hemingway’s Life and the Themes Presented in “Hills Like White Elephants”
Jig’s Final Decision in “Hills Like White Elephants”
“Hills Like White Elephants” a Story by Ernest Hemingway
An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge and Hills Like White Elephants This paper analyzes: An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by A. G. Bierce and Hills Like White Elephants by E. Hemingway. It is necessary to highlight the common theme of both pieces of literature.
Personal Effect of Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants” Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants” evokes relatively paradoxical feelings as the dialogue between the characters is around the sensitive topic of pregnancy and abortion.
Jig’s Character in the “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway This paper discusses “Hills Like White Elephants” a short story by Ernest Hemingway. The conversation shows that Jug has made up her mind to keep the pregnancy.
Exploring Moral and Ethical Themes in “Hills Like White Elephants” by Hemingway An insightful analysis of Hemingway’s seminal work, exploring the moral and ethical complexities surrounding abortion, and power dynamics between genders.
The Theme of Relationships in “Hills Like White Elephants” and “Indian Camp” by Hemingway Ernest Hemingway’s stories “Hills Like White Elephants” and “Indian Camp” depict the struggles of the characters to highlight the issues in human relationships.
Hemingway’s View in “Hills Like White Elephants” In the work “Hills Like White Elephants”, Ernest Hemingway did maintain the conventional gender assumptions regarding women and advocated against abortion.
Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” and Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants” Comparison Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” and Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants” stories follow the themes of relationships and the drawbacks that can come along with them.
Response to “Hills Like White Elephants” by Hemingway “Hills like white elephants” by Ernest Hemingway is a heartbreaking story about two beloveds who are going to make a fatal decision in their lives.
Male Characters in Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants“ and Chekhov’s “The Husband“ Men in Hemingway’s “The Hills like White Elephants” and Chekhov’s “The Husband” narratives demonstrate the dominance of the male gender in society.
The “Hills Like White Elephants” Short Story by Ernest Hemingway The story “Hills like white elephants” by Hemingway tells about a man and a woman who are having a conversation at a Spanish train station and waiting for their train to Madrid.
Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants” Review Hills Like White Elephants is a short story and an important piece of Ernest Hemingway’s work from his second collection of short stories Men Without Women.
Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants” and Tan’s “Two Kinds” Both stories have similarities by way of the characters not being natives of the place where the story is plotted.
«Hills Like White Elephants» by Ernest Hemingway This story is considered to be rather symbolic containing the disclosure of psychological and rhetorical manipulation.
Men, Women, and Relationships in the “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway ‘Hills Like White Elephants’ by Hemingway is a short story with a cyphered message. Nothing special but a conversation between a man and a woman at a train station is happening.
The Story of an Hour and Hills Like White Elephants Literature Comparison This paper is aimed at discussing two short stories, namely The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin and Hills Like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway. They throw light on the experiences of women.
Exploring the Significance of the Setting in “Hills Like White Elephants”
Communication Issues and Conflict in “Hills Like White Elephants”
Decision-Making and Choice as Central Themes in the Story “Hills Like White Elephants”
Alcohol as a Symbol and Its Influence on the Characters in “Hills Like White Elephants”
Male and Female Relationships in “Hills Like White Elephants” by Hemingway
The Landscape’s Importance and Its Connection to the Characters’ Emotions in “Hills Like White Elephants”
Conflict Between Two Characters: Hills Like White Elephants
Hills Like White Elephants: The Narrative Style and Its Contribution to the Story’s Meaning
Cultural Differences and Their Impact on the Characters’ Perspectives in “Hills Like White Elephants”
Hills Like White Elephants: A Story With No Actions, but a Lot of Meaning
The Symbolism of the “White Elephants” in the Story “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway’s Life Reflected in the Short Story “Hills Like White Elephants”
Gender Dynamics and the Theme of Male Dominance and Control in “Hills Like White Elephants”
Jig’s Emotional Journey and Character Development in “Hills Like White Elephants”
A Feminist Approach to “Hills Like White Elephants”
Parenthood as a Theme in “Hills Like White Elephants”
Exploring Liminality Through the Setting of Ernest Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants”
The Role of Dialogue and Its Impact on the Story “Hills Like White Elephants”
The Beaded Curtain in the Bar as a Symbol and Its Meaning in “Hills Like White Elephants”
“Hills Like White Elephants” and the Ambiguity of Relationships
Ambiguity and Uncertainty as Central Themes in the Story “Hills Like White Elephants”
The Role of the Landscape in Revealing the Characters’ Emotions in Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants”
Women in the 19th in “Hills Like White Elephants”
Hills Like White Elephants: The Story’s Ending and Its Ambiguity
The American Character’s Choices and Their Consequences in “Hills Like White Elephants”
The Theme of Abortion and Its Ethical Implications: Hills Like White Elephants
Hills Like White Elephants: A Narrative Structure Analysis
The Symbolism of the Baggage and Its Representation of Emotional Burdens in “Hills Like White Elephants”
Regret as a Recurring Theme in “Hills Like White Elephants”
Hills Like White Elephants: Repetition in the Narrative and Its Effect on the Reader
Societal Expectations and Their Influence on the Characters’ Decisions in “Hills Like White Elephants”
Hills Like White Elephants: Beliefs in Life
The Concept of Escape and Its Various Forms in the Story “Hills Like White Elephants”
Hills Like White Elephants: The Evolution of Jig’s Character and Female Empowerment
Love and Its Complexities as a Central Theme of the Story “Hills Like White Elephants”
The Role of Pregnancy in Shaping the Characters’ Relationship in “Hills Like White Elephants”
Historical and Social Contexts in Ernest Hemingway’s Story “Hills Like White Elephants”
The American’s Attitude Toward Jig and Its Implications in “Hills Like White Elephants”
Hills Like White Elephants: The Significance of Dialogue and Subtext in the Narrative
Withholding Information From the Reader as a Narrative Technique in “Hills Like White Elephants”
How Iceberg Theory Works in “Hills Like White Elephants”
Moving to the Girl’s Side of “Hills Like White Elephants”
Male and Female Differences: “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway
Fear and Uncertainty as Central Themes in “Hills Like White Elephants”
Men’s Authority Over Women in Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants”
The Importance of Timing and Its Role in the Story “Hills Like White Elephants”
Hills Like White Elephants: The Portrayal of Societal Norms and Their Effects on the Characters
Secrets, Control, and Consequences: Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants”
The Theme of Moral Ambiguity in “Hills Like White Elephants”
The Impact of the Story’s Ending on the Reader’s Interpretation: Hills Like White Elephants

