The poem, “Commitments” by Essex Hemphill addresses the family relations of a gay son and his relatives. Hemphill exposes his urgent need for recognition and support from his loving family. He expresses how a secret that the family does not want to tell isolates him. Hemphill takes a stance that shows he is lonely, bitter, and deprived of his proper place in the family. He not only reveals his innermost feelings but also portrays the image of lies and insincerity which surround him in the family. In the beginning of the poem, Hemphill suggests there is a problem when he states, “When the silence is exhumed. When the photographs are examined.” This tells us that the truth will be revealed when the relatives look back at the photos and begin to talk and bring to light who he was. His secret will be brought from obscurity into view and the family will finally see the real person. Immediately in the first stanza you get the impression of lack of support and understanding of his gay lifestyle. In the second and fourth verse, Hemphill describes family celebrations. The detailed portrayal of a family gathering provides an emphasis of a made-up appearance of a happy family and time spent together. It may look like a typical barbeque or holiday but you get the impression that …show more content…
“That’s all we do, isn’t it – look at things and try new drinks?” (Hemingway 553). The couple is not discussing the real issue. They just push their problem aside and he makes light of the operation. The girl is apprehensive because she is afraid of losing him and his love. Hemphill feels the same about his family; if they find out or acknowledge that he is gay he may lose their love and respect. Hemphill chooses to keep his secret because he still wants and needs to be included even though he can never share his life with
This short story is about a couple arguing about abortion. The girl, Jig, does not want to, but the American man says that it is the only thing between them. The girl wants to continue on with her life of exploring the world with the addition of the baby, but the man says that it would take the world away from them. The man has experience in this, but the woman seems not to. She is reluctant, and does not want to talk about it any more after a point. There are many elements in the story, such as disconnection, manipulation, dominance, innocence, and irresponsibility.
When the poem is read aloud, the explicit rhyme and rhythm of the lines becomes extremely obvious. In fact, the bouncy rhythm is so uplifting, it occasionally makes the audiences feel like it is too predictable and straight-forward. An example would be “bright with chrysolite”, the word “chrysolite” feels like it is forcefully implemented for the sake of the rhyme. This is somewhat similar to a children’s tale. Most children’s tale as we know it, conveys messages straightforwardly and are easily understood by children, it also has an amiable tone and a merry mood that engages the children 's attention. Similarly, the rhyme and rhythm of this poem is very obvious and explicit, creating a delightful, casual mood that appeals to a young audience. Even though the legend dealt with deep insights about parenting that are intricate and puzzling, the father delivered it in such a gratifying, simple manner that made even the most dark and dreadful matters: like the description of precarious beasts and vicious monsters to sound like a blissful adventure of friendly animals. The sole purpose of this contradiction between the tone and message is to make this seemingly strong and serious topic more tolerable and captivating to the son of the father. Unsensible, impulsive youth is very similar to restless children, a long insipid lecture about deep insights is very difficult for them to buy into. In the same time, a harsh, threatening warning will only make them obey unwillingly, and creating a doubtful relationship will make them uncomfortable to communicate or appeal to their parents. Clearly, the percipient father recognized the ineffectiveness of these unsuitable parenting methods. Instead, he conveyed the message in a uncomplicated, friendly way that made his son to accept his teachings more comfortably. A
Abortion in this day in age is not what it may have been in the 20’s. Today, there is intense debate on whether it is morally right or wrong and is even a major political topic. Hemingway may have used one of the characters to express his true thoughts on the issue of abortion. It is unclear what his true beliefs on the subject of abortion really where, but even
The major themes of the poem reflect the poet's own inner life and his struggle with the loss of his father. Through this complicated and intricate poem the inner feelings of the poet are made manifest through the speaker's tone towards the father. The exchange between father and son represents a magical moment in the speaker's childhood: dancing the waltz with his father. In the second stanza, the poet comments “My mother's countenance / could not unfrown itself (Roethke 7-8).” Here the poet seems to regret the fact that he hoarded his father's time after a long day at work, when his father could have been s...
Ernest Hemingway wrote a challenging short story about a couple that faces an awful issue. He sets his story, “Hills Like White Elephants” on a hot day at a train station, which is actually a stopping point between Barcelona and Madrid for the two main characters. They have to then decide where to go, whether or not to go with each other and/or to continue their relationship. The difference between the white hills and barren valley emphasizes the division between life and death, which comes to the choice Jig faces between having the baby and going through with the abortion. She seems very caught up between the two issues she has because she is very indecisive on what she wants to do.
