Classic English literature
Ernest Hemmingway was born in Oak Park Illinois USA in 1899. He was both an author and a journalist and led an adventurous life. Hemmingway was enlisted in the army as an ambulance driver in the First World War but returned after getting seriously wounded in the course of the way. His experiences and the manner in which he led in life are evident of his literary works most of which seem to be adventurous. In Hills like white elephants the adventurous nature of the main characters, the American and his girl friend is evident of Hemmingway’s character (Pustienne 15).
Stylistically, Hemmingway employs the style of Dialogue to indicate the character speaking at any one given time in the story (Anonym 12). The dialogue between the American and his girl friend is very structure that one identifies with the characters easily.
The use of irony in this story is evident throughout this story (Anonym 16). The American suggests that the girl friend should have an abortion while still asking her to do as she would like to do. The girl friend though not particularly happy at the present moment, thinks that she will be happy as she was before if she aborts, but then does not support the decision to abort. The story also is ironical in the sense that it is expected that a new born baby should be a source of joy to a couple which is the complete contrast in this story.
The setting of this story is at the railway station with some white hills overlooking the railway station. The theme of this story is relationship wrangles and the obstacles to happiness. The railway station and the buzz of the train engines represent the dull mood in this couple’s life. The hills which Jig say are similar to white elephants are a symbolism of the obstacle that is preventing them from being ‘happy’ as they previously were. This obstacle is the baby Jig is carrying (Anonym 23).
Jig it seems has more power than the American as the American suggests that Jig could do whatever she was comfortable with. Jig although is completely in love and wants to prove this by accepting the American decision to abort. It is unclear which decision the couple reach as the finally the train arrives and Jig says that she feels fine. It is not clear whether she is fine with aborting or keeping the baby.
Works cited
Anonym. An Analysis of Ernest Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants". Santa Cruz: GRIN
Verlag, 2009. Print.
Pustienne, Jean-Pierre. Ernest Hemingway. San Francisco: Silverback Books, 2005. Print.
