Analyse Hills Like Elephants and Everyday use - Essay Example

Here Here Here Here An Analysis of "Hills Like White Elephants" and "Everyday Use" Upon initial comparison, "Hills Like White Elephants" by Ernest Hemmingway and Alice Walkers "Everyday Use" may appear to be starkly contrasting short stories. While there are indeed many obvious differences between the pieces (like narration perspective, length, and characters), the similarities that appear are far greater in scope and impression. The primary theme in both works is sociocultural misunderstanding between members of differing groups, and each leaves a lasting impact upon the attentive reader/viewer regarding the complexity of intercultural relationships.

Delivery of Message The stories take different paths to achieve the delivery of the main message, as is mentioned above. Hemmingways tale relies heavily upon inference from the reader to account for brevity, but the short length is also a benefit as it helps to intensify the quick process of tension development to deliver the maximum impact. Walker has more time to establish and support the conflict, and utilizes it quite effectively though there is a noticeable drag at moments that weakens the sense of urgency.

Luckily the loss of immediacy is countered by the benefits that time presents for character investment. Characters Readers may find it easier to connect to the characters in Walkers story given the extra development time, but this is a necessary measure to account for the relatively benign symbol of focus. This is an observation and not a judgement. Quilts are great, symbolism is great, but the extra thought that can be associated with the technique can sometimes prove to be a distraction. There are two nameless characters in Hemmingways brief story, making it easy to feel cold toward them, but empathy is almost guaranteed to materialize as soon as the conversational topic becomes apparent to the reader.

Overall, both approaches to character development provide a suitable vehicle for delivery of the main theme. Culture and Conflict Two cultural divides are explored within these stories. In Walkers story, the issue is an African American woman losing touch with her slavery-connected roots. Not only does she reject her heritage, she eventually returns to unwittingly mock it by disrespecting the quilt after adopting the culture of the modern (at the time) African American activist. Hemmingways two subjects can be interpreted as discussing a pending abortion, and the conflict lies not in the decision to abort, but in the males inability to connect with the females cultural perspective.

He cannot seem to comprehend the biological, social, and psychological implications of the experience or to see it as anything other than a relatively simple medical procedure. In both stories, the conflict is expertly displayed through direct as well as indirect means.Conclusion The short stories studied represent two excellent examples of literature depicting the struggle of minority cultures to communicate in their larger sociocultural environments. While different strategies and techniques were employed to convey these experiences, the message was ultimately delivered in an entertaining, engaging, and thought-provoking manner that continues to have influence on developing literature.

Works CitedHemingway, Ernest. "Hills like white elephants." The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway (1927): 211-14.Walker, Alice. "Everyday use." A. Walker (Author), In love and trouble (1973): 47-59.