The Analysis Of “Hill Like White Elephants” By Ernest Hemingway

When faced with a decision with both negative and positive consequences, the protagonists’ in “Hill Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway morals diverge. Hemingway’s usage of symbolism throughout the short story extends the theme of choice. Hemingway does not reveal the ultimate choice of the couple, therefore the story is establishing how they discuss the choice. Discussing the fact of the matter, Jig and the American contemplate their options in the choice but never reach a firm consensus. They are avoiding the biggest symbol of all, the elephant in the room; their unborn child. David Wyche discusses how the ultimate choice of the abortion relies on the metaphor of the hills in relation to white elephants (61). When Jig first mentions the white elephant the American is dismissive, “’I’ve never seen one.’ The man drank his beer” (229).

Reflecting the man’s morals and first impression. He initially believes their best option is the abortion, as it is uncommon for their era for an unwed couple-or lover, to have a child. “’No you wouldn’t have.”’ (229) It is a short, snappy reply signifying that Jig is in favor of having the child. She can see the elephant and wants to try exploring her options of possible motherhood. It can be assumed that the couple-or lover had common grounds before the pregnancy. Still in Spain, they try a new drink that can be deduced to be the “house drinks” or specialty drink as it is written across the bamboo beads for advertisement. Hemingway creates many symbols with the hills by placing them into the story. They can be seen as a pregnant women’s swollen stomach (thus jig’s pregnancy with the child) and the obstacles the couple must overcome by climbing to find a common goal: to abort or to not abort. When the hills are first mentioned into the story they are mentioned as vast white colored mountains near the station.

Typically, in literature white is a meaning of innocence or purity. As the white hills represent the baby, they represent the innocence and purity that come along with it. This may be why Jig is attracted to the idea of a kid. She is adamant about keeping the child and exploring motherhood. Following, when the hills are next mentioned they are mentioned after the couple cannot come to a consensus for what choice to make. Wyche and Timothy O’Brien believe that with the life described in the valley (fertile ground) represents Jig’s choice “between sterility and fertility.” (O’Brien 19) Jig is looking to the mountains as a source of hope. Another source where fertility can be shown, as noted by Hilary K. Justice is the clouds in the sky: “the cool relief of rain to a parched valley” (26). He believes the relief to the downpour of the rain is like the relief of having a child.When the hills are next mentioned during their disagreement: “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” (Hemingway 231). They are next mentioned as dry which can be said to represents sterility. The man is swaying her towards having an abortion.

Doris Lanier interprets the symbol of the absinthe as addiction. Lanier concluded that like the addiction to absinthe the couple are addicted to a way of life that will “lead to destruction” (286). They both are stubborn and believe in only two outcomes of the pregnancy. Upon the disappointment to the licorice flavor Jig has an epiphany for what this means for her relationship. Jig believes that all they do is look at things and try new drinks. (230) This can extend on to that they are addicted to their own way of life. The Americans deduces that they can have the abortion and be happy afterwards. "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 peoplethat have done it" (Hemingway 230).This is the only way of life that the American knows and that is why he is adamant about choosing this route. Jig believes they can ‘can have the whole world,’ but the man says ‘No, we can’t. It isn’t ours anymore.” Meaning, having the child would corrupt his life from living how he wants to live it. While Jig is outwardly agreeing with the man she still conceives thoughts of her own about keeping the child.

The train station setting itself is a symbol of the transitioning between the life that the couple once had onto making a choice that will affect their future relationship. Hemingway mentions that the bags they brought with them to the train station had tags of where they’ve been, previously locations and hotels (Hemingway 232). This stop in Spain is only one of their destinations, but the tags establish they have had previously memories together. By the end of the story the man picks up the two heavy bags-which can be seen as the weight of their decision- and carries them around the tracks to where the train will soon arrive at (232). This is symbolic of the man changing platforms-possible consideration of keeping the child.The dialogue that precedes thus develops onto displaying the characters are juxtaposes of one another- this could be a symbol of their place in the relationship. Wyche notes that they are“…opening positions in what is, essentially, an emotionally charged negotiation. To Jig, the unborn child she carries is eminently, painfully real; to the American it is a concept, an abstraction, and too expensive to keep. Much has been made of his inability to grasp metaphor, but he is uncomfortably aware that the crucial issue at hand has been broached.” (Wyche 61)

The American holds no attachment to the white elephant as Jig does and that is why he does not consider keeping the child an option. Jig knows that having this child may give her a certain status, but she still considers it. Contrastingly, his obscurity throughout the dialogue is another form of his detachment, illustrating that he does not want to consider any other choices. Wyche describes this as his “lack of emotional development.” Whether this is towards the child alone or if it is including of Jig is unknown. The American’s close mindedness may signal a halt in their relationship as the eventual outcome. It is unsaid what the outcome of the child will be. Thomas Maher Gilligan believes that the couple reconsiders keeping the child by how the man moved the baggage to the other side of the station, as previously mentioned (no page). They may reach a new destination to have the child at. In which case they wouldn’t be clashing with the culture of the American.

Another writer writes similar to this, Justice believes that the destination to the train they are taking is for the location of the abortion will take place (20). Whatever the outcome may be their sides of the argument are established. Ultimately if the short story had continued after the ending it would pertain to where the couple is left of-the hardships of raising a child together (or alone) or having an abortion. With the obscurity of the man’s words and actions there is not enough evidence to tell if he will stay with Jig or not. Or before that, if the couple will choose to get onto the train, and if so what will their next destination be? The reader is left to decipher this through the symbolism Hemingway creates throughout the short story.