Hemingway's use of dialogue in "Hills Like White Elephants" contributes to the tone of the story. Although we never hear what the discussion is about, we learn a lot about the relationship between the girl and the American based on the tone, setting, and spare details.
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In Hills Like White Elephants, the main conflict of the story is whether or not Jig should get an abortion or not. Jig and "The American" both have differing views on the subject, as "The American" is passively suggesting that she has an abortion while Jig is still unsure. Jig seems quite nervous about the operation and also sarcastically replies to the American's comment about others getting abortions, "And afterword they were all so happy" (Hemmingway). All of this takes place at a train station, where it is implies that one way leads to the abortion, while the other leads onward to travel more, now with a child. This makes this decision extremely important and also pushes the couple into a frantic and somewhat heated discussion on the abortion. In the end however, it seems Jig has won the debate and to me it seems like the couple are getting the abortion.
ReplyDeleteThe main conflict in “Hills Like White Elephants” is Jig’s pregnancy and the young couple’s decision as to whether or not have an abortion. This conflict is not directly stated, but the couple’s repetitive conversation about this “awfully simple operation” (42) in the train station alludes to this fact. The man, or the American, seemingly wants Jig to have an abortion, although he never directly announces it. This is noted when he states, “That’s the only thing that bothers us” (50), because the American thinks that the baby will be a burden and wants life to go back to what it was before, no matter how unrealistic it sounds. In the meantime, Jig is conflicted and annoyed with the American, as she sarcastically replies, “And you think then we’ll be all right and happy” (52), which implies that Jig feels an abortion will not help them in any way. Therefore, Jig knows that if she decides to keep the baby, the American will possibly leave her, but if she goes with the abortion, she will also not be able to live life as it was before the pregnancy. Ultimately, despite either decision, the fact that she is pregnant is inevitable, and it clearly has plagued the couple’s relationship, making the pregnancy a central conflict to the story.
ReplyDeleteAlexanderson v. Reyes
ReplyDeleteThe main conflict in "Hills Like White Elephants" is about a couple having to face a drastic decision where they either keep the baby and possibly lose their adventurous lives, or have an abortion and have a chance to lose each other. The conflict, at first is not seen until the conversation starts to become more clear when the American says, "It's the only thing that's made us unhappy" showing where the American stands on having the baby. Jig, the girl who is pregnant is having an inner conflict with herself as she tries to outweigh the pros and cons of the two choices,as she looks at the "beautiful view on the other side of the train" whcich symbolizes the life they would have without the baby. The American can only make matters worse by being hypocritical and saying things such as, "But I don't want you to do it if you don't want to" and "But I know its perfectly simple" saying you should not do it, but it would be easier if you would. From here on Jig is already confused and twisted in her mind on the choice she is going to decide on. Whatever decision they decide, the pregnancy had a strong impact on their relationship, making it the main conflict in the story.
In Ernest Hemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants, the main conflict between the two characters is that they are debating whether or not to go through with an abortion. Although the text doesn’t directly say that the couple is arguing over an abortion, it is safe to assume or infer so because of the setting and some symbols. The man and the girl are at a train station sitting near the middle of the junction and one option or road will lead to renewed fun and adventure while the other will lead to the complete and utter end of the former. These crossroads symbolize two completely different options and could also symbolize the sacrifices and hardships that come with being a parent; hence why the couple feels that their lives will return back to normal after the “operation”. The White Elephant represents something that is rare but also something magnificent when it is present. In this story, the hills are compared to White Elephants because they are also the hills of a foreign land that the couple has come to visit. The hills of a foreign land represent the couple’s freedom to travel and to have adventures. At the end of the day, the White Elephant is actually compared to the couple’s freedom (kept if they go through with an abortion) but once they turn their backs to it, it will be near impossible for them to attain it again (responsibility that comes with a child).
ReplyDeleteIn addition, the tone of the man whenever he talks about the “operation” is calm and is done so by persistently attempting to persuade his mate without sounding like a jerk. Right before the conversation is put to a halt, when the man says, “I don’t want you to do it if you don’t want to. I’m perfectly willing to go through with it if it means anything to you” (Hemingway 91), it appears that he has been trying to stay as supportive as possible throughout their talk because he acknowledges that they are discussing a serious but sensitive issue. Likewise, the topic of abortion isn’t something to ever be taken lightly which could be why he is being such a sweetheart in the conversation. Coincidence? I think not.