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StudyCorgi. (2023, September 16). 72 Hills Like White Elephants Essay Topics. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/hills-like-white-elephants-essay-topics/

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StudyCorgi . 2023. "72 Hills Like White Elephants Essay Topics." September 16, 2023. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/hills-like-white-elephants-essay-topics/.

These essay examples and topics on Hills Like White Elephants were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on June 23, 2024 .

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 […]

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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”

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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.

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A Summary and Analysis of Ernest Hemingway’s ‘Hills Like White Elephants’

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

‘Hills Like White Elephants’ (1927) is one of Ernest Hemingway’s best-known and most critically acclaimed short stories. In just five pages, Hemingway uses his trademark style – plain dialogue and description offered in short, clipped sentences – to expose an unspoken subject that a man and a young woman are discussing.

You can read ‘Hills Like White Elephants’ here before proceeding to our summary and analysis of the story.

Plot summary

A man (an American expatriate) and a young girl (or ‘girl’) are drinking in the bar of a railway station in Spain, while waiting for their train. As it’s hot, they order some beers to drink, and then try an aniseed drink. The girl looks at the line of hills in the valley of the Ebro and remarks that they look like white elephants.

Her male companion, with whom we deduce she is in some sort of relationship, says he has never seen a white elephant and then gets defensive and annoyed when she remarks that he wouldn’t have, presumably because they’re so rare.

Their small talk then takes in the curtains of the bar, but gradually their conversation turns to an ‘operation’ (of sorts) which the man is trying to persuade the girl to undertake.

This procedure, which is referred to as ‘it’ throughout the story, is almost certainly an abortion, the girl having fallen pregnant by the man. However, it becomes clear that he wishes her to get rid of the baby, although she remains undecided. Eventually, growing tired of the man’s attempts to sway her, she demands that he stop talking.

