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Abortion In 'Hills Like White Elephants'

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Recommended: Gender and its roles in literature

Rocco Commisso
Professor B. Shaw
English 102 MWF
06 February 2023
Difficult Decisions
Abortion is a highly controversial and polarizing issue that can have significant psychological effects on a woman's mental state. The decision to have an abortion can be a complex and emotional one, and the aftermath can vary from person to person. Some women may experience feelings of guilt, shame, or sadness, while others may feel a sense of relief or empowerment. Additionally, the societal stigma surrounding abortion can contribute to negative mental health outcomes for women who choose to have an abortion. It is important to understand that every woman's experience with abortion is unique and to offer support and resources to those who may be struggling with the psychological effects of this procedure. "Hills Like White Elephants" is a short story by Ernest Hemingway …show more content…

Throughout the story, he tries to convince the woman to have an abortion, and not have the responsibility of raising a child. He reassures her that the procedure is simple and that they will be able to continue their carefree lifestyle. However, his insensitive approach to the situation reveals a lack of understanding or empathy for the woman's feelings and concerns. Despite his efforts to persuade her, the man ultimately fails to connect with the woman on an emotional level, leading to a tense and unresolved conclusion. The male character in "Hills Like White Elephants" serves as a commentary on the complexities of relationships and communication, highlighting the importance of empathy and understanding in any partnership. However, the woman is clearly conflicted, expressing her thoughts about the procedure and her worries about what is the right choice to do in her situation. Despite this, the man continues to pressure her, and the story ends with the couple waiting for the train in

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Lane Jr. who's struggling with his faith will support and stand by Sheri and her decision concerning the pregnancy. Ernest Hemingway's" Hills Like White Elephants” allows his readers to come to the conclusion as to whether the couple in question will terminate or keep the unborn child. As Jig, and the American are

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She tries to convince the reader that although the woman may think that she has no other option, there will always be something more appropriate than abortion. In summary, the author says that it is wrong to act impulsively and that women need to think about the consequences before attempting the termination of her child. She explains how the small human inside is “alive and growing” (P 23). Mathewes-Green addresses the concept of the child being “unwanted”, and how that is not true because “we are valuable simply because we are members of the human race” (P 21). The language the writer uses has a strong effect on a woman's heart, especially future and current mothers.

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Both the woman and Reverend Hooper feel pressure from societal expectations, as they struggle to reconcile with their own desires. In “Hills Like White Elephants”, the woman is internally conflicted with the devastating decision of whether or not to have a child with her partner. While struggling with her own desires, she feels the burden of societal expectations weighing down on her decision, pressuring her to conform to traditional gender roles and starting a family with her partner. When expressing her reluctance to have an abortion, she states that she will “do it and everything will be fine” (Hemingway 3). In order to accommodate society's norms, the woman is suggesting that she is willing to sacrifice her own desires.

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Through the use of symbolism and similes in his story “Hills Like White Elephants,” Hemingway suggests that weak relationships may not be able to survive unforeseen circumstances especially when one partner is unwilling to empathize Throughout “Hills Like White Elephants” the girl has conflicting feelings on having an abortion, she remarks that the hills “look like white elephants” (1). This alludes to the game white elephant, a game where a person gets an unwanted present. This simile presents how the child is still a gift even if unwanted. Additionally, the girl focuses on how, “Everything tastes like licorice. Especially all the things you’ve waited so long for”(2).

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In “Hills Like White Elephants,” the hills and white elephants represent the two options that the couple is considering: the hills representing the possibility of a new beginning, while the white elephants symbolize a burden or unwanted presence. The hills are described as “long and white,” resembling elephants, and are said to “look like white elephants,” which is a phrase commonly used to describe something that is unwanted or difficult to deal with. The man tries to persuade the woman to have an abortion by convincing her that it is the best option for their future, woman is the woman is hesitant and unsure the use of the hills and the white elephants as symbolism highlights the difficult decision that the couple is faced with and the weight that each option

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Many authors love stirring up controversy in their works. In “Hills Like White Elephants,” Ernest Hemingway touches upon the issue of abortion in a 1920s setting. By using his famous Iceberg Theory, Hemingway creates an indirect argument between an American and a girl that gets buried underneath many literary techniques. Hemingway uses setting, diction, and symbolism to describe the argument between the couple and to develop it.

