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Hills Like White Elephants By Ernest Hemingway

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Recommended: Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants

Josephine Love
Mrs. McPheeters
Honors English 10
May 25th, 2023

Jig Character Analysis Essay
“Hills Like White Elephants”, a short story by Ernest Hemingway, demonstrates a powerful and deep interaction with a subtle but intense dialogue. From the beginning of the story, the reader is drawn by the vague details given about an operation that the two are discussing. The interaction is between an American man and a young girl named Jig who are in a relationship. Jig is a strong, sympathetic character who is trying to figure out an uncomfortable and difficult situation and develops a sense of individuality as the story progresses.
The setting in this story is symbolic of the struggles Jig is having in their relationship addressing abortion. Jig …show more content…

The straightforward difference that they both have from each other is the procedure, and how he wants her to have it while she doesn’t. The story is placed in Spain, and there is a language barrier between the two. Jig is using the man for translations from the woman. In the text, this is demonstrated when the conversation states “Four reales.’ ‘We want two Anis del Toro.’ ‘With water?’ ‘Do you want it with water?’ ‘I don't know,’ the girl said. ‘Is it good with water?” (Hemingway 2) This describes the language barrier that Jig faces when in Spain. She also is significantly younger than him, according to context clues in the evidence. She is referred to as a girl, which can typically be interpreted as somebody who is young. The American is addressed as a man, which is interpreted as somebody who is older. Her age is demonstrated by her playful nature in contrast to the Americans' thicker surface. In the text, this is demonstrated when Jig quotes “Yes,’ said the girl.’Everything tastes of licorice. Especially all the things you've waited so long for, like absinthe.’’Oh, cut it out." ‘You started it,’ the girl said. ‘I was being amused. I was having a fine time." (Hemingway 3). Her playful and young nature illustrates the difference between her and the Americans’ ages. These differences are very important, especially for how the man and Jig interact. Hemingway made Jig significantly different from the American to …show more content…

Her senses soon start to come to her when faced with a big decision that she has to make at a young age. This can be demonstrated in the text when the American travels to the other end of the station. In the text, this is quoted as "I'd better take the bags over to the other side of the station,’ the man said. She smiled at him. ‘All right. Then come back and we'll finish the beer" (Hemingway 4). When Jig smiles, this is the signal of her finally coming to her senses. The American traveling to the other end of the train symbolizes him leaving and returning to the dry and barren land, and her smiling and being okay with staying on the greener and lively side. When he returned, she was sitting at the table. In the dialogue, the discussion they had is quoted “Do you feel better?’ he asked. ‘I feel fine,’ she said. ‘There's nothing wrong with me. I feel fine” (Hemingway 4). This is a sign of her independence and being okay with being alone without the man, as this ultimately signals the end of their relationship as she knows it will never work

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