“Hills like White Elephants” and “Girl” Themes and Symbolism
“Hills like White Elephants” and “Girl” Themes and Symbolism
The themes and symbolism for the stories “Hills like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway and “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid work with the structure of said stories to create an understanding of a girl’s sexuality and how others attempt controlling it by providing symbols that uncover the truth that lies behind the words. In, “Hills like White Elephants”, the American man consistently and angrily persuades his girlfriend to have the operation based on a foundation of false promises. Symbols that undercover that message are “Jig”, drinking, white elephants, and communication issues. In, “Girl”, the daughter’s mother attempts to control her sexuality through advice and scolding. The symbols in that story include food, cloth, and Benna.
The themes in the said stories are similar in they attempt to control the girls’ sexuality, yet they are different, in their approach to doing so. In, “Hills like White Elephants”, the American man consistently and angrily persuades his girlfriend to have the operation based on a foundation of false promises. The theme being talking verses communicating and the power it has to build up or tear down. Although “Hills like White Elephants” is mainly a conversation between the American man and his girlfriend, neither of the speakers truly communicates with the other, stressing the fissure between the two. Both talk, but neither listens or fathoms the other’s point of view. Angered and placating, the American man will say about anything in persuading his girlfriend to have the operation, which, although never
mentioned by name, is understood to be an abortion. For example, he says, “I love you now. You know I love you.” (Hemingway 214) The girl, in the meantime, wavers vacillatingly, at one point agreeing she’ll have the abortion just to make the man stop talking. When the man persists, she pleads him, “Would you please, please, please, please, please, please, please”
The themes and symbolism for the stories “Hills like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway and “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid work with the structure of said stories to create an understanding of a girl’s sexuality and how others attempt controlling it by providing symbols that uncover the truth that lies behind the words. In, “Hills like White Elephants”, the American man consistently and angrily persuades his girlfriend to have the operation based on a foundation of false promises. Symbols that undercover that message are “Jig”, drinking, white elephants, and communication issues. In, “Girl”, the daughter’s mother attempts to control her sexuality through advice and scolding. The symbols in that story include food, cloth, and Benna.
The themes in the said stories are similar in they attempt to control the girls’ sexuality, yet they are different, in their approach to doing so. In, “Hills like White Elephants”, the American man consistently and angrily persuades his girlfriend to have the operation based on a foundation of false promises. The theme being talking verses communicating and the power it has to build up or tear down. Although “Hills like White Elephants” is mainly a conversation between the American man and his girlfriend, neither of the speakers truly communicates with the other, stressing the fissure between the two. Both talk, but neither listens or fathoms the other’s point of view. Angered and placating, the American man will say about anything in persuading his girlfriend to have the operation, which, although never
mentioned by name, is understood to be an abortion. For example, he says, “I love you now. You know I love you.” (Hemingway 214) The girl, in the meantime, wavers vacillatingly, at one point agreeing she’ll have the abortion just to make the man stop talking. When the man persists, she pleads him, “Would you please, please, please, please, please, please, please”