They hear that their train is arriving, but when the man goes outside there is no sign of it. When he goes back inside and asks the girl how she is feeling, she replies curtly that she’s ‘fine’.

The title of Hemingway’s story, ‘Hills Like White Elephants’, is fitting for a number of reasons. First and perhaps most obviously, the title of the story denotes not the main and most pressing topic of the two main characters’ conversation – the unspoken ‘it’, the girl’s ‘operation’, which the man is trying to encourage her to have – but one aspect of their small talk as they skirt around that topic.

The girl’s comment about the Spanish hills looking like white elephants is mere filler, an example of ‘treading water’ as she and her male companion drink enough alcohol to make broaching the dread topic of their conversation – without actually directly mentioning it – palatable or even possible.

‘White elephants’ itself has two potential meanings here. There is a rare albino elephant known as the white elephant, whose presence at the royal court, in countries like Burma and Thailand, was considered a sign that the monarch reigned justly, and that the kingdom would be blessed with peace and prosperity.

But the second meaning is implied in Hemingway’s story. A ‘white elephant’ is a Western cultural term describing a possession which its owner cannot dispose of. The maintenance cost of such a possession is out of proportion to its usefulness or desirability.

Given the (implied) topic of the man and girl’s conversation – the girl’s reluctant decision to abort the baby she has conceived by the man – this meaning of ‘white elephant’ comes into view with a tragic force. The (unwanted) baby the girl has conceived with the man is like the proverbial white elephant, something that would cost a great deal for her to keep and maintain.

But by the same token, she finds it hard to ‘get rid of’ her white elephant, presumably because of the finality of such an act, though it is also implied that she worries over the safety of the procedure. (We should remember that medical procedures in 1927 were often not as relatively clean or as advanced as they now are.)

So the very title of Hemingway’s short story, ‘Hills Like White Elephants’, subtly and obliquely references the very thing which the two of them cannot bring themselves to mention or name openly: the title, then, both reveals and conceals the real subject of the story.

‘Hills Like White Elephants’ contains many of the most representative elements of Hemingway’s fiction: the spare style, the plain and direct dialogue, and the Spanish landscape which he often wrote about. And yet all three of these things can be said to work against, or be in tension with, the story’s subject-matter.

The spare style exposes the uncomfortable nature of the couple’s relationship (despite his repeated exhortations that she shouldn’t go through with ‘it’ unless she wants to, he is clearly trying to persuade her to have the abortion for his sake); the directness of the dialogue masks the failure of the two characters to have a frank conversation about ‘it’; and the Spanish landscape is not mere backdrop but a detail that is brought into the story only because the girl is finding it hard to address the momentous subject she knows she must eventually face.

And that leads us to wonder whether there might not be another meaning playing around that title, ‘Hills Like White Elephants’: the so-called ‘elephant in the room’, the idiom (prominent in the United States by the early twentieth century) denoting a conspicuous and important issue which nobody wants to discuss.

One also wonders whether, somewhere in his prodigious mind, Hemingway was recalling Mark Twain’s 1882 detective story, ‘ The Stolen White Elephant ’, in which the elephant turns out to have been in the original spot all along. Like the proverbial elephant in the room, Hemingway’s ‘hills like white elephants’ are there, prominent and immovable, and even getting on a train is not going to allow one to escape their true meaning.

Because so much of the characters’ dialogue works by subtext and through small talk, we are encouraged to deduce the nature of their relationship through observing how they interact, even more than by paying attention to what they talk about.

The man’s response to the girl’s dismissive comment that he wouldn’t have ever seen an actual white elephant is a case in point, since it suggests a controlling aspect to his personality, whereby an offhand and largely meaningless remark is taken up by him and responded to in a manner that is as defensive as it is petty.

Similarly, it is worth pointing out that the girl goes back on her initial statement that the hills resemble white elephants, saying shortly after this that the hills don’t actually look that much like white elephants after all, and only remind her of their colour. (This is interesting because many so-called white elephants are ‘white’ only in name: many of them are actually grey or pinkish in colour.)

This similarly reflects her vacillation over ‘it’, the termination of her pregnancy which she is evidently reluctant to undertake. As so often in a Hemingway story, how he reveals things through characters’ dialogue is as significant – and perhaps in this case even more so – than what is (not) being said.

