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Literary analysis of themes and characters in Ernest Hemingway's The White Elephant
Hills like white elephants essay on abortion
Ernest hemingway hills like white elephants hemingway analytical critique
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Setting in Ernest Hemingway's Hills Like White Elephants
In Ernest Hemingway's story "Hills Like White Elephants" an American couple is sitting at
a table in a train station in Spain. They are discussing beer, travel, and whether or
not to have an abortion.
The train station and its surroundings are symbolic in this story. The station itself
represents the choice on whether or not to have the abortion. There is a set of tracks
on either side of the station, each representing one of the choices.
On one side of the station, the tracks run through a lush, green landscape full of
grainfields and trees. A wide river runs lazily in the foreground of some tall
mountains. It is almost like a paradise. This side of the station symbolizes the choice
of going through with the abortion. As it is now they travel all around the world,
drinking and staying in hotels, and seeing all the beautiful places in the world. They
have no responsibilities or schedules in their life. With an abortion, they could
continue their party- and fun-filled, although meaningless existence.
The other side of the station is dry and barren of plantlife. The ground looks as if
there has been no rain for quite some time. There are hills in the distance that have a
whitish color as the sun radiates on them. The woman said, "They look like white
elephants."(343) White elephants are known to symbolize unexpected gifts, which is
certainly what the baby would be should they choose not to have the abortion. The
barrenness of the land refers the tame life--settling down and having the
responsibilities of parenthood--that they would have to start living when the baby came;
a life that would be duller but would have a purpose.
The bead curtain represents the fact that once they choose a side, to have the baby or
not, they cannot change their minds and then switch sides. Once the decision has been
In a well-written short story, different literary elements and terms are incorporated into the story by the author. Ernest Hemingway frequently uses various literary elements in his writing to entice the reader and enhance each piece that he writes. In Hills Like White Elephants, Hemingway uses symbols to teach the reader certain things that one may encounter during daily life. Symbolism may be defined as relating to, using, or proceeding by means of symbols (Princeton). The use of symbols in Hills Like White Elephants is utterly important to the plot line and to the fundamental meaning of the story. Through this use of symbolism, the reader can begin to reveal the hidden themes in this short story.
“She may be unmarried or in a bad marriage. She may consider herself too poor to raise a child. She may think her life is too unstable or unhappy, or she may think that her drinking or drug use will damage the baby’s health” (126). The emotional appeal in this paragraph could make the reader think they are pro-choice. Apart from their use of pathos, the authors do a great job using a mixture of both ethos and logos. Page 130 is an example of both, which were used expertly to help the reader understand their point of view and the
Beginning in mid-1789, and lasting until late-1799, the French Revolution vastly changed the nation of France throughout its ten years. From the storming of the Bastille, the ousting of the royal family, the Reign of Terror, and all the way to the Napoleonic period, France changed vastly during this time. But, for the better part of the last 200 years, the effects that the French Revolution had on the nation, have been vigorously debated by historian and other experts. Aspects of debate have focused around how much change the revolution really caused, and the type of change, as well as whether the changes that it brought about should be looked at as positive or negative. Furthermore, many debate whether the Revolutions excesses and shortcomings can be justified by the gains that the revolution brought throughout the country. Over time, historians’ views on these questions have changed continually, leading many to question the different interpretations and theories behind the Revolutions effectiveness at shaping France and the rest of the world.
..., and William became known as “William the conqueror.” Despite having decent control over his newly claimed territory, he continued to clash with his eldest son during his time as king. William the II was given England after his father’s death, and brought a period of peace and influence throughout England. The battle of Hastings is now regarded as one of history’s most important conflicts, and it completely changed the English way of life and ended a long period of Anglo-Saxon rule over England.
Parents should be more involved with their children’s lives, and try to discipline and set rules at an early age. It is better for a juvenile to be confined rather than him/her influencing average teenagers to follow in his footsteps. It is a sad day when a teenager has to spend his/her days in a juvenile facility rather than outside enjoying his freedom and childhood. Children, who attend these programs and cannot cope with the challenges, can be easily abused. The risk in enrolling these teenagers into such disciplinary programs may either break them or make them improve their behaviors and quality of life. Teenagers who come out of these camps are stronger, disciplined, educated and even become role models to other teens can someday help other delinquents. In order to change someone’s life, one must first change his/her actions and
...d contraceptives and impending pregnancy. And abortion proves to be an emotional process affecting the life of the woman. The chances of domestic violence, family rejection, and other symptoms increase. Even if short term the damages could cause unsuspected consequences.
