Hills like White Elephants
Crack a Bottle
Everyone has a different way of dealing with their conflicts in life. Some look to find pleasure in certain hobbies they enjoy, such as reading or exercising. Unfortunately, some people deal with their problems negatively. Some might turn to drugs, violence or alcohol. In Ernest Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants,” Hemingway uses alcohol as a motif throughout the story to represent the complications in the two protagonists’ relationship.
Early on in “Hills Like White Elephants” we can see what seems to be a rather vanilla conversation between the American and the Girl. As they enter the train station, neither of them are creating much of a debate, just uninspiring small talk. The two sit down outside the bar of the station on what is described as a “hot” day and immediately order an alcoholic beverage.
“What should we drink?” the girl asks. She had taken off her hat and put it on the table. “It’s pretty hot,” the man said.” “Let’s drink beer.” (Hemingway 115.) This is in the hope of to passing the time without any sort of discussion between the two.
Strong dialogue continues to be lacking between the two, as if they are trying to avoid a certain conversation or conflict. The Girl looks off towards the hills and points them out to the American. “They look like white elephants,” she says. “I’ve never seen one,” the man drank his beer. “No, you wouldn’t have.” “I might have,” the man says. “Just because you say I wouldn’t have doesn’t prove anything.” (Hemingway 115.) The American immediately becomes defensive over the remark that he would not have seen a white elephant. Only someone who is shielding himself or hiding from something would become so defensively over being a statement that inoffensive.
Soon after the white elephant remark, which is abruptly ended, they proceed to order yet another round of drinks. “That’s all we do, isn’t it — look at things and try new drinks?” “I guess so.” (Hemingway 115) shows that clearly the two do not have much else in their relationship other than drinking together. Does alcohol help them steer their conversations and activities to other situations other than their own problems? Or is it that the only way they can feel affection for each other is by becoming intoxicated?
It seems there is something between the two that they are trying to avoid discussing. The American finally breaks through the barrier and brings up an “operation” that he is encouraging the girl to go through. As the reader, we assume that this operation is an abortion. The girl seems tentative on her decision, unsure of what she wants to commit to. As the American tries to persuade the girl to go through with it, the girl cuts him off for a request of yet another beverage.
“I know. Could we have another beer?” “All right. But you’ve got to realize...” “I realize,” the girl says. “Can’t we maybe stop talking?” (Hemingway 117.) Once again, the girl finds an outlet from anymore communication of their obstacle at hand by using alcohol. It is clear that she wants no part of this conversation any more. By the end of the story, the two are by themselves, drinking separately. Hemingway suggests the ending of the story is exactly how their relationship will end — namely alone, separated from each other and off to their own lives.