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Jakob Oglesby
Mrs. Ferguson
English 102
10 February 2024
Burdens and Beverages: Hills Like White Elephants
Unwanted pregnancy and drinks make a very symbolic pair. Symbolism can be found all
throughout “Hills Like White Elephants.” Ernest Hemingway uses symbolism in this short story
to describe the relationship between The American and Jig. The two main characters are found
drinking and waiting on a train at a train station. They discuss if Jig should get an abortion.
Through the use of the setting, the conversation, the title, and imagery, Ernest Hemingway uses
symbols to convey the theme of making difficult decisions.
The use of the setting and the title of “Hills Like White Elephants” symbolizes the main
characters getting the unwanted gift of pregnancy and the decision they have to make. The two
look at the hills and Jig says “They look like white elephants.” (Hemingway 700) The reference
Jig makes to white elephants suggests they have a gift that is a burden or unwanted. A white
elephant is a gift that has been given to someone that is unwanted. This symbolizes the unwanted
pregnancy and the problem the couple is facing. When talking about the hills the American says
“I might have” (Hemingway 700) about if he had seen them before, explaining he might of been
in a situation like this before. The gift of having a child feels just as burdensome as receiving a
white elephant. The title and the setting Hemingway uses symbolizes the unwanted pregnancy
and the struggle of making a decision.
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The conversation between the two main characters symbolizes the miscommunication
and the avoidance of the pregnancy. Jig tells the American “That’s all we do, isn’t it-look at new
things and try new drinks.” (Hemingway 700) The conversation about the drinks and the small
talk reflects the character’s avoidance of the pregnancy. The American would rather talk about
anything rather than discuss the underlying issue. This symbolizes the theme of
miscommunications and avoidance of the main issue and the struggle to confront the reality of
the situation and find a solution. When the American says “Well, lets try and have a fine time”
(Hemingway 701) he is pushing the problem they are both facing away. Ernest Hemingway’s
portrayal of the character’s avoidance of the problem and would rather drink than talk about the
real issue symbolizes the uncertainty of the decision and the challenges in this situation.
The train station serves as not only a symbol but also a metaphor for the decision they are
making and the moral and ethical nature of their choice. Jig talks about how they could have a
life together and says, “We can have everything.” (Hemingway 702) Her statement reflects that
they could have the child and have a life together and have everything they want. But the train
station and the train symbolize a point of no return and this is a permanent decision and there
will be no turning back. The baggage the American has with all the hotel labels, “He did not say
anything but looked at the bags against the wall of the station” (Hemingway 703) representants
he has been everywhere. Throughout the short story Jig hints to the American that she is open to
having the child and does not want to go through with the abortion. The American acts like he
supports her and tells her that he will be there for her even though the reader can tell that the
American does want Jig to go through with the abortion.
The hills and the field symbolize the life Jig thinks they could have if she had the child.
During the conversation Jig takes back what she said about the hills looking like white elephants,
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meaning that she wants the baby and to have a life with the American. “They do not really look
like white elephants. I just meant the coloring of their skin through the trees.” (Hemingway 701)
The American continues to tell her that it is a simple operation and he knows many people who
have done it. Jig asks if they were happy before and if they can be happy afterwards and if he
will love her if she follows through with the abortion.
In Ernest Heminway’s short story “Hills Like White Elephants” Hemingway uses
symbolism to explain the theme of making a difficult decision and the communication from both
partners that needs to go into making a choice such as an abortion. By using symbolism in the
title, the setting, the communication between the two main characters, and imagery, readers gain
insight and recognize the difficult decision that the American and Jig have to make and that there
is no going back on their choice. The author use of these symbols explore the theme and make
the reader think what they would do in this situation or any situation that involves making a
difficult decision in the face of difficult circumstances. “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest
Hemingway continues to be a timeless piece of the author's works and also a timeless piece of
literature. The plot and the theme of the story even hold up today with the recent controversy
over women’s choice to get an abortion following Roe V Wade and the Pro Life and Pro Choice
movements. This short story is a excellent piece of literature that invites readers to think about
the complexities and the choices someone would make with an unwanted pregnancy.
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Work Cited
Hemingway, Ernest. “Hills Like White Elephants .” The Norton Introduction to Literature , 14th
ed., Kelly J. Mays, 2023, pp. 699–703.