Hemphill uses his smile as a symbol to show that in photos he appears to be happy with his life, but internally he is filled with loneliness and confusion about his sexuality.
Authors of great stories often use good technical writing skills. The purpose of this essay is to compare and contrast two short stories: Where Are you going, Where Have You Been by Joyce Carol Oates and Hills Like White Elephants by Earnest Hemingway. The comparison and contrast will be done based on their use of plot, point of view and character development.
There is no greater bond then a boy and his father, the significant importance of having a father through your young life can help mold you to who you want to become without having emotional distraught or the fear of being neglected. This poem shows the importance in between the lines of how much love is deeply rooted between these two. In a boys life he must look up to his father as a mentor and his best friend, the father teaches the son as much as he can throughout his experience in life and build a strong relationship along the way. As the boy grows up after learning everything his father has taught him, he can provide help for his father at his old-age if problems were to come up in each others
“Hills like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway is about a couple, the American and Jig, who contemplate whether or not to have an abortion. The premise of the story seems simple enough, but the outcome is highly debated. Critics argue that the baby was kept by the couple ( Renner ) and others claim the baby was aborted.( Fletcher ) Others have even simplified the story, claiming that the issue was not resolved because the couple was drunk by the end of the story. ( Sipiora ) Although the conclusion is in questions many have agreed with the idea that the couples relationship would be changed and would end prematurely. ( Wyche ) Dialogue is the main technique in conveying this argument but we can only understand the complexity of Hemingway’s work by looking at the story as a whole. By looking at the many symbols, intrinsically and
The short stories “A & P,” “A Rose for Emily,” and “Hills Like White Elephants” are like puzzle pieces because they are all hooked together by common similarities. “A & P” by John Updike, “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner, and “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway may be different in some aspects, but they are very similar to one another. The similarities between the three short stories are themes, symbolism, inner conflict, and tragic occurrences.
Close interpretation of the story "Hills Like White Elephants" by Ernest Hemingway leads the reader to an issue that has plagued society for decades. Understanding of the human condition is unveiled in the story line, the main setting, and through the character representation. The main characters in the story are an American man and a female named Jig. The conflict about abortions is an issue that still faces society today. Architectural and atmospheric symbolisms are used to set the mood and outline the human condition. The love bond between the man and Jig is strong; however, the more powerful bond between Jig and her unborn child is sacred.
Hemingway hints about how the man and the woman each feel about the unborn child, but he never tells us why they have such different views on the prospect of an abortion. The man in the story, referred to as "the American," claims that the abortion is necessary because it would save their relationship, whereas the woman, Jig, has doubts as to whether or not she should have an abortion at all. Hemingway uses a unique style of writing to communicate his ideas to the reader. Like most of his works, Hemmingway uses very simple language to build suspense, but he does not explicitly resolve the conflict. The words not said by the characters play a crucial role in describing their conflict.
In "Hills Like White Elephants," by Ernest Heminway it is easy to sympathize with the woman, to like and admire her more than the man in the short story. In the story the woman's name is "Jig," and the man is being called "the American." Throughout the story Hemingway makes it easier to sympathize with and easier to admire Jig by conveying her likeable traits throughout the conversation being held by her and the American, who is portrayed as very unlikeable.
Relationships have tend to be compared to the word perfect most of the time but in Hills Like White Elephants, the word perfect is not the word to describe the couple’s relationship in the story. The story is written by Ernest Hemingway, who right before writing this short story was having relationship problems which involved divorce because of his affairs. It seems that he has a lot to saying and can relate to this short story. The author seems to relate to the male in the story. This short shorty is based on a couple who are sitting in at a table at a train station waiting for a train to Madrid, Spain. They seem to have a topic opened up at the table that seems to not be cleared up right away because one feels different than the other. In a relationship, the couple should agree in a topic that is really serious and even though the other feels different there should be a meeting point or both of them or they should both get help in making the decision.
This poem has captured a moment in time of a dynamic, tentative, and uncomfortable relationship as it is evolving. The author, having shared her thoughts, concerns, and opinion of the other party's unchanging definition of the relationship, must surely have gone on to somehow reconcile the situation to her own satisfaction. She relishes the work entailed in changing either of them, perhaps.