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Hills Like White Elephants essays

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In the vast expanse of short story literature, Ernest Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants” emerges as a masterclass in the art of subtlety. The story captures the essence of a pivotal moment in the lives of two individuals. Hemingway’s signature minimalist approach and the iceberg theory – where much remains...

Summary of the story

The narrative unfolds as a conversation between an American man and a young woman named Jig. On the surface, they discuss the surrounding landscape and drink beer and absinthe. However, beneath the casual banter lies a weighty discussion about an “operation” – hinted to be an abortion. While the American appears to be in favor, assuring Jig that it’s a simple procedure, it’s evident that Jig is conflicted. She oscillates between seeking reassurance and expressing doubt, making the decision’s gravity palpable. The story’s conclusion is deliberately ambiguous, leaving readers pondering the outcome of their conversation and the choices they might make.

Character analysis

The American : The American in the story is portrayed as pragmatic and somewhat detached. He advocates for Jig to undergo the operation, presenting it as simple and inconsequential. His words imply that he wishes for their relationship to return to its carefree, uncommitted state.
Jig : Jig, on the other hand, is a character of depth and complexity, mirroring the turmoil and conflict of the decision before her. She is torn between her desires and the apparent wishes of her partner. Her questions and responses to the American reflect a deep contemplation about the significance of the choice they are about to make and its irreversible impact on their lives and relationships.
Communication and miscommunication : The story intricately explores communication dynamics, with the characters discussing their issues rather than directly addressing them. The strained and disjointed dialogue reflects the gap in their understanding and inability to communicate their fears and desires honestly.
Choice and consequence : At the narrative’s core is a life-altering decision that the characters grapple with. The impending operation symbolizes change, potential loss, and the crossroads at which the couple finds themselves. It prompts readers to reflect on the complexity of choices and the ripple effects they generate.
Identity and autonomy : “Hills Like White Elephants” subtly delves into personal identity and autonomy themes. While the American seems to advocate for freedom and maintaining their current lifestyle, Jig seems to be contemplating deeper aspects of her identity and desires, with the impending decision profoundly influencing who she is and who she might become.

The Landscape : Hemingway paints a vivid picture of the surroundings with symbolic significance. On one side of the station, the land is fertile and vibrant, while on the other, it’s barren and desolate. This contrasting landscape can be seen as a representation of Jig’s dilemma – the potential of life and growth versus emptiness and stagnation. The hills resembling white elephants further emphasize the looming, undeniable presence of the significant and unavoidable issue they discuss.

The White Elephants : The title, “Hills Like White Elephants,” is replete with symbolic undertones. White elephants are traditionally considered precious but burdensome, much like Jig’s situation. The baby, while a potential source of joy, is also a complication given the circumstances of their relationship.

Literary techniques

In “Hills Like White Elephants”, Hemingway’s narrative style is a masterclass in restraint and understatement.

Dialogue : The primary vehicle for the story’s progression is dialogue. Hemingway expertly crafts a conversation that is both mundane in its everydayness and fraught with tension. Readers are invited to infer the deeper emotions and issues at play through what’s said and what’s left unsaid.
The iceberg theory : Hemingway’s renowned iceberg theory, where only a fraction of the story’s content is visible on the surface, is evident here. Like an iceberg, the actual weight of the narrative lies beneath, in the unspoken words, pauses, and subtext.
Ambiguity : Hemingway needs to provide clear resolutions. The story’s conclusion leaves readers with an uncertainty that mirrors the characters’ unresolved emotions and decisions, further amplifying the story’s emotional resonance.

“Hills Like White Elephants” is a testament to Ernest Hemingway’s unparalleled ability to convey profound emotion with utmost brevity. With every word and pause, he paints a vivid tapestry of human emotion, capturing the essence of a relationship at a crossroads. The story encourages introspection on the intricacies of communication, the weight of decisions, and the myriad paths that life might take based on choices made in fleeting moments. In a world increasingly filled with noise, Hemingway reminds readers of the significance of silence and the depth of unspoken words.

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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.

hills like white elephants research paper topics

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).

"Hills Like White Elephants" By Ernest Hemingway

Editorial statements.

Research informing these annotations draws on publicly-accessible resources, with links provided where possible. Annotations have also included common knowledge, defined as information that can be found in multiple reliable sources. If you notice an error in these annotations, please contact [email protected].