The main conflict of “Hills Like White Elephants” by Hemingway, while not explicitly stated, is implied to be about a couple’s decision to continue their venturesome lifestyle or keep the life of the child they’re having. Throughout the story the man insists, “It’s really an awfully simple operation”, however unlike his lover, he doesn’t consider or care to admit the awfully complex duress that the operation would put them under as a couple. The choice is ingrained into every ounce of the story, from the symbolism of the other side of the train tracks being filled with vivacious,” fields and trees along the banks”, to the white elephant hills representing giving up life. The couple argues how they, “can have the whole world”, while the man tries to coerce the woman into the idea of happiness being aborting the child, the woman indecisively considers keeping the keeping the baby as the continuation of happiness in their lives. All the nuances in their conversations and symbols subtly dropped in, lead to the implication of the main conflict being about abortion, and this all adds to Hemingway brilliantly capturing the turmoil of pressured decisions in a romance. -Forest Reid
ReplyDeleteThe story’s main conflict is Jig’s indecision on whether or not she should have an abortion. The American constantly switches his viewpoint on what she should do “I don’t want you to go through with it if you don’t want to. I’m perfectly willing to go through with it”. This causes Jig to become even more confused about her choice. If Jig just decided on what she is going to do, they would not have to keep having this back and forth conversation that just puts more of a strain on their relationship. Their whole conversation revolves around what she should do and what will happen after she goes through with her choice. With the constant pressuring from the American and the confusion that Jig is facing, the choice she is about to make will define the future for both her and the American.
ReplyDeleteThe main conflict in Hills Like White Elephants is the topic of abortion between the man and the girl, especially a person versus self conflict with the girl and herself trying to decide whether or not she should keep the baby. Although Hemingway never directly uses the word "abortion", it is implied through his use of dialogue between the two main characters, such as when the man says, "It's really an awfully simple operation" (42) and when the girl compares the baby multiple times with a white elephant, an old game where one receives a gift that is unwanted, “They look like white elephants” (9). The man seems to truly believe that having the abortion is the better choice, but the girl is very indecisive about it, always changing her thoughts from having the abortion to having the baby and vice versa. The decision is harder for the girl because if she has the baby, she wouldn't be able to continue her lifestyle of traveling from place to place with the man, as she says, “And we can have all this. And we could have everything and every day we make it more impossible” (71). In contrast, if she doesn't have the baby, she’ll never know how life will be with the specific baby she has right now, as the girl says, “And once they take it away, you never get it back” (81). Therefore, the girl’s tone and dialogue with the man makes the reader think that the conflict is the girl trying to choose whether she should have the abortion or if she should have the baby.
ReplyDeleteIn Hemmingway's "Hills Like White Elephants", the main conflict encompasses abortion and whether or not the couple should go through with it. While the girl remains hesitant, the man repeatedly tries to coax her into aborting the baby by saying things like "It's really an awfully simple operation" and "I've known lots of people that have done it". This all takes place at a train station in a valley where the two tracks lay between a dry, barren hill and a lively, green hill. The two hills represent the couple's possible decisions and the tracks represent the path they could go down. She looks longingly at the greener hill and says "And we could have all this", meaning she wishes to take the path in which she keeps the baby. However, she falters thinking about the likelihood of the man discontinuing his love for her because of it, and asks him, "things will be like they were and you’ll love me?" Her uncertainty leads the man to constantly say "if you don't want to you don't have to", but the statement would always include a pro-abortion comment. The conversation must have been going on for a long time since "That’s all we do, isn’t it – look at things and try new drinks”, considering the fact that alcohol is often consumed to drown away problems. By the end, the man moves their luggage to the other side of the tracks, most likely meaning Jig gets to keep her baby.