Being a mother is a lifelong job that requires copious time, energy, and money. There are myriad different reasons in which a woman would consider getting an abortion. The decision is often tragic and painful for the mother. It is one of the biggest choices a woman will make. Many people have strong beliefs about abortion, and if a mother makes a decision that they do not agree with they sometimes turn against the mother, and enkindle egregious feelings about their decision for the rest of their life. Indeed a woman may not get an abortion for selfish reasons or out of convenience, but out of a desire to protect certain important values such as her own health or a decent standard of living for the other members of the family. Additional intentions for having abortion include rape, financial difficulties, obligation by family members, or danger to the baby’s health (Roleff
It’s important to mention that in abortion you are not just taking the life of a human being, the mother is also in danger of not being able to have more children or to even loose her life.
Ernest Hemingway is an incredible writer, known for what he leaves out of stories not for what he tells. His main emphasis in Hills Like White Elephants seems to be symbolism. Symbolism is the art or practice of using symbols, especially by investing things with a symbolic meaning or by expressing the invisible or intangible by means of visible or sensuous representations (merriam-webster.com). He uses this technique to emphasize the importance of ideas, once again suggesting that he leaves out the important details of the story by symbolizing their meaning.
In 1066 when his claim to the English throne was threatened by Harold Godwinson. Due to the fact that Harold Godwinson overlooked the dead king's wishes. Edward the Confessor, sworn his loyalty to William of Normandy when he died not to Harold. Harold Godwinson promptly had himself proclaimed king. It was only a matter of months before William, Duke of the large and powerful duchy of Normandy in France, paid Harold a visit to bring to his remembrance his own claim to the throne. William raised an army of Normans by promising them land and wealth when he came into his rightful kingship. October 14th 1066 he and William fought at the famous battle of Hastings. William and his army of Normans came, saw, and conquered. True to his promise to his fellow warriors, William systematically replaced the English nobility with Norman barons and noblemen who took control of the land, the people, and the government.
The topic of abortion has been discussed in many ways including positive and negative ways in the United States, an understanding of why women seek abortion has been missing from the discussion. Approximately 1.21 million women per year have abortions, individuals do not publicly talk about their abortion experiences
Ernest Hemingway's short story "Hills Like White Elephants" touches on an issue as ageless as time: communication problems in a relationship. He tells his story through conversations between the two main characters, the American and the girl. Conflict is created through dialogue as these characters face what most readers believe to be the obstacle of an unexpected pregnancy. Their plight is further complicated by their inability to convey their differing opinions to each other. Symbolism and the title's meaning are other effective means of communicating conflict.
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.
From observed and moral claims, a wide range of views supporting either more or less legal restriction on abortion has emerged in America. Politicians define the issue by party lines, while some support groups define the issue through its constitutionality and its moral views symbolized by their residents, largely are consider being pro-choice, or pro-life. The mass media describes the issue as morally, presenting to the nation the views of various pro-life and pro-choice organizations with little realistic evidence from both sides. The countless points that can be taken on this issue can be allocated by practical and moral expectations to a clearer analyze the details of this intense issue. The probability of the woman having a child in the near future would be slim to none. This is because your body cannot handle certain chemicals and mechanics, what does not kill you, will make you stronger; but will cause greater pain to your
The French Revolution began in 1789 and ended in 1792, though certain people include Napoleon’s reign as part of the revolution, stating it ended in 1804. It was a time of confusion, disorder, and bloodshed. The commoners of France decided that they were being treated unjustly and planned to overthrow their king. The French Revolution was a long and terrible war, which promoted democracy and equality for the people of France and resulted, not only in the death of Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI, but with France becoming a more liberal country. This essay will investigate causes of the French Revolution such as enlightenment ideas, taxation and economical problems, and the political system of the time. It will be shown that there is not a single direct cause for the occurrence of the French Revolution, but many different reasons of varying importance.