Hills like White Elephants

Hills Like White Elephants is a short story by Ernest Hemingway, published in 1927. It tells the story of an American man and a young woman, referred to only as "the girl," who are waiting for a train at a station in Spain. The story is known for its sparse, minimalist style, and for its use of dialogue to convey meaning.

The story begins with a description of the setting: a train station in a valley with hills that look like white elephants in the distance. The man and the girl are sitting at a table outside a bar, drinking beer and talking. They are waiting for a train that will take them to Madrid. As they talk, it becomes clear that they are discussing a serious issue.

The man is trying to convince the girl to have an abortion, but she is reluctant. She tells him that she doesn't want to do it, and that she is scared. The man tries to reassure her, telling her that it is a simple operation and that they will be able to go back to the way things were before.

The girl is not convinced, however. She tells him that she doesn't want to have the operation, and that she is afraid that it will change their relationship. The man becomes frustrated, telling her that she doesn't understand, and that he wants her to have the operation so that they can be happy together.

As the conversation continues, it becomes clear that the man is more interested in his own happiness than in the girl's. He tells her that he loves her, but it is clear that he is not willing to make any sacrifices for her. The girl, on the other hand, is willing to make sacrifices for the man, but she is not willing to sacrifice her own happiness.

The tension between the two characters continues to build as they argue about the abortion. The man becomes more and more insistent, while the girl becomes more and more afraid. Eventually, the train arrives, and the two characters get on board. The story ends with them sitting in silence, looking out the window at the hills like white elephants in the distance.

Hemingway's use of dialogue in Hills Like White Elephants is particularly effective. He does not provide any exposition or background information about the characters, but instead allows their conversation to reveal their personalities and their relationship. The man is domineering and selfish, while the girl is vulnerable and uncertain. This creates a sense of tension and unease that pervades the story.

The title of the story, "Hills Like White Elephants," is also significant. The hills in the distance are described as looking like white elephants, which is a reference to something that is unwanted or burdensome. This suggests that the issue of the abortion is something that is unwanted by both characters, but that they are unable to find a way to deal with it.

The story also explores the theme of communication, or the lack thereof. The characters are unable to communicate effectively with each other, and this creates a sense of isolation and detachment. The man and the girl are physically close to each other, but emotionally distant. This is exemplified by the way they sit at the table, facing in opposite directions, and by the way they talk to each other without really listening.

In conclusion, Hills Like White Elephants is a powerful and thought-provoking short story that explores themes of communication, power, and the difficulty of making difficult decisions. Hemingway's spare, minimalist style is effective in conveying the tension and unease that pervades the story, and his use of dialogue is particularly effective in revealing the personalities and motivations of the two characters. The story remains a classic of modern literature, and continues to be studied and analyzed by scholars and readers alike.