ReplyDeleteIn Ernest Hemmingway's "Hills Like White Elephants", the central conflict of the story revolves around the couple’s disagreement on the verdict of Jig’s pregnancy.Throughout the course of their conversation, the man asserts himself by constantly reassuring Jig “if you don’t want to you don’t have to” (55), and “it’s perfectly simple” (94), revealing his desire to get rid of the baby but wanting to protect their relationship at the same time. He does not want to keep the child because he is concerned about how the newborn will alter their current lifestyle. Jig, however, feels differently. Her reluctance to go through with the abortion is shown by her sarcastic tone when she agrees with the man "I'll do it and then everything will be fine" (68). Their conflict is symbolized in the story through the two set of train tracks, each heading a different direction, and Jig's comparison of the hills to white elephants.
ReplyDeleteIn "Hills Like White Elephants' by Ernest Hemmingway, the main conflict of the story is a couple's indecision on whether they want an abortion or not. The woman, Jig, must choose between aborting the baby and continuing her adventurous life with her lover or keeping the baby. Her lover pushes her towards abortion by saying things such as "it's really a simple operation" (42) and "I think it's the best thing to do" (52). He also make promises such as "we can have everything" (73), assuring her that without the baby they will have nothing holding them back in life. However, he also sends her mixed signals, complicating the situation further. He does this when he says "but I don't want you to do it if you don't really want to" (57) and "I don't care about it" (100), giving off the impression that he's fine with either decision even though he pushes her towards the abortion anyways. Jig, however, leans more towards keeping the baby, using biting sarcasm to shoot down everything her lover suggests. When he says "I've known lots of people that have done it" (53) she sarcastically replies with "so have I, and afterwards they were all so happy" (54). She also bluntly refuses his promises, responding to his claims of "we can have everything" (73) and "we can have the whole world" (75) with a simple "no, we can't" (74). Their lack of healthy communication creates a barrier between themselves and coming to a decision.
ReplyDeleteIn Ernest Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants," the main conflict of the short story involves Jig and the "American" and their decision whether Jig should have an abortion or not. Jig is unsure about having an abortion because getting pregnant could possibly take away her life during the operation making the couple stressed. The American has been thinking more about the positives of having an abortion especially when he says "You don't have to be afraid. I've known lots of people that have done it" (296). Later, however, Jig has still been very indecisive on which path to take especially when she talks about the baby itself when she says "once they take it away, you never get it back" (297). Their life-changing decision and conflict is symbolically represented through the two sides of the railroad track, and the fertile mountain across from the barren mountain. Jig even compares about having an abortion to the "lovely white elephants" on the hill as she hopes that these symbols will finally help her make up her mind. Ultimately, throughout the entire short story, the couple are having an internal conflict with themselves whether to proceed with the pregnancy or not, and the final decision is up to Jig herself as she has yet to make up her mind about aborting the pregnancy after that whole conflicting conversation with the American.
ReplyDeleteThe direct conflict in Ernest Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants" appears to be a struggle between Jig and her American partner over whether or not she should get an abortion. While this is entirely true, the larger picture shows a more down-to-earth conflict between life and death. First of all, Jig keeps glancing back and forth at the two sides of the railroad tracks. One side has "long and white" hills and "no shade and no trees" (294). The other has "fields of grain and trees along the banks of the river" (297). Both sides appear beautiful, yet Jig does not know which one she likes more—the stark beauty of the hills, representing the abortion (death) or the green tranquility of the fields (life). However, Jig does give a hint when she says, "...Once they take it away, you never get it back" (297). While she may be referring to the baby, she is also talking about life itself, because life follows the same principle. But in the end, which does she choose: life, the "moral" option, or death, the option that allows her to retain her freedom? The author doesn't make this very clear. However, he did drop a subtle hint: Jig's partner "take[s] the bags over to the other side of the station" (298). A careful reader would recall that on the very first page, they were sitting on the side of the station facing the white hills. By bringing the bags over to the side facing the fields and the river, they have chosen life over death and gone through with the pregnancy.