Original spelling and capitalization is retained.

Hyphenation is retained.

Page breaks have been retained.

Materials have been transcribed from and checked against first editions, where possible. See the Sources section.

Linked Data: Places related to this work.

The hills across the valley of the Ebro were long and white. On this side there was no shade and no trees and the station was between two lines of rails in the sun. Close against the side of the station there was the warm shadow of the building and a curtain, made of strings of bamboo beads, hung across the open door into the bar, to keep out flies. The American and the girl with him sat at a table in the shade, outside the building. It was very hot and the express from Barcelona would come in forty minutes. It stopped at this junction for two minutes and went on to Madrid.

“What should we drink?” the girl asked. She had taken off her hat and put it on the table.

“It’s pretty hot,” the man said.

“Let’s drink beer.”

“Dos cervezas,” the man said into the curtain.

“Big ones?” a woman asked from the doorway.

“Yes. Two big ones.”

The woman brought two glasses of beer and two felt pads. She put the felt pads and the beer glasses on the table and looked at the man and the girl. The girl was looking off at the line of hills. They were white in the sun and the country was brown and dry.

“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?”

The man called “Listen” through the curtain. The woman came out from the bar.

“Four reales.”

“We want two Anis del Toro.”

“With water?”

“Do you want it with water?”

“I don’t know,” the girl said. “Is it good with water?”

“It’s all right.”

“You want them with water?” asked the woman.

“Yes, with water.”

“It tastes like licorice,” the girl said and put the glass down.

“That’s the way with everything.”

“Yes,” said the girl. “Everything tastes of licorice. Especially all the things you’ve waited so long for, like absinthe.”

“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?”

“That was bright.”

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

“I guess so.”

The girl looked across at the hills.

“They’re lovely hills,” she said. “They don’t really 11 look like white elephants. I just meant the coloring of their skin through the trees.”

“Should we have another drink?”

“All right.”

The warm wind blew the bead curtain against the table.

“The beer’s nice and cool,” the man said.

“It’s lovely,” the girl said.

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

The girl looked at the ground the table legs rested on.

“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.

“I’ll go with you and I’ll stay with you all the time. They just let the air in and then it’s all perfectly natural.”

“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 thing that’s made us unhappy.”

The girl looked at the bead curtain, put her hand out and took hold of two of the strings of beads.

“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.”

“And you really want to?”

“I think it’s the best thing to do. But I don’t want you to do it if you don’t really want to.”

“And if I do it you’ll be happy and things will be like they were and you’ll love me?”

“I love you now. You know I love you.”

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

“I’ll love it. I love it now but I just can’t think about it. You know how I get when I worry.”

“If I do it you won’t ever worry?”

“I won’t worry about that because it’s perfectly simple.”

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

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t care about me.”

“Well, I care about you.”

“Oh, yes. But I don’t care about me. And I’ll do it and then everything will be fine.”

“I don’t want you to do it if you feel that way.”

The girl stood up and walked to the end of the station. Across, on the other side, were fields of grain and trees along the banks of the Ebro. Far away, beyond the river, were mountains. The shadow of a cloud moved across the field of grain and she saw the river through the trees.

“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 have the whole world.”

“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.”

“But they haven’t taken it away.”

“We’ll wait and see.”

“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.”

“I don’t want you to do anything that you don’t want to do——”

“Nor that isn’t good for me,” she said. “I know. Could we have another beer?”

“All right. But you’ve got to realize——”

“I realize,” the girl said. “Can’t we maybe stop talking?”

They sat down at the table and the girl looked across at the hills on the dry side of the valley and the man looked at her and at the table.

“You’ve got to realize,” he said, “that I don’t want you to do it if you don’t want to. I’m perfectly willing to go through with it if it means anything to you.”

“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 any one else. And I know it’s perfectly simple.”

“Yes, you know it’s perfectly simple.”

“It’s all right for you to say that, but I do know it.”

“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.

“But I don’t want you to,” he said, “I don’t care anything about it.”

“I’ll scream,” the girl said.

The woman came out through the curtains with two glasses of beer and put them down on the damp felt pads. “The train comes in five minutes,” she said.

“What did she say?” asked the girl.

“That the train is coming in five minutes.”

