Hills Like White Elephants Literary Analysis

Many things aren’t expressed bluntly; people often have to rely on clues to make certain assumptions about their surroundings. Within literature, for example, many things—such as certain feelings and messages—aren’t articulated outright. Naturally, because of the omission of certain details, the reader relies on hints within the text for deeper implications. One tactic, commonly used within texts written by Earnest Hemingway, is the use of setting to bring light onto that which is unsaid. In Earnest Hemingway’s short story “Hills Like White Elephants” the setting of the story reveals un-explicitly said ideas and conflicts within the story, ultimately showing that it is possible, in life, to derive previously unknown facts from the smallest

A crossroads is a crucial point in a story, or in one’s life, where a big decision has to be made. The fact that train station in the story, itself, lies between Madrid and Barcelona, literally, shows examples of two possible choices that can be made: a chance to either to travel to Barcelona or to Spain. Jig, like undecided travelers at the train station, has to make a decision; she has to decide whether or not to have an operation done. Unlike the man, Jig knows how serious an operation can be. The fact that America man downplays the enormity of her decision, by telling Jig that the operation is “awfully simple” and that it’s “not really and operation at all”, shows how badly he wants her to get it. (Hemingway 2) On the other hand the reader can tell that Jig is leaning away from having the operation as Jig begins to “[look] at the ground” while the man tries to persuade her. (Hemingway 2) Due to the existence of these two conflicting viewpoints, Jig is more than aware that whatever she chooses will change the nature of relationship she has with the man forever; she might be upset with herself if she does get the operation, making her spiteful towards the man, and, if she doesn’t get the operation,