Essay on Hills like White Elephants

Luke Castro

Mrs. Harrah

English 1302

29 September 2015

Writing Assignment #2

        Do you do it? How can you do it? The worries of what your family and friends will think are always in the back of your mind. If we all had everything figured out there would be no worries, there would not be a judgment made that affected a living soul. But, that’s just it we all have worries, we all judge and we all think about fitting in. In this particular short story that was the case. Two people had worries and feelings; they had a life to worry about. It was not just their   life anymore but another human’s life. Hemingway had a way with words, using a symbolic white elephant was just one of the ways he put perfect description to life. Some critics see symbolic significants in the title, but in what way? The title, “Hills like White Elephants”, refers to a unborn child. The title shows the topic of discussion, the disagreements, the struggles. and the choices or options.

In this short story communication is everything. Even though they do not bluntly say what is happening, the clues give it away. The title is shown as the topic or the struggle. Hills like White elephants is about to people trying to come to a conclusion as to if they should proceed with an abortion. The man proceeds to try to convince the women to have an abortion. He explains that it will save their problems and worries. He then goes on to say only if she is comfortable with it (44). When you first read this story you would think that they were arguing about anything, but the hills give it away.

        The hills that are described as white elephants spark a disagreement. While the women says the hills do indeed look like white elephants, the man says white elephants are not something you see everyday. but, when thinking about the words hills like white elephant in this case, it’s about a mother with a protruded belly, big breast, and an unborn child. The title has a way with words so to speak. The white elephant in the room is her. Jig (the women) is the one that is carrying the unborn child, she is also the one that ultimately makes the call about having the abortion. She is carrying the white elephant therefore she is the white elephant.

        The title also sparks some worries. The choice to get on the train (have the abortion), or to have the child runs though both the man and the women mind. The man tries to say yes have it, (57) but then changes his mind later and wants her to keep it. (101) The back and forth of no and yes are what is so symbolic about this title. Wether to keep the white elephant or to get rid of it. When Jig expresses her feelings towards nit caring about herself she gives the man worries. She is giving up her right to care and her right to have a choice or a say-so. It is both sad and eye opening to the situation.