Response for hills like white elephant - Essay Example

    Response for Hills like White Elephant The story Hills Like White Elephants is written by Ernest Hemingway. It isa short story of an American man, and a girl referred to as Jig. This story depicts them in a rail station, sited while waiting for the train heading to Madrid. As the American man and Jig are waiting for the train to arrive, they have an ongoing and intense discussion on whether Jig should do an abortion or she should not. The story ends with the American man taking the luggage to the tracks as the train arrives.

The end of the story does not give a clear result of Jigs decision. She claims she is feeling fine (Hemingway 542). The core theme of the story is Jig’s happiness, but the reader is not certain if she should undertake the abortion procedure. This paper will focus on the key symbols in the story.The three foremost symbols highlighted in the story include the white elephants, hills, and rail road station. The author utilizes these symbols to create the story’s theme. The theme depicts how Jig wants to keep the child and experience a happy life.

In contrast, the American man does not share her sentiments and attempts to convince her to abort. The white elephant is symbolism used to represent the baby. A white elephant is something valuable that may have a price that may be beyond its significance. This is the realism of what Jig is experiencing. Jig has obtained a gift in the form of a child but is useless at this point in her existence. The author uses this to create the notion of Jig’s probability of getting an unanticipated child.

The American man also claims he has never witnessed a white elephant. This is because he is not ready to accommodate the child and wants Jig to undertake the operation. Jig also glances at the hills and says, “They look like white elephants.” The American man replies, “I’ve never seen one.” Then Jig replies, “No, you wouldn’t have.” (Hemingway 539). The hills are a sign of large barriers that must be overcome, but they do not depict large mountains. This shows how the Jig’s baby has become an impediment to her life.

Nonetheless, this does not conclude her life. Jig also observes the hills and sees prospects. Conversely, the American man observes the hills and does not see anything.Hills are stationary, natural, and beautiful. This highlights how it will be necessary to settle in the presence of a baby (Hemingway 540). Regardless, of Jig’s decision, she will never forget about the pregnancy. The railroad is a sign of an individual being at crossroads in life in a period of predicament. The two characters will not dwell at the station forever.

The two are on a journey, and they will face changes. Both of them must decide on their next course of action. This symbolizes a decision on keeping or not keeping the child. The travelling has a price and so does the result of their decision. Keeping and aborting the child are both expensive decisions.Work CitedHemingway, E. The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway: The Finca Vigia Edition. New York: Scribner, 1991. Print.