Summary Of The Hills Like White Elephants: Identifying Conflicts

Journal Two: Identifying Conflict in Two Texts.
Brenda Oliver
ENG125: Introduction to Literature
Professor Victoria Schmidt
November 30, 2014

In The Hills Like White Elephants (Hemingway, 1927), the specific conflicts are Individual versus Individual and Individual versus self. The American is trying to convince the girl to get an abortion and the girl is battling with herself on whether she wants the abortion and if she thinks it is right .I think these conflicts are significant to the story because abortion has always been a touchy subject and one up for debate with alt of people and it gets us torn between the American and the girl, mostly putting sympathy toward the girl.
“It’s a simple operation Jig.” the man said. ”It
is not really an operation at all.”(Hemingway, 1927, “Hills like Elephants” line 40)This shows the American, trying to downplay abortion to convince the girl, Jig, to get it. I am sure the author had a purpose in choosing abortion as the conflict in this story .It is always good to be able to determine the conflict in a story as well as real life. Makes things a lot easier if you can go into a situation and know what the problem is without it being explained to you. The author uses a metaphor to show the girl is trying to distract herself from the conversation about abortion.
In Good Country People (O’Connor, 1953), I see Individual versus Individual and Individual versus Self .In this story Joy, or Helga as she renamed herself, has a wooden leg from an accident when she was younger and has had a tough time of it, mentally dealing with it .Renaming herself was her first step in trying to have control in a situation she felt she had none.
She is moody, lonely and not very pleasant or helpful to her mother. A young man is introduced, and he is a bible salesmen and ends up staying for dinner. I think, he did his homework on Joy, and came prepared talking about his “heart condition” and not surprisingly to the reader, it is the same as joys.” I got this heart condition. I may not live long. When you know something is wrong with you and you may not live long, well then, lady…” (O’Connor 1953,”Good Country People”, line 45.)This is where he bates the hook so to speak. I believe he knew Joy was listening and it would get her to let her guard down. She does and he gets her to talk a walk with her and feel comfortable with him so he could get her to take her leg off. He wanted to have a souvenir .I believe these conflicts are significant in that one never knows what a situation can turn into so it is like the author wants to warn us to be cautious. I think the author uses figurative language in describing Mrs. Freeman. ”If she doesn’t get there before the dust settles, you can bet she is dead. “It gives you a glimpse of Mrs. .Freemans character. Using
these kinds of elements in literature paints a picture in your mind and helps you relate to the characters. Draws you in,

References
Clugston, R. W. (2014). Journey into literature (2nd ed.) [Electronic version]. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu/

(Hemingway, 1927, “Hills like Elephants” line 40)

” (O’Connor 1953,”Good Country People”, line 45.)