What Are The Similarities Between Hills Like White Elephants And The Minister's Black Veil

The feeling of struggle or isolation is a universal human experience, and is perfectly depicted in two seemingly unrelated stories. In “The Minister’s Black Veil”, a short story from dark romanticism literature, Reverend Hooper, a small Puritan town minister, suddenly disturbs the town when he appears with a black veil on his face, signifying a sin he has committed; consequently, the minister becomes alienated from society. Similarly, in “Hills Like White Elephants”, a modernism era short story, a young woman felt similar feelings of isolation when she discovered her unwanted pregnancy and her partner’s opposing opinions of aborting their unborn child. Though written in different centuries the two works of literature share similar themes and

In “Hills Like White Elephants”, Hemingway uses the hills to portray the couple’s unborn child, and the couple’s struggle to determine a life-changing decision. When looking out to the mountains, the female character suggests that they “look like white elephants” (Hemingway 1). The white elephant is a term that is frequently used to describe something unwanted and burdensome, representing the pregnancy, as well as the fear and uncertainty that comes with it. Similarly, in “The Minister’s Black Veil”, Hawthorne uses the black veil as a powerful symbol to depict the immorality that everybody surreptitiously carries with them. The veil demonstrates the idea that every individual harbors a hidden guilt or sin that they are unwilling to confront, leading to feelings of isolation and shame. Through the use of symbolism, both authors are not only able to illustrate deeper meanings, but also explore more complex themes. Hemingway uses the train station to explore themes of communication and the complexity of relationships. As a result of the pregnancy, the couple is unable to openly discuss their

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. In “The Minister’s Black Veil”, the minister also struggles to fit into society’s standards. Because of his black veil, he is aware of the shame placed upon him by society due to his sin and guilt, while he struggles to accommodate the traditional religious expectations with his own beliefs and desires. Likewise, both the woman and Reverend Hooper suffer from an overwhelming feeling of isolation. The woman is struggling with feelings of loneliness as she feels an emotional distance from her partner due to the unexpected pregnancy. The two suffer from a