Critical Analysis Of Hills Like White Elephants

Analysis of Hemingway’s “Hills like White Elephants” The short story “Hills like white elephants” by Ernest Hemingway, is centered around the vivid argument that a man and a woman are having whilst waiting forty minutes for a train at a train station in Spain. The argument that is taking place is about a “simple operation” that the man is trying to convince the woman to have. Although not explicitly stated, the “simple operation” that the man is referring to, is an abortion. The main theme in this short story is decision making and the impact that it can have on the outcome of our decisions; whether good or bad. Hemingway, masterfully uses implicit imagery and symbolism throughout the story to portray the uncomfortable and difficult decision that the couple has to make. The title of the story “Hills Like White Elephants” already implies that there is an uncomfortable subject matter that is going to be discussed. The euphemism “white elephant,” refers to a possession that is useless or troublesome,

Hemingway describes a train station with “two lines of rails in the sun” (Hemingway, 114). This indicates that one side of the track will lead to a particular destination in life and the other side will have a very different outcome. On one side of the rail road, it is lush and fertile, and full of life. On the other side of the rail road, there are hills that are without trees nor shade and appears to be lifeless. This very well symbolizes the outcome of the decision of having an abortion or not. One choice leads to fertility and having a child and the other choice would lead to a barren empty womb. The symbolism of the scenery goes along with the decision that the couple has to make. The two rails in opposite directions will lead to two different places. Regardless of the side that is chosen, the couple will have to deal with the consequences of their