Comparing Hills Like White Elephants And David Wallace's Good People

Preliminary to saying “I love you,” one should ask whether or not love is passionate or just a door, protecting what’s on the inside. In fact, how could one love if there is nothing to protect? Let’s account for two short stories with one thematic conflict but two differing resolutions. Ernest Hemingway’s Hills like White Elephants and David Wallace’s Good People. Both stories are set between a couple debating over aborting due to a possibly unwanted pregnancy. In Hemingway’s story, the relation between the couple is fragile ending in an abortion, as Wallace’s couple seem to have a negative perspective over abortion. With similar issues revolving abortion, the intuitive message challenges love and morals. Although Wallace’s story builds upon

Imagery in both stories optimizes the effects of decisions. Hemingway main element was the description of a train station on a hill, where the couple was waiting. Hemingway states “the station as between two lines of rails in the sun,” (Heming 48) and towards the end, “The train comes in five minutes,” (Heming 51). Hemingway emphasizing “two lines of rail in the sun” seems to mimic the relationship between the American and the girl. The image of the two rails which could go to infinite limits but never come into contact. The quote explains the barrier between the couple, the decision to make the right decision or rather never connects through as a couple. And the train itself, being late, seems to arrive in five minutes as soon as the girl makes the unwilling decision to abort. It makes a connection to Hemingway’s backdrop of dry hills, or rather a train that keeps travelling between two rails, just a load bearing on top of them like the pressure the American had on the relationship. Wallace responds to Hemingway’s story through Lanes mind. Wallace states, “it was of two great and terrible armies within himself, opposed and facing each other, there would be battle but no victor,” (Wallace 55). Lane battles with himself to make a decision that would benefit his religious morals and also be respectful to Sheri’s body as well. Wallace however, makes his character realize that he was pursuing a battle he may never seek victory from; rather the imagery signifies that love is sacrificial like soldiers life for their country, Sheri and the child. The observation here also explains how the American never trusted his army, the girl, as oppose to Lane who realized that his trust belonged in Sheri, his soldier who could fight alongside him. Note how both stories have something to do with two, “two rails,” “two armies,” yet Wallace distinguishes his imagery to a hopeful beginning and Hemingway shows a pessimistic