Hills by The white Elephants, by Ernest Heminway Essay #2

The Short story begins in Spain, Ebro valley. The main characters start out with no real names until later, being referred to as merely “a man”,or “The American” for the main male character throughout the story. The main women, simply being referred to as “girl”, and only two times as “jig” being the real name of the women. The only other known interactive characters is a bartender, who is referred to as “women”, unlike the main female, called “girl”. The main conflict and theme is awkwardness and quite literally illustrates the expression “lets address the elephant in the room” The American, the girl has conversation at a crossroads train station over drinks (while she is pregnant, very bad health wise but unknown at the time(1920-30s), also figuratively for both discussing a decision that is life changing. The girl is pregnant while the father is the “American” man. The put off topic that is mentioned time to time in bursts rather than put out by drinks is wether or not to have an abortion. It is unknown whether they are already married, or dating but it is shown to be a complex, unhealthy relationship that has its fair share of problems. 

The story consistently brings up the usage of symbolism to display its ideas, in very smooth yet believable realistic scenarios. The words follow as ‘All right. I was trying. I said the mountains looked like white elephants. Wasn’t that bright?’‘That was bright.’‘I wanted to try this new drink. That’s all we do, isn’t it – look at things and try new drinks?’‘I guess so.’Herminway is using the reference of the expression of the elephant of the room, in a very sly style, a ‘white elephant’ is an idiom used to describe something of value that is too much to rid off but not worth keeping. This symbolism is most clear, bringing the baby into the discussion. Then it is put off almost immediately for drinks instead. This also introduces the conflict between the characters and insight on how they handle serious life changing situations, such as keeping the baby or not. Brilliantly shows off the awkwardness but also the tension of the problem between the two characters along with their current status on decision making. Another revealing part goes “And you think then we’ll be alright and be happy.’‘I know we will. You don’t have to be afraid. I’ve known lots of people that have done it.’‘So have I,’said the girl. ‘And afterwards they were all so happy.’‘Well,’ the man said, ‘if you don’t want to you don’t have to. I wouldn’t have you do it if you didn’t want to. But I know it’s perfectly simple.’” The man and the girl are shown to have the girl basing her foundation of the decision on the American man, while the man, seemingly cares for the girls well being and own decisions, could going with either decision yet prefers to have the abortion to shave off responsibility including incoviences between the supposed love between JUST the man and the girl. Baby not included. 

The story ends indecisively,. Off put and awkward. The American man and the unsure pregnant girl, after a few irresponsible drinks, a train too soon to catch.In Spain, with the pure hills in the distance, sometime in spring or maybe summer. The day wasted on all talk and no real solutions. Only to decide to set another appointment forward to talk about a decision they are unsure themselves that would be made. All with the elephant in the room, that still needed to be discussed