In the fictional story of "Hills Like White Elephants" by Ernest Hemingway; A man and a woman are sitting at a train station ordering drinks and observing everything around themselves. But they have a problem that they must resolve, the problem is that the woman is pregnant and the man wants her to have an abortion. She does not want the abortion but is willing to do so if they are going to be happy afterwards. The couple sit at the train station waiting for their train and discuss the abortion which they disguise the word as a "simple operation." "It's really an awfully simple operation, Jig."(325) I think they do so because back when the story was published in 1927 abortion was not a common procedure, and to speak of such would cause attention and people would look down on them. Another thing that occurred to me when reading this story was that the story must take place in a foreign country because in 1927 alcohol was illegal. They were ordering drinks one after another. So they were going against the norm in more then just one way, they were drinking alcohol and thinking about having an abortion. When discussing the decision for the simple operation to occur it is clear that the man really wants to go through with it because he likes just the way they are and he doesn't want to change it and make it more complicated. The woman on the other hand seems to want a baby. "That's all we do, isn't it-look at things and try new drinks?"(324) I think she wants the baby so that they can have something new in their relationship and move forward with it. The man seems to be trying to get her to go through with the simple operation by using guilt. "Well," the man said, "if you don't want to you don't have to. I wouldn't have you do it if you didn't want to. But I know its perfectly simple." He keeps reassuring her that it is a simple and natural process and that he will still love her no matter what she decides. By the end of the story she seems convinced that she will go through with the simple operation. Something to put into consideration is that during their conversation they are drinking, and drinking alcohol alters ones judgment; so drinking while deciding whether or not to go through with it was not a good idea.
In Ernest Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants” the character Jig is submissive to her counterpart The American Man, who is encouraging her to have an abortion. While Jig is not sure what she wants, she does not wish to press the subject of the operation because The American Man is intent upon persuading her to go through with the procedure. Throughout this story Jig’s helplessness, indecisiveness, and her lack of education become apparent, although by the end of the story she becomes confident, decisive, and ultimately takes back control of her decisions and life.
In kilner’s case study “Having a baby the new-fashioned way”, present a story that can be relatable to a lot of families struggling to have a child. This is a dilemma that can be controversial and ethical in own sense. The couple that were discussed in the case study were Betty and Tom. Betty and Tom who are both in their early forties who have struggled to bear children. Dr. Ralph Linstra from Liberty University believes that “Fertility can be taken for granted”. Dr. Ralph talks about how many couples who are marriage may run into an issue of bearing a child and turn to “medical science” to fix the issue. He discusses that “God is author of life and he can open and close the womb”. That in it’s self presents how powerful God.
The communication going on between the man and girl in the story, "Hills Like White Elephants,'; are not an honest one. The man seems to lead the conversation where as the girl is quiet. He brings up the subject of 'operation' which suggested abortion, but never mentions the word 'abortion' in the story to understate it. He tries to convince the girl to get the operation, but the girl seems bothered by this subject. However, he does not stop. Their relationship seems to be fine when the baby has not came in between them. We could see this where the guy says, "We'll be fine afterward. Just like we were before.'; The girl wants the relationship to become as before, but is in a huge dilemma whether to give birth to the baby or not. The man does not want the baby and has the choice of abortion in mind, not thinking of the other problems that would occur through operation such as the girl's health. Later on, the girl makes a melancholy remark that the hills look like white elephants. Probably the hills being a round shape reminded her of the baby. She walks toward the end of the station, and sees the beautiful nature. When she looks more toward the nature, one could see her small desire wanting the baby and thinks what may have been happened if she had the baby. The guy does not pay attention to that remark, because he is just concerned about making his point that he wants the operation done, not considering her side.
