Hills Like White Elephants
Hills Like White Elephants
Hills Like White Elephants
AN ANALYSIS OF THE
“HILLS LIKE WHITE ELEPHANTS”
Submitted by
ROSALES, Carmela O.
ANTATICO, Winna E.
Date of Submission
Submitted to
II. Settings
The story happen in the valley of the Ebro between Barcelona and Madrid.
Travelers are the main characters. the contrast between the white hills and
barren valley possibly highlights the dichotomy between life and death the girl
faces between having the baby or having the abortion. The girl seems torn
between the two landscapes, not only commenting on the beauty of the hills
but also walking to the end of the platform and gazing out at the brown
emptiness around the station.
III. Characters
A. Inner
The American - behaves according to Hemingway’s rigid conception of
masculinity. Hemingway portrays the American as a rugged man’s man—
knowledgeable, worldly, and always in control of himself and the situation at
hand. Even when vexed or confused, he maintains his cool and feigns
indifference, such as when he tells the girl he doesn’t care whether she has
the operation. He initially avoids discussion of their problems, but when
pressured, he tackles them head on by oversimplifying the operation and
relentlessly pushing her to have it. Thinking himself to be the more reasonable
of the two, he patronizes the girl and fails to provide the sympathy and
understanding she needs during the crisis. Uncompromising, he seems to
identify more with the other passengers “waiting reasonably” at the station
than with his own girlfriend at the end of the story, which suggests that the two
will go their separate ways.
The Girl - is less assertive and persuasive. Throughout the story, the girl
appears helpless, confused, and indecisive. She changes her mind about the
attractiveness of the surrounding hills, for example; claims to selflessly care
only for the American; and seems uncertain about whether she wants to have
the operation. In fact, the girl can’t even order drinks from the bartender on
her own without having to rely on the man’s ability to speak Spanish. Ironically,
the girl seems to understand that her relationship with the American has
effectively ended, despite her professed desire to make him happy. She
knows that even if she has the operation, their relationship won’t return to how
it used to be. In many ways, the girl’s realization of this fact gives her power
over the American, who never really understands why they still can’t have “the
whole world” like they once did.
B. Outer
The American - A masculine boy, Insensitive, Liar, Straight forward person but
not completely honest.
The Girl - Pregnant, Young looking, Always Worries, Dependent, Always feel
anxious on things.
The Bartender – Woman, Worker/server at the bar.
IV. Plot
Introduction
They were in a station, near the hills in Ebro, Their train would arrive in 40
minutes so they decided to grab a drink.
Rising Action
They ordered beer and tried this new drink. Then the girl started talking about
the hill, saying how it looked like a white elephant and that it was lovely.
Climax
The girl says nothing for a while, but then she asks what will happen after
she's had the operation. The man answers that things will be fine afterward,
just like they were before, and that it will fix their problems. He says he has
known a lot of people who have had the operation and found happiness
afterward. The girl dispassionately agrees with him. The American then claims
that he won't force her to have the operation but thinks it's the best course of
action to take. She tells him that she will have the operation as long as he'll
still love her and they'll be able to live happily together afterward.
Falling Action
Is when the American asks the girl if she's fine and she said "I feel fine" "there
is nothing wrong with me. I feel fine".
Denouement
The man knows Jig doesn't "feel better," but asks her anyway. She responds
by pretending not to know what he’s talking about. In light of her previous
request that they not discuss it, her response isn't out of character—but it also
doesn't seem to be getting them any closer to a solution.
V. Conflict
The couple are actually having a debate on whether or not Jig should have an
abortion. The man clearly wants her to have the abortion because he does not
want anything to interrupt their carefree, traveling Life style. The image of the
hill looking like a white elephant is Jig's way of saying this is something new
and perhaps promising even if it interrupts the lifestyle they've become
accustomed to. The man looks at the potential child as a burden. This is the
main conflict. While he presumes to be supportive of her decision, he is
definitely pushing for her to have the abortion. She, on the other hand,
agonizes over the decision in order to make the best choice. The man wants
to continue their way of living. Symbolically, he wants to continue looking at
hills as hills. But with this pregnancy, the woman begins to see things
differently. She dares to wonder about a different kind of life.so, she starts
seeing things differently. The hill looks like a white elephant.
VI. Theme
Breakdown in Communication
Jig and the American man are not speaking plainly about what each one wants
to do. Jig is making her decision based on the American man’s happiness,
even though she seems reluctant to have an abortion; the American man
wants her to have the abortion, but he doesn’t want her to do it if she doesn’t
want to do it. They are hiding behind drinks and train schedules, rather than
simply having a conversation about what they want to do. It is this breakdown
in communication that reveals the bigger problem in their relationship, which
is a lack of honesty and trust. Without that, their relationship is doomed
anyways, and Jig seems to know it.
VII. Symbols
The white elephant, a gift that has no usefulness to the recipient, especially
when any utility in the item is overshadowed by the cost of its upkeep, is also
an important symbol as it represents the perspective of the girl that the
American is unable and unwilling to see.