Hills Like White Elephants Rhetorical Analysis

Communication is a crucial aspect of any relationship. Ernest Hemingway’s short story, “Hills Like White Elephants”, illustrates a man and a woman experiencing communication issues. They are in a bar waiting for the express to bring them to Madrid, Spain. The man and the woman order drinks and begin to have a conversation. It starts out with pleasant small talk, until the man brings up an operation the woman is scheduled to have once they get to Madrid. The conversation turns into strained lies on both of their parts. Hemingway’s, “Hills Like White Elephants,” argues that communication in a relationship is crucial in order to be successful. The story begins at a bar, the man and woman are deciding what they should drink. The tone is very awkward and forced. There is obviously unspoken problems that they are dealing with. In the text, the woman mentions the hills looking like white elephants, the man then states he’s never seen one. The woman replies with, “No, you wouldn’t have” (pg. 330). The man seems to get angry due to the already present tensions between them. “I might have. Just because you say I wouldn’t have doesn’t prove anything” (pg. 330). This statement is aggressive and demonstrates that their communication is already strained. The story progresses and the small talk continues. The conversation is lacking substance and is

He then continues to say, “You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to” (pg. 331). He repeatedly tells her this, however, he does not really mean it. It is very clear, due to his contradictory statements of persistence, that he wants the girl to go through with the abortion. Although, she is also not telling him how she feels about the abortion. A baby is a big decision and can change their life, therefore it is crucial for them to be honest with each