Short Story As Impact To Reader's Life
Hills like white elephants and the cask of Amontillado are both short stories that use a lot of literary devices to prove their points. Both stories want to prove different things, but they both try to prove them in similar, clever ways. The best way to prove these kinds of ideas through short stories are with literary devices. Literary devices reveal things indirectly, without telling them flat out. In Hills Like White Elephants, symbolism is used to show the importance of observing the motives of another person, and thinking for yourself to avoid being taken advantage of. The cask of Amontillado uses setting and suspense to show that revenge will achieve nothing, and that excessive alcohol consumption or alcoholism destroys a person’s ability to keep themselves safe.
Hills Like White Elephants is a short story that revolves around a man and a woman who are waiting at a train station. The man is not introduced very well through the story, but it is suggested that he is quite a bit older than the girl. The girl’s name is “Jig” and the story implies that she is quite a bit younger than the man. It is unclear of their relationship at first, but over time it becomes clear that they are likely in some kind of romantic relationship, and it seems as if the man is trying to convince the younger girl, to go through with what seems to be an abortion.
The story uses quite a bit of symbolism to show the situation that the characters are in. This symbolism is demonstrated in the quote “He picked up the two heavy bags and carried them around the station to the other tracks”. This quote shows us the symbol of the train tracks going in opposite directions. It also shows that most likely, they changed their decision on what they want to do. My interpretation of this quote is that because Jig didn’t want to go through with the abortion, the man is preparing to leave. The fact that Jig was always so uncertain of whether the man loves her hints that he might have done something in the past to make her think otherwise. The whole situation sounds like the man is trying to convince Jig to get the abortion so that he can leave without having something hold him back. Some might claim that because the man moved the bags, it means they both decided not to go through with the abortion. This is a valid point of view, but when you really look at how hard the man is trying to manipulate Jig into listening to him, it becomes obvious that things are not as simple as they might seem. Jig is portrayed as quite a weak character, who cannot stand up for herself. This characterization is used to tell the reader how you become weak when you fail to think for yourself, and listen to others without thinking about what they might be trying get from the situation.
The cask of Amontillado is a short story that revolves around two main characters. These characters are Fortunato, and Montresor. Fortunato is a wealthy man, with a drinking problem, and very little is revealed about Montresor. Fortunato has wronged Montresor, and Montresor decides to get revenge on him by locking him in the catacombs and leaving him to die. The story uses setting and suspense to help give off the ideas the author wants to prove. Near the end of the story, Montresor says, “"The nitre!" I said; "see, it increases. It hangs like moss upon the vaults. We are below the river's bed. The drops of moisture trickle among the bones. Come, we will go back were it is too late. Your cough"”. The author uses the nitre and the setting as metaphors for addiction, and the kind of effects it can have on a person. The catacombs are underground, and surrounded by dead bodies.
The nitre grows on the side of the wall like a plague, and water drips down among the skulls, which could represent death. Dripping water is also symbol for damage or loss of power, which illustrates the whole situation quite well. There is also the quote “It was now midnight, and my task was drawing to a close. I had completed the eighth, the ninth and the tenth tier. I had finished a portion of the last and the eleventh; there remained but a single stone to be fitted and plastered in. I struggled with its weight; I placed it partially in its destined position. But now there came from out the niche a low laugh that erected the hairs upon my head. It was succeeded by a sad voice, which I had difficulty in recognizing as that of the noble Fortunato”. In this part of the story, there is a lot of suspense, and it helps us relate with the way that Montresor was feeling. Because of the way that Fortunato’s laugh “erected the hairs on his head”, it is pretty obvious that he is not enjoying the experience any more than Fortunato. Also, Montresor refers to Fortunato as “noble”, which could mean that Montresor could be having some second thoughts about what he was doing. Poe uses these devices to show us how revenge will not satisfy us, and how alcohol dependency will often lead to death. This death could be caused not being able to defend yourself due to being too intoxicated, or for the way it can be damaging to your health.
Hills Like White Elephants and The Cask of Amontillado have a lot in common. Both short stories use literary devices to prove their points, however, they do this is quite different ways. Hills like white elephants proves it’s points primarily through the use of symbolism, while The Cask of Amontillado uses both symbolism and setting to change the way the story presents it’s ideas. Both stories can have a very profound effect on the reader because, when it comes down to it, both stories want to help the reader avoid succumbing to their weaknesses. Whether those weaknesses are substance abuse, not thinking for yourself, or not being able to control your anger, and getting it out in a dangerous way. Most people can relate to the idea of having to push out their weaknesses, making these points very relevant in the modern-day world.
Hills Like White Elephants shows the reader the importance of individual thinking, and the cask of Amontillado shows the problems caused by alcohol addiction and why revenge will achieve nothing. In the previous paragraphs, I compared and contrasted these short stories in many different ways. They spread similar ideas, but use different literary devices to do so. In the end, both stories just want to tell the reader the importance of avoiding giving in to your weaknesses. These weaknesses could be anything from alcohol addiction to anger problems, but in the end, Hemingway and Poe want the reader to be strong, and make smart and independent decisions, no matter what kind of problems they’re faced with.
I’d like to finish off with a quote I’ve heard many times throughout my life, because I feel like it explains exactly what Poe wants to tell the reader in The Cask of Amontillado “You are always going to be held responsible for how you act, regardless of the way you feel”. Even though Montresor could get away with what he did, he will never stop being haunted by the guilt for what he had done, and Fortunato’s addiction was holding him responsible for his heavy drinking. If we listen to the ideas in these short stories, then hopefully, in the future, people will think before they give in to what feels right at the moment.