ReplyDeleteIn the short story "Hills like White Elephants," the main conflict is weather Jig should have an abortion or not. The story is set in a train station which can be seen is like crossroads in literature, and in this story particularly - one way leading to abortion and one way to having the child. Jig is unsure of what she wants to do, but does not like how her partner 'The American' seems to be subtly pressuring her to get an abortion. This is shown when the American says, "You don't have to be afraid, I know lots of people who have done it" (Hemingway 296). She responds with sarcasm saying, "So have I, and afterward they were all so happy" (Hemingway 296). As the story continues Jig does not know what to do, she feels that she wants to keep the baby, but is also afraid that the American will not love her anymore if she does. The American keeps saying, "I love you now" (Hemingway 296), so if he loves her now- will he love her after? At the end, the pair is running out of time to decide what train to take and it ends abruptly, leaving the reader unaware of the what they decided to do, and the conflict unresolved.
ReplyDeleteMatthew Cañada
ReplyDeleteWith a baby on the way, a seemingly young couple must decide on whether or not to actualize the birth or to submit to an abortion in Ernest Hemingway’s “Hill’s Like White Elephants”. Thus the main conflict – the pregnancy and its outcome- drives the couple apart, with the woman, Jig, undecided and the man, the American, passively pushing her towards the operation. As evidence of the American’s opinion, he airily states that the abortion is, “really not anything. It’s just to let the air in” as if the imposing operation were like opening a window to cool a hot room. To contradict this Jig sarcastically references other couples and how, “‘afterword they were all so happy’” denoting the tenuous tone that is present throughout the couple’s conversation. Moreover, a glaring symbol is presented in the story by the setting; the couple waits at a train station for their train, one side headed in the opposite direction as the other, with the station beset in polar scenery where one side is covered in bleak and barren hills, “‘like white elephants’” and the other lush forest cut cleanly by a beautiful river. The setting screams decide, further implicating the conflict that is troubling the couple, while also highlighting the consequences of their decision. And so the tale ends with the decision unclear, but decided, as Jig finally does “‘feel fine’”, suggesting that she has come to a decision about her pregnancy and thereby relieving the two of their distressing conflict.
The main conflict in "Hills Like White Elephants" is between Jig and the American about the abortion Jig may or may not have. The American's side of this conflict seems to be open-minded but also leaning more towards getting an abortion. His comforting dialogue "You don't have to be afraid. I've known lots of people that have done it" (Hemingway) hints to him wanting Jig to get the abortion in a delicate and indirect way. On the other side, Jig feels very uncertain about getting an abortion because her dialogue in the story tends to have a more capricious and worried feel to it. Jig asks, "And if I do it you'll be happy and things will be like they were and you'll love me?" (Hemingway), showing that she fears what the outcomes of abortion will include, and is confused about whether or not the American will love her afterwards. She is also hoping for comfort from the American by solidifying his promise in a positive life afterwards. Her dialogue also gives a confused feel because she makes short spurts of questions and statements throughout the story. Overall, the American wants Jig to get an abortion, but goes about telling her this in a reassuring way. Jig reacts to this with erratic questions and quickly changing moods, showing she is very unsure about the decision.
ReplyDeleteMonique Ubungen
ReplyDeleteDelman
AP Literature
September 8, 2013
In the short story, “Hills Like White Elephants” I think the main conflict of the story is split into two parts—both the man and the girl; It is not necessarily the disagreement they have with one another, but the individual Person vs. Self conflicts that they each struggle against within the story. The man deals with selfishness and impatience to get rid of this problem that he and the girl share, knowing very well the path he has chosen for them both, yet not wanting to hurt the girl by directly stating his solution. The girl deals with self-doubt and anxiety, not knowing exactly what she wants for the well-being of herself, but for the happiness of the man. The main conflict of the story is each character’s pursuit to make a decision that changes the future as least as possible, in hopes that after the final decision has been made, they still have the ability to “have everything”, “the whole world” (Hemingway), and not live in the pounding regret generated by the consequences of their choice. In total, the foremost issue in the story can be summarized in the saying “Damn if you, damn if you don’t” and the overall denial that sits between doing the “right” thing while also trying to look out for your best interests.
The main conflict in “Hills like White Elephants” is a decision between a couple. They are trying to decide whether they want to keep a baby or not. From the dialog, it seems that the man is trying to comfort the woman, who is deciding, but he is pushing her toward abortion, saying things like “It’s really an awfully simple operation” and “I’ve known lot’s of people that have done it”. The girl doesn’t want the abortion because she doesn’t like the idea of being a murderer. She feels like she wont be able to enjoy the world if she goes through with it, but says, “I will. Because I don’t care about me”. She doesn’t want an abortion, but she also doesn’t want to lose the man, so she appears to agree with him.
