Both films Hills Like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway and The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck depict oppressed female characters in the early 1900s. In the Hemingway's short film, Jig is oppressed by her lover known only as "The American", while the main character of Chrysanthemums, Elisa Allen, feels the weight of the oppression of society (dominated by the men) as a whole Although the driving force behind the two women's subjugation varies slightly, their emotionality It is these responses that differentiate the two. Throughout Hills Like White Elephants, the American refers to his girlfriend only. under the name Jig (which is a device used to measure whiskey). This nickname implies that he sees her only as a companion. The name itself is an epithet for Jig's lifestyle. the lost generation, carefree and carefree, to which both indulged. By leaving the American nameless, Hemingway gives the character the strength of anonymity. He does not care about his health, his life or his future and is only concerned with his present existence and the preservation of what he considers to be pleasant for him alone. This gives the American the advantage over Jig; thus exposing his domination. Even though she desperately wants to give up this lifestyle and start a family, she doesn't want to lose the man she loves. Therefore, she is willing to postpone her transition to womanhood so as not to ruin the romantic relationship she believes exists between them. The subtle manipulative control that the American exerts over Jig's thoughts and actions transforms into complete control over his decision. After discovering she is pregnant, Jig struggles to weigh her options due to her addiction to middle of paper... although consciously she will not be of her own influence. In addition to her youthful inexperience in matters of life and love, the American's domination over her and her fear of finding herself without him will be what forces her hand. In a sense, she was trapped. This is undoubtedly the first of many major disagreements in their relationship. After maturing with age, Jig will tire of the American's manipulative ascendancy; thus allowing him to strengthen his own self-esteem and present him with an ultimatum. Works Cited Hemingway, Ernest. “Hills like white elephants.” Fiction 101: An Anthology of Short Fiction. James H. Pickering. Twelfth edition. Pearson Education, Inc., 2010. 638-641 Steinbeck, John. “Chrysanthemums”. Fiction 101: An Anthology of Short Fiction. James H. Pickering. Twelfth edition. Pearson Education, Inc.., 2010. 1162-1168