Hills Like White Elephant Symbolism Essay

The short story, “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway, is about a young couple and the issue about abortion. Hemingway’s use of effective literary devices; symbolism and setting is used to understand the story. In the short story, the word “abortion” is not actually used in the story, but using the literary devices it supports the understanding of the story.
The setting is vital to the story. The story begins with a young couple referred to as “the American” and Jig waiting at the train station in Spain in the 1920’s. The train symbolizes the different directions in life if they choose to have the abortion. The train station symbolizes the stop in their life. If they choose to have the abortion their lives go in separate directions; Hemingway goes into detail about the scenery saying “The hills across the valley of the Ebro were long and white. On this side, there was no shade and no trees.” The side of the river with no shade or trees symbolizes the emptiness and loneliness Jig would feel if she had the abortion. “Across on the other side, were
fields of grain and trees along the banks of the Ebro.” This side symbolizes the peace and happiness Jig would feel if she kept the unborn child.
Jigs and “the American” conversations are described as antagonistic. He depends on the “man knows best” tactic while Jig uses the sarcasm and irony approach. Jig does not know Spanish, so this shows that she is very dependent on the man, He describes the abortion as having no feelings toward her or the situation, such as implying the pregnancy as, “the only thing that bothered us. It’s the only thing that made us unhappy.” The American keeps implying that “it’s not really anything” as if he has no relations or feelings for the unborn baby that is a part of him. He does not want the child, and keeps trying to put it out of his mind. The American is not ready to settle down and get married to have a family because he loves to be able to travel and explore. He is not ready to give all that up.
Jig seems very exhausted of the lifestyle they are living, the constant traveling and the alcohol drinks, and the many different hotel stays. Alcohol plays a significant role during their brief time at the train station. Jig and the American order a few drinks such as two glasses of beer and two Anis Del Toro’s. They drink so that they can avoid the topic of the baby. Although they are drinking to avoid the dreaded conversation about the baby, their relationship seems to have deeper flaws. “That’s all we do isn’t it – look at things and try new drinks.” Her remarks seem to say that the American man never does anything with her except try new drinks, as if looking for ways to dodge her. At the end of the conversation, Jig has moved to a table while the American stays at the bar signifying she has made her decision to go their separate ways.
As the story goes on, Jig begins to refer to seeing the hills as looking as white elephants.
In history, a white elephant symbolizes a present or treasure that is unwanted. As they are sitting there at the table Jig refers to the hills as looking like white elephants to instigate the talk about abortion, but later diminishes her statement saying they do not look like white elephants after all. The American does not catch this metaphor, and the possibility of Jig wanting to keep the baby.
In conclusion, it is unclear in Hemingway’s Hills like White Elephants if Jig decided to go along with the abortion or keep her unborn child, but at the end Jig says, “There’s nothing wrong with me. I feel fine.” Abortion and pregnancy are viewed differently and the main characters are perfect examples of this. Jig sees the unborn child as a new start and happiness while the American views the child as an
inconvenience.