ReplyDeleteIn the short story "Hills Like White Elephants" the main conflict is between the American and a girl named Jig. They are conflicted and cannot seem to come to an agreement on whether or not they should have an abortion. Both can never look eye to eye. Jig is sarcastically pulling her way through the situation while the American is being indecisive. I think that its the source of the problem, looking into it as Jig's perspective I bet she would want her partners decision so she can have an outlook on things and come to a conclusion. The American seems to make it harder on Jig when he says, "I dont want you to do it if you feel that way" (Hemingway297) to " I dont care about it" (Hemingway298) says a lot about him. He knows that if she does the operation they can "live happily", but he doesnt want to make it seem like that, he wants it to seem like what ever she does he will be fine, like her opinion matters to him. Jig wants the best for them, but first wants the Americans acceptance and reassurance that if she decides to go with the operation, he will remain to love her no matter what. All in all she was trying to find happiness and a conclusion. She wants to conquer the obstacle of the hills.
ReplyDeleteI believe the main conflict of the story in "Hills like White Elephants" is the choice of whether or not the woman should have an abortion. In paragraph 40, the man says, "It's really an awfully simple operation Jig." This shows what the man wants the girl to do, but later on the girl says, “I will. Because I don’t care about me”. The girl is having a hard time deciding what she wants but she succumbs to the pressure the man is putting on her by agreeing to it. She feels like if she gets an abortion she won't experience that happiness that a baby brings but at the same time she's worried that her life with the guy would be different. She knows that " once they take it away, you never get it back." The girl doesn't want to make a choice she'll regret.
ReplyDeleteAnthony Liu
ReplyDelete9 – 8 – 13
In "Hills Like White Elephants", the main conflict the couple faces results from the difficulty in deciding if they should go through with an "awfully simple operation" (Hemingway 296). They have so much trouble deciding what to do because the American is certain about his opinion while the girl stressed out and undecided about hers. He attempts to convince her by oversimplifying the issue, but she retaliates with sarcasm by mocking, “And afterward they [women who had done the procedure] were all so happy” (Hemingway 296), causing the tone to shift towards bitterness. Although the two never explicitly state what it is they’re talking about, the fact that the American says, “But you’ve got to realize–“ (Hemingway 297) when the girl asks for more beer suggests that alcohol may have something to do with it. Since young couples are likely to deal with pregnancies and alcohol can have adverse effects on pregnant women, the most likely decision they could be making is if the girl should undergo an abortion. Therefore, the central conflict in this story is whether or not two young adults should give up their adventurous life of exploration and travel in favor of settling down and having a child.
The main conflict in "Hills Like White Elephants" directly involves a couple's decision to either commit to a baby, or go through with an abortion. This life changing judgement rests in the hands of an American man and a girl whom he calls "Jig"--a couple with conflicting feelings about their unborn child. The American appears to lean towards abortion and does not seem to want the baby at all, and without even considering her feelings, tells Jig, “‘That's the only thing that bothers us. It's the only thing that made us unhappy’" (296). Unlike the American, however, Jig is unable to overlook the fears and consequences that come with abortion so easily. Throughout the story, Jig’s irritation escalates every time the American promotes abortion, and by the end of it, she has had enough of him and tells him off, “‘Would you please please please please please please please stop talking?’” (298). Clearly, Jig is torn by the idea of losing her child, and needs to reflect over her options on her own in order to find out what she really wants. In the end, even though the American prefers that Jig go through with the abortion, he realizes that all wants is for her to be happy. His decision to change destinations at the train station shows that a drastic change has occurred in him--the magnitude of this internal change implied by the “heavy” (298) weight of the bags he carries with him. Though it is unclear as to what path the couple chooses in the end, the shift to a lighter tone in the end of the story shows that they are both satisfied with their decisions.