A woman in the film explains that, she lack of so much information that in the day after the surgery, she was cut and sew with black thread and she said “O my God” what have they cut me. In addition, she mentions that she was a total ignorant, but she feels that she wasn’t forced to do it that she went on her own free will, but if she would have been told of other childbirth methods she would have done it. Also, another woman said that the gynecologist told her that she was going to have the tied tube procedure that consisted of having her Fallopian tubes tied, but she didn’t know it was also
Ernest Hemingway has a superbly unique style of writing in Hills Like White Elephants. His short, to the point syntax and sentence style plays a great role in helping readers understand the theme of this short story. The critique M.A.K. Halliday observed, “The story is frequently generated by the repetition of words, clauses, and groups of related words or ethical sets” (Link, Alex). The first set of dialogue that can be pulled from this story is story is short and to the point. The American states, “We can have the whole world.” Jig replies with “No, we can’t” (Hemingway, Ernest). The sentence length is very short, yet there is a hidden meaning behind the small talk. Jig is referring to not having the baby. She can have everything, but her will to decide things. She can’t have a baby due to unloving pressure from the American. It is in sync with the tone of the story perfectly. The tone is forward, direct, and shallow. That is exactly what happens in this dialogue. There is no emotion, just pure sarcasm on a huge topic. Abortion to this couple is nothing more then a qui...
‘Hills Like White Elephants’ is a short story authored by Ernest Hemingway about an American and a girl named Jig. In the story, the two are sitting in a train station waiting for the train to Madrid. While they wait, they have an intense ongoing debate on whether or not to abort Jig. At the end of the story, the train is about to arrive and the man carries luggage on the tracks as they prepare to leave. The end of the story does not clearly define the outcome of its decision. She said I feel good at the end of the story - happiness is a central theme of the story, but we wonder if she went through with the operation. The paper discusses the manner in which symbolism has been employed in the story to communicate about an abortion, the couple is considering to go through.
The result of the couple being selfish, the readers can figure out that the man in this short story is controlling and manipulative. At first, he tries his best to avoid the elephant in the room, but when the topic is brought up, the man is very firm to make sure his girlfriend gets the abortion. While bringing up the topic, the man makes his reason known for the abortion, and he is pressuring his girlfriend to get the operation. The man is not ready to give up his lifestyle, and he believes that a baby will ruin his life. Once he realizes, that his girlfriend is thinking about keeping the baby, he becomes manipulative, and he tries to pretend as if he does not care if she gets the abortion. He is not trying to understand where she is coming
Jig asks her lover if he will worry about the procedure, and he responds by saying he considers the treatment simplistic. In response Jig states, “Then I’ll do it. Because I don’t care about me.” This statement further asserts that Jig is just looking to appease her male counterpart and put her own feelings aside in order to remain with her lover. Jig doesn’t want to lose her current relationship, and in order to do this, she is attempting to withhold her true emotions and avoid seeming hysterical. Additionally, Jig is continually pressured to not worry by her overbearing lover, because all their problems will be solved after the operation. The man states early on in the story that, “[they’ll] be fine afterwards. Just like [they] were before,” and claims that the only problem that exists between them is this decision about whether or not Jig should have an abortion. At this point, Jig does not want to face the decision to either not receive the treatment, which could destroy her romantic relationship, or to go through with the operation. Due to the societal gender roles telling Jig she is a sentimental woman, Jig agreeably states, “I’ll do it,” in order to end the conversation and keep her true feelings deep within herself. She even goes on to argue that she “feels fine,” although it is
A couple, Jig and the American man, were sitting at the train station, drinking and trying to make an important decisions. Jig has fear of the unknown because they are deciding whether or not to get an ’operation’. The author goes around the fact, using minimalist work because Jig does not want the abortion. The American man wants Jig to have the abortion, but Jig is scared and knows it is wrong. This shows their fear while thinking about having the baby and how they think they will mess up their plans of travelling the world. Jig continuously asked the American Man if he will still love her no matter what decision she makes. Jig has the fear of losing him based on her decision of having the operation or not. Jig had fear of the unknown whole time in making the decision to have the baby, and if she was going to lose the American
In the story, "Hills like White Elephants" written by Ernest Hemingway, the main character Jig faces a life changing event, abortion. The struggles with the complications of abortion concern and desire Jig to want to keep the baby. Bringing a new life into the world is a long time commitment and it is something Jig feels she can treasure forever. However, her companion attempted to persuade her in another direction, to proceed with the abortion. As naïve as he is, he feels his persuasion can overcome Jig's desires. Jig is a sarcastic yet reserved woman, who desires to bring a new life into the world, even if her companion does not approve; she knows what is best.