The girl smiled brightly at the woman, to thank her.

“I’d better take the bags over to the other side of the station,” the man said. She smiled at him.

“All right. Then come back and we’ll finish the beer.”

He picked up the two heavy bags and carried them around the station to the other tracks. He looked up the tracks but could not see the train. Coming back, he walked through the barroom, where people waiting for the train were drinking. He drank an Anis at the bar and looked at the people. They were all waiting reasonably for the train. He went out through the bead curtain. She was sitting at the table and smiled at him.

“Do you feel better?” he asked.

“I feel fine,” she said. “There’s nothing wrong with me. I feel fine.”

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Symbolism — Hills Like White Elephants Thesis

Hills Like White Elephants Thesis

Categories: Symbolism

About this sample

Words: 542 |

Published: Mar 19, 2024

Words: 542 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

The difficulty of effective communication, the symbolism of the landscape, an open-ended conclusion.

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Analysis of 'Hills Like White Elephants' by Ernest Hemingway

A Story That Takes on an Emotional Conversation on Abortion

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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.

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Analysis of “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway Essay

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Introduction

The dialogue, the environment.

Subtext and metaphors play an enormous role in Hemingway’s works. A story written in 1927 called Hills Like White Elephants is an example of such a work. So, two characters are waiting for a train, a couple, they are talking, she orders a drink, it seems like nothing special. The style is very precise, telegraphic, and dry, and the author avoids even such remarks as “he/she said”, which many English authors are very fond of. But behind these terse dialogues – is the whole story of the relationship.

The first thing worth noting is the dialogue in the story. The point is that the writer, in fact, does not insert his own comments or vision of the situation. The entire work is built through a dialogue between two people, whose remarks describe the world around them, and their thoughts and what is happening in general. It is necessary to consider one of the most striking examples of revealing the world through dialogue:

It’s a minor operation, Jig, – the man said. – It’s not even an operation.
And if I do it, won’t you be nervous? – No, because it’s nothing.
Well, then I will. I don’t care what happens to me (Hemingway, 2).

Not a single sentence says anything about the baby or the abortion. But the reader understands that the situation is this – the characters are expecting a child, the young man does not want one, their relationship is falling apart, and he pushes her to take the tragic step.

Geography plays an important role in literature. The geography in this short story shows the situation’s positive side but also the downfall and negativity. The resolution contributes to the conflict and tension that lies between the couple, showing the literal and figurative aspects of the situation. The couple sits facing the side of the valley with no trees, and there is a brown area in the distance, which is in great need of water. On the opposite side of the valley, along the banks of the Ebro, there are “fields of grain and trees” (Hemingway 1). But as she watches this happen, “the shadow of a cloud moved across the field of grain,” foreshadowing the death of her unborn child (Hemingway 1). Another thing to keep in mind is the cultural aspect of the setting. Hemingway placed his story in Spanish territory. Most Spanish-speaking countries are mostly Catholic, which means they don’t agree with abortion. “However, the woman does not understand Spanish, which helps to reveal her essential helplessness and dependence. She is a stranger in a foreign country where her companion is her only interpreter and guide” (Hemingway 2). Their luggage reveals that they are not from the entire area, and their luggage also hints that they have two options once they leave the station. They can go to Madrid and become a family, or they can go to the same place and have an abortion.

Hemingway uses symbolism in his works to hide the obvious by making the reader think. There are many examples of symbolism in this work. For example, the suitcases, the train, and the character’s name. The main symbolism is the hills, around which the story revolves and through which the climax occurs. This is the most important symbol, revealing everything, both the meaning of the character’s journey and their different attitudes toward what is to come. In addition, it is the white elephants that show the conflict. Thus, Hemingway does not need to tell the story of what happened because the symbolism does that on its own.

Ernest Hemingway’s stories are characterized by their strangeness and expressiveness, related to the artistic techniques used by the author. In the story Hills Like White Elephants , it becomes apparent that dialogue and symbolism are central to the writer’s work. In addition, Hemingway hardly ever comments on what is happening; readers either understand it themselves or are told by the symbols. This effect is achieved through the charismatic setting and symbols, which makes the writer’s work unique.

Hemingway, Ernest. Hills Like White Elephants. Short Story . HarperPerennial Classics, 2013.

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