Revision and Expansion “Hills like White Elephants”

“Hills like White Elephants”
“Hills like white elephant”, is one of the Ernest Hemingway short stories, although the story was not widely mentioned, the story is about a couple delayed at a train station who are seen to be in a conflict whether to proceed with the abortion or not. The point of view, setting and the plot of the story are the more factors helping a reader to understand and come with a conclusion of the short that is about an abortion.
The story starts with an imagery of where it took place .The hills and the Ebro valleys tells us that the story took place in Spain. The absence of no trees no shades means the absence of a child .The story is set in at train station indicating the characters are travelers or tourists. The hills are also barren representing the lady’s life to decide if it’s to submit to her man’s expressed desires to continue with the abortion.
Hemingway describes a train station with “two lines of rail in the sun”, this explaining that one side will lead to a particular decision affecting the other side outcomes. Jig must now make the important decision of her life. To have or keep the pregnancy. Jig decides to keep the pregnancy this definitely makes the American man settle with her and support her.

The train station is set between hills where one side is brown and very dry while the side is green and full of trees. This representing the two options the Lady must face. The same greenside represents life which is the life of the unborn child (Baker). The brown side, which is very dry, represents death. If Jig decides to abort, the child will die. Jig sees the sides of the train station as the one who ultimately has to make the decisions.
The train station it’s not the couple’s final destination, Still merely a stopping point for all travelers, including Jig and the American man who has decided where to go, and in this case, the couple has to decide whether to go together or continue with their relationship. (Baker) The relationship between the white hills and the valleys highlights the contrast between fertility and sterility, life and death, and the girl’s choices between having a child or abortion.
“Hills like White Elephants”, White elephants indicate the unexpected and the unwanted pregnancy as neither the Woman nor the American man was ready for the child. The man tries to make us understand he’s been not prepared to start the new life of being a father and did not want the responsibilities of having a child.
Change is seen as the central theme hills like white elephants as the Lady’s pregnancy has already served as a turning point in their relationship (“Hills like White Elephants Book Review | Writ ology Sample Post”). Her final decision in aborting will bring a more significant change for both of their lives. The story shows how the couple has struggled in communication. This clearly explains how love can change self-care. Instead of describing how they felt, they are both concerned about other’s needs. If the Woman intends to keep the baby, this will change everything as the man will be forced to take full responsibilities and settle with the Lady.

Jig is seen moving up and down, a minute later; the man follows him and spends most of their time sitting on the table drinking beer this implying they have tried everything they can on this issue without getting anywhere. The pregnancy has affected their relationship badly. The Woman’s final decision will change things between them.
Lastly, “Hills like White elephants”, shows us the difficulty a couple, especially the female, faces with unexpected and unwanted pregnancies. The choices made will forever change their lives. Hemingway also tries to show us the importance of communication when he compares Jig and the American man as doctors and patients who often revert to the conclusion of no contact, losing the opportunity to explore severe medical issues.

Work Cited
Baker, Clayton. “‘Hills like White Elephants’ and the Collusion of Non-Communication – Hektoen International.” Hekint.org, hekint.org/2017/01/23/hills-like -white-elephants-and- the-collusion-of-non-communication/. Accessed 27 June 2021.“Hills like White Elephants Book
Review | Writology Sample Post. ” Writology. com, 23 Feb. 2018, writology.com/blog/book- review-hills-like-white-elephants-by- Ernest- hemingway.html.

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