Hills Like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway - Book Report/Review Example

"Hills Like White Elephants" by Ernest Hemingway What is the topic that the couple "discusses" without actually naming it What details help you decide what this subject is The topic discussed by the American, and the woman named 'Jig' is, the possibility of having an abortion. Jig appears to be pregnant and this is understood from the conversation that they have. The American is persuading her that "it's really an awfully simple operation, Jig, it's not really an operation at all" and "I know you wouldn't mind it, Jig. It's really not anything. It's just to let the air in" (Hemingway 840). Jig does not want to have an abortion, and retorts later stating that "'It's ours"; she displays her feelings indirectly by showing her irritation, "Would you please please please please please please please stop talking" (Hemingway 841). 2. What is your impression of the man and the girl How are they characterized It appears to me that the man does not want to take up the responsibility of a child, and hence he is trying to convince her of going through the 'operation'. He is further depicted as a person who is dominating, since he urges her to go through something that she does not want, even though he verbally states that he does not want her to do anything that she herself does not feel like doing. She - Jig is initially characterized as appearing submissive; however, in the end she decidedly indicates her unhappiness about it, and does not give in to him. 3. To what extent are the setting and the landscape symbolic What do the hills symbolize The landscape and the hills are symbolically used by Hemingway to denote Jig's pregnant state. She likes to see the life and fullness of things that she sees, like ""Across, on the other side, were fields of grain and trees along the banks she saw the river through the trees" (Hemingway 840). To the American, her pregnancy resembles the fullness of the hills, and it is as unviable like maintaining a 'white elephant'; the child/pregnancy is likened to a gift, which is totally impractical, and expensive to possess. 4. What values do the man and the girl live by How do you know The man appears want lesser of relationships and responsibilities, and does not seem to attach much value to human life, or human emotions; this is clear from the way he tries to manipulate her into agreeing to the abortion. Unlike him, however, Jig seems to attach value to all life and natures' creations and respects them, as can be understood from her decision of not going ahead with the abortion. "Do not go gentle into that good night" by Dylan Thomas 1. What attitude do each of the types of men Thomas describes express about death According to Thomas, men of "old age" fight death by burning brighter than ever - "should burn and rave" (Thomas line 2) almost in defiance; "Wise men" are almost resigned to the victory of death "know dark is right" (Thomas line 4), and their attitude seems one of resignation; on the other hand "Good men" feel almost dissatisfied in the end, thinking how they could have done more, "Their frail deeds a green bay" (Thomas line 8) and the attitude of "wild men" is one of inconsistency - having the maximum enjoyment of life when it is good, and regretting it when it is bad; "Grave men" or serious men, appear to understand that at the time of death that life could have been live with more zest and enthusiasm (Thomas line 13). 2. What attitude does Thomas' father convey about death What kind of father/son relationship is implied in the last verse By repeating the line "Do not go gentle into that good night" (Thomas line 1) Thomas implores his father as in desperation, not to give in to death without a fight. From this one can infer that, Dylan Thomas's father was prepared to accept death rather meekly, without any will to struggle against it anymore. Furthermore, in the last stanza (lines 16-9), the poet shows his own unconditional love for his father, by willing the latter to even curse him; because even that action will be indicative of his spirit to live. 3. How does your attitude toward death compare or contrast with Thomas' portrayal of death I hold the view that death cannot be avoided. However, it makes sense to live life happily, fulfilling one's own aspirations as well as helping others too in the process, to live life more fully with your innermost being and to take things in your stride, rather than to live in defiance, or in constant fear of death. "Tender Offer" by Wendy Wasserstein 1. How would you characterize the relationship between Lisa and Paul The relationship between Lisa and Paul seems rather dysfunctional, and it appears as if they hardly spend quality time with each other; I infer this from two points mentioned in the play, 1) Paul, the father appears to give less priority to his daughter's dance appointments and more priority to "business" (Wasserstein 2058) - since he keeps thinking of it mostly, despite the fact that he is rarely asked make an appointment for his daughter's dance lessons. 2) Lisa openly tells him that she hates him, "I can't wait till I'm old enough so I can make my own money and never have to see you again. Maybe I'll become a prostitute" (Wasserstein 2060). 2. What is the theme of the play The theme of the play is the lost father-daughter relationship between Lisa and Paul, and their realization of it, and how they make a 'tender' attempt to redeem their lost relationship, initiated by the father, who first atones for his late-coming, and promises to rectify his behavior. 3. What are the various meanings of the "tender offer" Paul makes Lisa One meaning of 'tender offer' is the frail and almost first proposal put forth by the father to rectify the previous mistakes in his relationship with her. The other is the business offer that he so painstakingly explains to her "That's when one company publishes in the newspaper they want to buy another company...And then a White Knight comes along the Big Black Knight" (Wasserstein 2061) with he himself as the "White Knight" who wants to save her. Yet another (third) meaning may be referring to the nature of the future relationship that has made a beginning with this proposal - to start on a 'tender' and loving father -daughter relationship between him and his daughter. List of Works Cited Hemingway, Ernest, "Hills Like White Elephants." In Judith A. Stanford, Responding to Literature: Stories, Poems, Plays, and Essays. 4th Edition. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2003. Also, available online, accessed on May 1, 2008. Thomas, Dylan. The Poems of Dylan Thomas (1971). New Directions. Online version accessed on May 1, 2008. http://www.bigeye.com/donotgo.htm Wasserstein, Wendy. "Tender Offer" in Literature: Reading Fiction, Poetry, and Drama and the Essay edited by Robert DiYanni. (1990) Sixth edition. New York University. McGraw- Hill. Pp 2057-2062. Read More