Underlying Meanings in Hills Like White Elephants by...

Ernest Hemingways Hills Like White Elephants, is a story about a doomed relationship. Hemingway uses symbolism, dialogue, and also setting to tell this story. Behind the words said by the characters, and sights explained to the readers, are hidden meanings that when analyzed, bring the story to another level. Alcohol holds a certain amount of symbolism in the story. The two main characters, Jig, and a man we only come to know as The American are sitting in a bar. The pair order drinks, and they also talk about them. Though the woman in the story is pregnant, she still drinks. From this, one could only conclude that she either does not care about the damage she is inflicting on her young, or that she doesnt realize.†¦show more content†¦Inadvertently though, it takes all sincerity out of the words of the male character. I did not think he was too serious in anything he said, and the fact that he can sit and drink beer while telling this woman that he loves her, makes his dialogue seem less serious, and more like he is lying to her. A bar is a place where men tell women they love them to get them to come home with them. While drinking beer, he would probably normally be hitting on her, not coaxing her into having an abortion. The conversation and topic is completely out of place in this setting. A bamboo-beaded curtain blowing across the table also holds some significance to the story. After they stop talking about alcohol and right before they do begin to talk about the abortion, a beaded curtain blows across the table. In a way, this simple bead curtain is really like a brick wall has just come up between them, and their opinions on the matter will be on different sides of the wall. The man, who is against having the child, tries to make it seem like he doesnt care. The woman says in a very roundabout manor, that she wants to have the child. The wall between them plays a large role in keeping them from really speaking their minds about the matter and making a decision together. However, it is not just the wall that keeps the couple from coming to a conclusion, or even seeing each others real opinions. They lack basic communication skills. The two have a relationship based uponShow MoreRelatedHills Like White Elephants1354 Words   |  5 PagesSymbolism in â€Å" Hills Like White Elephants† Ernest Hemingway’s â€Å"The Hills Like White Elephants† is a short story published in 1927 about an American man and a woman named Jig. The setting of this story takes place at a train station located in Spain surrounded by hills, trees, and fields. Other devices used by Hemingway throughout this story include imagery, simile, excellent syntax, and a very tense and emotional tone. 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