The story "Hills Like White Elephants" is a conversation between a young woman `Jig' and an American man waiting for a train at a station in Spain. The author never names the topic of their discussion but as their dialogue progresses; it becomes evident that Jig is pregnant. The man wants Jig to abort the unborn child but she is unconvinced and wants to become a mother. Hemingway has brilliantly written the story's dialogue which "captures the feel of a private conversation while at the same time communicating the necessary narrative background" (O'Brien 19). At the end of the story, it is unclear as to what decision has been made; however, Hemingway gives the reader several clues regarding what Jig feels, and what she wants to do. Jig's private thoughts are illuminated by Hemingway's description of the setting, the character, and the conflict. Stanley Renner suggests that, as a result of the couple's discussion, "Jig has become able to make a more clear-sighted estimation, and perhaps a better choice, of men" Wyche(59). The couple's inability to communicate effectively their true thoughts and emotions makes their dialogue very appealing. The story examines the gender differences and miscommunications as they influence the decision whether to abort the unborn child or not (Smiley). In his book on Hemingway, published in 1999, Carl P. Eby points out that "[f]or the past two decades, Hemingway criticism has been dominated by a reconsideration of the role of gender in his work" (Bauer 125).
Another issue that is discussed in this story is abortion and two opposing views. When the conversation turns from the hills to the operation one is able to comprehend the mentality of the woman. "Then what will we do afterwards?" (465) shows the woman is concerned about what will occur after the operation. "And if I do it you will be happy and things will be like they were and you will love me" (465). Here, the woman implies she wants the reassurance that he will still be there after the operation, because an abortion places an emotional strain on the on the woman.
To begin, consider the main character's point of view. Single and in his prime, he makes the most of his lifestyle by traveling and seeing new sights. The story is set on one such excursion, at a train station in Spain. Of the complications that might arise from starting a family, one is certain to him: traveling, sight-seeing, and his current lifestyle would be things of the past. These are some of his motivating thoughts as he pleads his case for terminating the pregnancy. He chooses his words advantageously, almost deceitfully, when trying to convince the girl that an abortion is easy surgery: "It's not really an operation at all" (275). Those familiar with the abortion procedure can affirm that it is an operation, and rarely a simple one. This remark reveals how desperate he is to make the decision for the girl.
In the short story by Ernest Hemingway, "Hills Like White Elephants," a couple is delayed at a train station en route to Madrid and is observed in conflict over the girl's impending abortion. In his writing, Hemingway does not offer any commentary through a specific character's point of view, nor, in the storytelling, does he offer his explicit opinions on how to feel or think about the issues that emerge. The narrative seems to be purely objective, somewhat like a newspaper or journal article, and in true Hemingway form the story ends abruptly, without the couple's conflict clearly being resolved. The ambiguity of the ending has been a subject of much debate; however, the impact of what is not said in words can be gleaned through the symbolism of their surroundings. Upon examination of the setting, the couple's final choice becomes instantly apparent.
On average, around 15 million abortions occurred among younger, unmarried women ranging within the childbearing ages of 15-44. In which case, the reader could infer that Jig was among that age range in the text because she was bearing a child. It does not state if the man and Jig were married, but one could infer that they were not married due to the way they were described as young and were traveling instead of settled while Jig was pregnant. This could also infer that Jig became pregnant unexpectedly and very sudden. Becoming pregnant unexpectedly leaves a woman at a higher risk for considering an abortion. The higher risk could be due to her or her partner unready for a child or have an unmet need for contraception. Which could explain why the young couple was highly considering the abortion. Allowing the reader to know this information, it could enlighten them to realize why the man is encouraging Jig to have the abortion at a subtly aggressive extent. He is unready to have the responsibility of a child or a family. In Spain, where the story occurs, abortion is a legal option for women in the first 14 weeks of their pregnancy. This implies that Jig would receive a safe abortion, meaning after receiving the