ReplyDeleteThe main conflict during “Hills Like White Elephants” is the passive aggressive demands of the American Man for Jib to get an abortion. Although there are many instances when the American states that Jib doesn’t have to get the abortion, he always follows up with a comment about how it’s “really an awfully simple operation” and that the baby is "the only thing that’s made us unhappy”. However, she is still contemplating about how important this baby is to her, but the American is already sided, refusing to listen to anything she has to say. His stubbornness and manipulative “I wouldn’t have you do it if you don’t have to. But I know it’s perfectly simple” comments put a strain on their relationship and much stress on Jib as shown by her telling him to “please please please please please please please be quiet” and threatening “I’ll scream”. If he stops insisting with absolute stubbornness and actually attempts to communicate blatantly with Jib about the issue of having a baby, then she wouldn’t be so alone in her confusion and the conflict of their miscommunication would be resolved. Ultimately, even with the luring pressures of pregnancy above the couple’s heads, the immediate tension of the strenuous conversation is the prominent conflict of the story.
ReplyDeleteTaylor Womack
9-8-13
Ms. Delman
AP Literature
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ReplyDeleteReniel Nuqui
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Ms. Delman
September 8, 2013
In Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants," a couple is faced with the life-changing decision of abortion as they are unsure of which path to walk. By keeping and raising the baby, they will have to say farewell to their adventurous lifestyle filled with beer and countless travels. They view that their choices are great opposites of one another as the girl figuratively views one choice as being filled with, “fields of grain and trees along the banks of the Ebro," and the other choice as being, “brown and dry." These decisions were symbolized by the train, the tracks, and the train station. One side of the tracks representing abortion and the other side representing the keeping of the baby.
While at the bar and the train station, they go on and on about whether or not to keep the baby or abort it. Although the man gives his input and his advice, the tough decision is ultimately up to the girl. When she finally made her decision, the man, “picked up the two heavy bags and carried them around the station to the other tracks," which displays that the girl changed her initial decision and was finally ready to commit to one of her choices.
The main conflict in Ernest Hemingway’s, “Hills Like White Elephants” is a couple’s decision whether to go through with a pregnancy or to terminate it. In the beginning of the book it seems that the couple was for termination, as reflected when, “The girl was looking off in the hills. They were white in the sun and the country was brown and dry” while they were having drinks showing that they were in the area of the brown hills. She then further comments how the hills look like, “White Elephants” which is an allusion to the old saying, “the white elephant in the room” which is their decision to have the abortion. The brown dry hills in this situation represent what “Jig” the girl feels what will happen to her after if she did go through with the abortion, infertile. Though her lover thinks otherwise and assures to her that she will be okay and insists to keep on going with the termination, commenting,”’You don’t have to be afraid. I’ve known known lots of people who have done it’” to which she responds,”...And afterwards they were all so happy” Though despite the man’s constant insistence to go through with it and his repeated reasons of assurance, Jig still thinks that it would be best to go on with the pregnancy, as shown, when she walks to the end of the station,”...were fields of grain and trees along the sides of the Ebro” Her she believes that she should go with the pregnancy thinking that they can live a fulfilled existence in raising a child, by letting it live. Though throughout the story they constantly debate and argue with each other, until ultimately a decision was made, symbolized by the man carrying the bags over to the other side of the station, and the man asking, “Do you feel better?” to which she replied, “I feel fine...There’s nothing wrong I feel fine”. In the end, it is hard to say if they actually went through with the pregnancy or not. Though personally I believe that they went through with the pregnancy since the other side of the station seems to be the side she was facing when she looked out at the fertile hills. Though her reaction seems to betray the decision, as she doesn't seem thrilled or happy. Though one thing’s for certain, and that’s that their decision, finally brought the arguing couple to agreement.
ReplyDelete- Christian Gomez
The main conflict the couple faces in “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway is the decision for the young girl, Jig, to go through with her pregnancy or to get an abortion. The decision is a difficult one to make because the girl feels overwhelmed by her options, while the man has a set opinion and tries to convince her that his opinion is the right one. She leans toward the idea of keeping the baby, “And we could have all this... And we could have everything and every day we make it more impossible” (297). Contrary, the man urges her to get the abortion, “You don’t have to be afraid. I’ve known lots of people that have done it” (296). At first, the man is sensitive and reassuring, but that soon changes when the girl offers a different perspective on the situation. He becomes stubborn in considering alternate possibilities, while the girl transitions from optimistic about having the baby, to stressed, to the point where she doesn’t even want to talk about her pregnancy anymore, “Would you please please please please please please please stop talking?” (298). The man’s tone is passive-aggressive, because he wants the girl to make her own choice, but he feels strongly about what’s best for her and pushes her to see things the way he does.
