Hills Like White Elephants Theme Analysis

How theme impacts “A Rose for Emily”, “Hills like White Elephants”, and “Harrison Bergeron”

Theme is defined as the subject of a talk, a piece of writing, a person’s thoughts, or an exhibition; a topic. Throughout literary history, authors have been using theme to bring a story together and make a point. In order to make a story have a resounding feeling in readers, authors use themes to leave an underlying message which are usually lessons and morals that should be widely taught, such as in children’s books or in fables. In all three stories, “A Rose for Emily”, “Hills like White Elephants”, and “Harrison Bergeron” the author’s use a mutual theme of death and further show how death brings change to each of the main character’s lives in different

Hemingway, does not, however, tell us that there is in fact an abortion. Jigg and her lover lead a very simple life before they are forced to consider a solution to their situation. “That’s all we do, isn’t it—look at things and try new drinks?” said Jigg (Hemingway 2). With the “awfully simple operation” (Hemingway 2), however, their entire world will be turned upside down. The American reassures Jigg “It’s really not anything…” and the entire process will be over in a few minutes; everything will be completely natural and fine. Yet Jigg, worried about their life together afterwards, asks the American what will happen. He responds, “Just like we were before.” (Hemingway 2). This leads one to believe absolutely no change will happen, at least in the eyes of the characters. In the story of Jigg and the American, there is what some consider a death (abortion) and what some simply consider an operation. Jigg is worried things will change from the way things were between herself and the American. The American continues to reassure Jigg that by having the “perfectly natural” operation things will go back to normal and “We’ll be fine afterward.” (Hemingway

While change does occur in the end in Faulkner’s tale when the townspeople realize how deeply her father’s death affected Miss Grierson, Harrison’s death does not provide a change in the lives of the survivors in Vonnegut’s story. Although change was prevalent in the first two stories, in “Hills Like White Elephants” death brings very little change. Although the operation is not specifically mentioned, their lives go back to the way they were after the operation. The entire dialogue shows that neither one of them wants things to change. Death, however, causes change to happen. Even if the people involved run as completely far and as fast as they can from the event and attempt to completely ignore it, their lives will be changed, no matter what. Death can cause a change in mentality, as seen in Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily” it can cause change through rebellion, even if only temporarily, as shown in Vonnegut’s “Harrison Bergeron”, and death can bring a physical change, as Hemingway infers in “Hills like White