Lewis Weeks, Jr. claimed in 1980 that "although subject, setting, point of view, characterization, dialog, irony, and compression all make 'Hills Like White Elephants' one of Hemingway's most brilliant short stories, the symbolism implicit in the title and developed in the story contributes more than any other single quality to the powerful impact." Agree with any part of this statement in detail, quoting relevant phrases from the story as needed.
5 comments:
I agree that the symbolism is particularly powerful in "Hills Like White Elephants," although it may not be immediately apparent. Because little is explained in the short story, the reader has to interpret the dialogue and descriptions to grasp its deeper meanings. Jig notes that the hills “look like white elephants,” to which the man noncommittally replies, “I’ve never seen one.” Here, the “white elephants” seem to symbolize Jig’s unborn child; the man, of course, will never experience pregnancy, and cannot understand Jig’s point of view. Jig then says, “No, you wouldn’t have,” which makes the man defensive. He says, “I might have… Just because you say I wouldn’t have doesn’t prove anything.” He wants to appear compassionate and understanding, just as he tries to assure that the decision to have an abortion is up to her. However, he is really trying to convince her to go through with it, stating, “It’s the only thing that bothers us. It’s the only thing that’s made us unhappy.” He establishes the connection between the “white elephants” and the pregnancy during a part of their conversation:
(Jig) “…But if I do it, then it will be nice again if I say things are like white elephants, and you’ll like it?”
(man) “I’ll love it. I love it now but I just can’t think about it. You know how I get when I worry.”
Just as the man worries about Jig’s pregnancy, he worries when she brings up the symbolic white elephants. To him, the pregnancy is simply a burden, which is what a white elephant represents: a liability. While Jig appreciates the hills, the man dismisses them, presenting a contrast between emotion and logic. While Jig says she “just know[s] things,” the man tries to logically explain why the abortion is the best thing for them.
This symbolism is so powerful because it brings up a controversial idea without explicitly stating it. It makes the reader pay closer attention to the subtleties of the interaction between Jig and the man. The characterization and dialogue contribute this symbolism, while the setting has less of an impact. The most important part of this short story is what is unseen; as Hemingway, said, “Anything you know you can eliminate and it only strengthens your [story]”. Once you realize that something is missing from the story, you can delve into the meaning of the symbolism to understand the purpose of the story and the motivations of the characters.
~Julianne
I will agree that all the things there enumerated contribute to something, the only thing I disagree with is that they contribute to any sort of laudible impact. If the impact he was going for was confused disgust then yes, I applaud Hemingway for a job well done. I can appreciate the symbolism in the title and some of the subtler nuances throughout the story, but I can only do so after having to guess or, as I had to, hear someone else tell me what they were talking about. I think that any story that needs additional explanation is a poor story because of it.
It is possible that I am simply to practically minded or simply, too stupid to appreciate and understand Hemingway's writing. That is a possability. I do not think that is the case however. His lack of, well, substance, in my opinion renders "Hills like White Elephants" to be a relatively bad story and a completely waste of paper, not to mention the tree needed to create that paper.
I agree with Jake that the symbolism of the white elephants was only apparent after having been told of it, but I think we should also consider the possibility that this symbol could have been well known in Hemingway's time, at least to his audience, making any additional explanation from him unnecessary.
I would argue that the symbolism gives the whole story a pretext, a reason for having been written. Once the white elephants were understood as a symbol of both a blessing and a curse, its meaning within the story becomes more apparent, as does its effects on the man and Jig. A baby, Jig's unborn baby, is a both a blessing (think happiness, new life, etc.) and a curse ("the only thing that bothers us, the only thing that makes us unhappy"). This doubling of emotions surrounding Jig's baby is also evident in the arguments between her and the man. If no conflict in their emotions existed, why would they quarrel over whether or not to keep the baby? And this disagreement between them is pretty much the substance of the story, substance which is given to it through the symbol of the white elephants.
-Carolynn
The symbolism throughout the story contributes most to its impact. The prevailing symbol of "Hills Like White Elephants" defines and emphasizes the couple's plight. A "white elephant" is a burdensome possession whose value is underminded by the cost of keeping it. In this story, the "white elephant" is the baby that the couple could have. Thinking of the burden of pregnancy, the girl remarks, "[The hills] looks like white elephants." After this initial introduction of the symbol, it serves to define the difference between the girl and the man. "'I've never seen one, the man drank his beer. 'No, you wouldn't have.'" The girl believes that the "white elephant" is a blessing, while the man does not care for it. The possibility of having a baby divides the couple; the girl thinks "they're lovely hills" and dreams of having the baby, while the man never looks at the hills and says, "I don't care anything about it." The symbolism of the hills points out the couple's conflict, providing a unifying thread to an otherwise disjointed story.
Emily Eckart
I agree that symbolism is crucial in "Hills Like White Elephants", although the symbol's meaning may not be apparent to many readers. When the white elephant gains its meaning for the reader, it is a powerful and accurate explanation of the situation between Jig and the American. It is clear that she sees both the positive and negative aspects of having this child; either way her lover will most likely leave her. The fact that a white elephant is both a blessing and a curse exactly exemplifies how this baby affects their lives. It is a blessing because she wants them to be together and a baby can stabilize their relationship and make him more constant in her life; while it can also drive him away from her because he is not ready is settle down. This symbol provides the mood for the entire story.
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