Female Manipulation In Hemingway's 'Hills Like White Elephants'

Jordan Nelson
Mr. Witherow
DE English 12A, Literary Analysis Essay
22 April 2014
Male versus Female Manipulation:
In Hemingway’s “Hills like White Elephants”
The short story “Hills like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway describes the journey a young couple takes while trying to cope with the implications of an impending abortion. The American and Jig at first appear to be the epitome of the average, modern-day couple; they share drinks together, travel together, sit and talk together, and even show concern for each other like every other functional relationship. However, what Ernest Hemingway (either intentionally or unintentionally) portrays with the couple is the natural human tendency to try and influence events to achieve what he or
One method of manipulation that was found by Kai Bjorkvist’s study to be used by men—including the American--is “refraining from the display of anger” (123). Throughout the short story “Hills like White Elephants” Jig tries to incite the American; at one point she makes a remark about liquorice and says it in a way that she knows will cause the American to react, however he never gives her the satisfaction and simply moves on with the conversation (par. 33). Another manipulation ploy listed the study lists and is used by the American is “talking the matter over” (123). No matter how evasive Jig gets, the American does not allow her to stray from talking about the procedure. At one point in the “Hills like White Elephants,” a highly unnerved Jig has to beg the American to change the subject, “Would you please please please please please please please stop talking?” (par. 116). This coincides with another way the American is manipulating her decision, one that was not a variable tested in the study, by complying with her every demand. This is shown in the “Hills Like White Elephants” when the American expresses to her, “I’d do anything for you” (par. 115). The biggest and probably most influential technique is playing to Jig’s insecurities. Jig’s dialogue lets on that she is a little emotionally unstable. Jig’s repeated worries over whether or not the American will still love her shows
I feel fine” which is her way of giving in to the procedure (par. 134). An analysis of the results of the study done by Kai Bjorkvist and her colleagues under the Department of Psychology of Turku, Finland says that women are more manipulative; this occurrence is because women mature sooner than men, and thus develop verbal skills faster (126).Since women are stronger at manipulating than men shouldn’t the American be the one to give in to Jig? This means to me that the American is more mature than the childishly named Jig, and is why he was able to persuade her. Perhaps this is what Hemmingway was intentionally trying to show through the manipulative relationship he established between the two main characters: the American and