ReplyDeleteThe main conflict in Ernest Hemmingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants” is about a young couple’s indecision of whether to get an abortion or not. Although the conflict is not directly stated, it is implied that the woman, Jig, remains hesitant about getting the abortion. On the other hand, her lover tries to persuade her to get it by telling her things like “It’s the only thing that makes us unhappy” and “It’s really an awful simple operation”. Also, Jig struggles with the fact that if she does end up keeping the baby, she won’t be able to travel around the world with her lover anymore. She says that the world “isn’t theirs anymore,” implying that the baby would take over their social lives. However, she also knows that the decision she makes is permanent, telling the man that “once they take it away, you never get it back”. Therefore, the decision to get an abortion or not strains the young couple’s relationship, making it the main conflict.
ReplyDeleteThe conflict of this passage is the difference in relationship goals of the man and the girl. The man would prefer their relationship to stay static, pressuring her to have "the operation" (the abortion), saying that it is "natural" and is only "letting the air in." The man says that without the baby "We can have the whole world," then follows it with, "It's ours". The girl, however, says, "No, it isn't... once they take it away, you never get it back" referring to the life of the baby. They have different goals that create conflict in their relationship.
ReplyDeleteEllis Manning-Villar
ReplyDeleteAP Literature 6°
Ms. Delman
September 8, 2013
As the reader progresses through the story, "Hills Like White Elephants," the operation and conflict that the couple faces is revealed through the subtext of the story to be an abortion. And while Hemingway's use of indirectness is already very subtle, it is only a fraction of the conflict that the couple is facing. They are at a crossroads- both literally and figuratively- and each wants to go in different directions. "The American" wants to continue their life of traveling around the world, a hobby that "Jig" has grown out of. She finds that she needs something more in their life and thinks that her pregnancy can bring that. They both want to have their previous life back, where they yearned for the same thing, and this is shown when Jig says, "And if I do it you'll be happy and things will be like they were before," (296). The real conflict here is, that if they can't agree on where their relationship is going, it really won't continue to go anywhere.
Lian Patricio
ReplyDeleteAP Literature 6°
Ms. Delman
9-8-13
To many first-time readers of Ernest Hemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants, the story would seem like a loose conversation between a couple in a train station in Spain, whose real names were never even mentioned. Although, as the short story progresses, the conversation becomes more tense and readers who pay more close attention to the clear-cut yet ambiguous dialogue between the couple, realize that the initial conflict is abortion. The train station setting also greatly highlights the couple’s dilemma in the interest of serving itself as a crossroad on which the two couples have to make their decision whether to keep their baby or have the “operation.” The man, who appears to be more dominant and is only referred to as “the American” in the short story, tries to convince his girlfriend to have the abortion and oversimplifies the matter saying that “it’s really an awfully simple operation” which shows that he is not very sympathetic and he fails to understand his girlfriend’s feelings since abortion is, in fact, a very heavy topic. On the other hand, his girlfriend implies that she is confused and frustrated; especially that she is shown to be more dependent of the American. Throughout the short story she appears to be helpless and indecisive. For instance, she can’t order drinks without the American during their time in the train station and she also brings up the “white elephant” idea and then dismisses it the next, indicating that she may want to keep the baby despite claiming that she only cares about the American. Although she is shown hesitant and doubtful, it also appears that she knows that her relationship with the American cannot be saved as she mentions that they can no longer have the world and be the way that they were before because “once they take it away, you never get it back.” It is also possible that she knows this because the man no longer shows enough compassion and understanding towards her and their baby. By the end of their conversation, the American moves their bags to the other side of the track and they decided to drink beer separately indicating that they have separated and the girl has decided to keep the baby saying that “I feel fine, there is nothing wrong with me.”
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