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In the story “Hills like White Elephants” a girl is forced to make a choice of whether to get an abortion or not. I believe that the girl didn't get an abortion because for the entire story the man says how easy it is and tries to make it sound not painful but in her heart she believes that she should keep it. In the story she is a young girl with a lot of innocence still with an older man. She wants to keep the baby but the man makes a point by saying that as soon as she gives birth to it that there will be no more adventure, and no more him. She doesn't have a lot of time to decide.

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Annotated Bibliography "Abortion ProCon.org." ProConorg Headlines. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2016.

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Symbols within “Hills Like White Elephants” When readers first glance at the short story, “Hills Like White Elephants” they only acknowledge it as a conversation between two people who are waiting for a train, not as the hidden meaning of the two talking about having an abortion. This story was written by Ernest Hemingway, and starts with a description of the setting where this couple are standing. Jig and the man both realize that they have a decision to make that will affect their future. However, it is shown by comments that Jig wants to keep the baby, while the man is persistent in telling her that an abortion is the only thing that will make them happy. The hidden meaning behind the white elephant, the dramatic symbol of the train crossroad, and the landscape that they are

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The dialogue in Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants” reveals a man’s and a woman’s incongruent conflict on abortion, and the author’s fundamentally feminist position is visible in the portrayal of the woman’s independent choice of whether or not to keep the baby she is carrying. The plot is very simple in the story which is less than 1500 words long. A woman and a man spend less than an hour on a hot summers day at a Spanish train station in the valley of Ebro as they are waiting for a train heading for Madrid. Their dialogue takes up most of the space and only few major actions take place.

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Ernest Hemingways' short story "Hills Like White Elephants" portrays a young couple's struggle facing the choice of abortion. A young girl by the name of Jig is pregnant, and the story is a discussion between the couple about whether she should get an abortion or keep the baby. The couple is waiting for a train while enjoying drinks. Jig admires Ebro's long hills, comparing them to white elephants. The man pushes for her to get an abortion saying the procedure is safe and natural to persuade her.

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In Ernest Hemingway’s short novel “Hills Like White Elephants,” The American character secretively uses manipulation

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For example, when she said, “And if I do it you will be happy, and things will be like they were.” (255), she is lonely and desperate girl who is still having hope of being happy. She is in a bad mood and depressed too much to even ready to die, it is obvious from her reply, “I don’t care about me” (255) multiple times, waiting for him to say nice words or even make her feel good. He seems as being selfish and careless by starting this relationship and then lacking the support Jig needs from him. Hills Like White Elephant has a huge description on the story’s sitting in the train station, surrounded with hills, fields, and tress in a valley in Spain.

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Review Hills Like White Elephants is a short story published in 1927 wrote by Ernest Hemmingway. “Hills Like White Elephants” is a extract from Ernest Hemmingway’s second collection of short stories, Men Without Women. The story’s numerous allusions and sparse style are also typical of Hemingway’s writing. The story focuses on a conversation between an American man and a girl at a Spanish train station. The girl compares the nearby hills to white elephants.

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The story clearly describes that the man thinks that it is better without the baby in their life while indecision of the girl makes us think about her decision and what would happen to their relationship, their future, and the fate of the unborn child with her saying in the end “There’re nothing wrong with me, I feel fine.” Hemingway used many literary devices in “Hills Like White Elephants”. At first glance, in the introduction, the Hills is introduced to the readers: “The Hills across the valley of the Ebro were long and white. On this side there was no shade and no trees.”

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