Hills Like White Elephants Themes
Limits of Language
Hemingway became a journalist before he turned to fiction, and his years as a journalist had a perceptible impact on his writing. Hemingway was conditioned to write short and factual sentences that were aimed to deliver the facts. In this story, like others he has authored, Hemingway exposes the limits of language through unnamed characters and stripped-down sentences. The plot of the story is driven forward by what they can and cannot say to one another. The American and Jig are so entrenched in their inner worlds that they are unable to have a simple conversation without resorting to arguments.
They never actually name the operation, but it is easily understood that they are talking about abortion. It is also important to contextualize abortions to the time in which the story is set since abortions were then severely frowned upon given the dominant Christian view on the subject. This is another reason why the man’s choice of words for the operation is so jarring, words such as “natural,” and “perfectly simple.” The man is seen to be an expert manipulator of language as he begins to characterize the operation as “letting the air in,” when in fact it is about getting the baby out. The conversation between the two characters continues to deteriorate to the point that the girl begs the man to stop talking.
Hemingway also develops this theme through the character of the woman from the bar. It becomes clear that Jig doesn’t speak any Spanish and requires the American to translate for her. It is surprising then that the two people who most require the use of a translator are the couples themselves, who are unable to communicate despite speaking the same language.
Choice
The short story begins at a railway station, which sets up the expectation that the characters are at a crossroads. They are indeed trying to decide how to proceed with their pregnancy, whether they should embrace parenthood or not. Jig is unsure about the operation, and cannot completely understand why her partner doesn’t feel the same way. She has enjoyed their time together but she feels ready to start a family with the American. He doesn’t quite see this as an opportunity, but rather a temporary hurdle in their endless traveling. It is evident from his words that he sees the pregnancy as something they can abort and never again have to worry about it. The girl makes it clear that she understands nothing will ever be the same after the abortion though the man tries his utmost to convince her otherwise.
The action of the story is driven by their inability to reach a point of agreement though they attempt it. The man is depicted as the one with greater control in the matter since the girl seems to defer to him in all things. She tells him that she would go through with the operation if it meant that he would love her again and that he would stop worrying. However, she later does add that she would do the operation because she doesn’t carry about herself at all. This last comment is perhaps a means for her to show him that agreeing to the abortion doesn’t necessarily mean that her will has conformed to his desires.
The American man is presented as a manipulative partner with his Jig. He first begins the conversation about the operation when he compliments the beer, as he equates the simple pleasure of the beer with his perceived simplicity of the operation. He raises several arguments in favor of the operation, but just as soon as Jig begins to agree with him a little, he begins to backpedal. The man doesn’t just want Jig to get the abortion but he wants her to get it because she wants it and not because he’s making her do it. He wants to bear no responsibility even for the decision of the abortion.
Freedom vs Family
The characters from the short story depict a clear lean towards a lifestyle that is unimpeded by the incumbrances of commitment and limitations. The man turns to examine their suitcases at a point in their conversation, and he notes how heavily stamped they are with the markers of all the hotels they’ve visited. This feature of the story indicates that the characters have been traveling together for a long time, which wouldn’t occur if the girl were to continue with her pregnancy. The characters look at the pregnancy in vastly different ways, and they are unable to convince the other about their reasons. The man is unable to fully explain that he enjoys the uncommitted and free nature of their relationship while she is unable to explain how she thinks the pregnancy will give them all the joy that they like and deserve.
Hemingway continues to depict the man in a poor light as the character seems to be trying to manipulate the girl into adopting his view. The extent of his manipulation reaches its zenith when she asks him whether the pregnancy means anything to him. He tells her that it did mean something, but that he just wanted her and no one else. The man characterizes his decision not to settle down with her as a choice to love her more than anything else when it is evidently about his love for the lifestyle he leads.
