Summary
The short story is set somewhere between Madrid and Barcelona, in the valley of the Ebro (Hemingway, “Hills,” 115). It follows the dialogue of a man and woman at the local bar with a view of the valley’s hills (Hemingway, “Hills,” 115). The pair are quarreling about the issue that affects their relationship, which can be easily resolved, according to the man’s testimony. Presumably, the two are lovers, and the woman got pregnant. The man wants her to do the abortion but is partially willing to compromise and let her keep the child, but this proposition sounds cold and fake. Simultaneously, the woman is terrified of abortion and starts questioning the man’s intentions because of his carefree and compliant attitude. This situation transforms the woman into a character full of escapism and cynicism. Consequently, the story transforms into a statement about the complexity of human nature and social norms.
Personal Effect
The text evokes relatively paradoxical and incompatible feelings as the dialogue between the characters is around the sensitive topic of pregnancy and abortion. It seems to diminish and at the same time transform the meaning of childbirth into something gruesome. Personally, the topic of childbirth seems to be distant, but after reading the text, it became a dreadful topic that soon should be explored. Simultaneously, the short scene of the woman appreciating the distant hills seem to be an attractive moment of the story. The importance of that scene for the text is significant, as can be seen by the title. Consequently, it forces the reader to continuously review that portion of the story. Hence, questions such as why white elephants were chosen by the woman, what they mean in the context of the story, and how they are related to the character naturally come into mind. After reading the story, the answers seem to be coming into place because the reader realizes that the theme is childbirth. Hence the elephant is the projection of childbirth for the woman.
Attractive Point
The comparison between the child and an elephant is important because it projects the fears and worries of the woman. Elephants are naturally big and strong animals, and the white color with which the woman seems to distinguish the hills may refer to holiness or innocence. These pieces of the puzzle form a natural picture of the child. The woman sees her pregnancy as the giant animal that can crush her life, but the child to which an animal is a reference is innocent, and abortion threatens the life of that innocent life. Elephants, despite their awe-inspiring appearance, are herbivorous and highly sensitive animals. Therefore, the danger that they may pose to humans lies in the attitude of the human towards the animal. Thus, she fears that her needs may not align with the responsibility of childcare. This responsibility before life is gigantic ad terrifying, but at the same time, the life itself is pure, innocent, and holy, which is symbolized by the white color. On the other hand, the hills in which she sees the white elephant are a sign that this responsibility is inescapable and would follow the woman everywhere, even during trivial glances at the distance. This scene is an interesting and marvelous part of the story because of how well it is thought out. This aspect of the text points to the complexity of the human mind as abstract connections are made between seemingly unrelated entities.
Emotional Reaction
Similarly, the lines after the small metaphor of hills and elephants are interesting because they add to the story’s realism. This realism makes the reader uneasy, and it creates the paradoxical feeling of distance and closeness in the story. Especially when the woman says, “I was being amused. I was having a fine time” (Hemingway, “Hills,” 115). These lines create cinematic and partially comic aspects of the story because of the insincerity of those words. However, the line “That’s all we do, isn’t it—look at things and try new drinks?” (Hemingway, “Hills,” 115) is akin to the nail in the coffin where the relationship of these characters lies. This line is the provocation and the scream of the woman. She is desperate, and lost, as the man she presumably loved cannot offer her the support she is searching for. The scene points at the shallowness of the relationship they formed and the inconsistency of human nature. It is a sad and realistic scene that portrays the unforgiving and cruel nature of reality that humans are not constant in their behavior.
Experience
This aspect of reality can be traced in life of many people that were disappointed in humans. The text invokes the memories that consist of bad experiences with people and news. Quite often, one can see a picture of a normal-looking man online that could have been a rapist or a psychopath. However, the case of a man that sees abortion as something insignificant, something that can easily be ignored as the breeze of air, is not as extreme but signifies the existing gender inequality. In particular, it points to the nonchalant attitude of men that cannot experience pregnancy and the responsibility that comes with it.
Resemblance to Other Works
The text reminds me of the other work of Hemmingway, “The Sun Also Rises.” The novel similarly explores the nature of humans and their relationships (Hemmingway, “The Sun”). The story has the aspect that makes the reader question the meaning of ordinary relationships and the role of sex in it. The novel’s end is quite disappointing story-wise as there is no such thing as a happy end, only life. It demonstrates that life is constantly changing and that the wishes of humans shape the way we experience life. “Hills Like White Elephants” resembles “The Sun Also Rises” in the aspect of human attitude. The female character could have just embraced the abortion and continued to dwell in her minuscule relationship with her lover. However, the pregnancy makes her reevaluate this choice, much like the trip to Pamplona for Jake Barnes.
Support of Personal Beliefs
The text supports my view on the difficulty of attaining ordinary and comfortable life. It demonstrates the complexity of human society and the insincerity of the words people say. The woman in the text could have directly confronted her lover but chose to be insincere to save her dignity in front of the people at the bar. This fear of others’ judgment is common and difficult to overcome. Nevertheless, the fact that one has to be constantly conscious of their surroundings is part of my beliefs. Sincerity in every action may lead to disapproval in the eyes of society and diminish the chances for a comfortable life. Thus, it contributes to the statement that humans are driven by the constant fear of social exclusion.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the text offers complex insight into the nature of human beings, who are inconsistent and driven by fears of social exclusion. It resembles the different piece by Ernest Hemingway, “The Sun Also Rises,” in the way the characters experience their change or reevaluation of certain life aspects. The story also contributes to the existing topic of gender inequality by portraying the man’s attitude towards childbirth and related difficulties.
Works Cited
Hemingway, Ernest. “Hills Like White Elephants.” The Norton Introduction to Literature, edited by Kelly J. Mays, shorter 13th ed., W. W. Norton, 2019, pp. 114-18.
Hemingway, Ernest. The Sun Also Rises. New York: Modern Library, 1926. Print.