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  • Essay / The Abortion Problem in Hills Like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway

    In Hemingway's “Hills Like White Elephants,” Jig's moment of choice occurs in the particular area that will make her think with the most attention to this choice. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay The short story “Hills Like White Elephants,” written by Ernest Hemingway, is about a young couple and the controversial issue of 'abortion. However, because the phrase "abortion is not located anywhere in the story, it is often understood through Hemingway's use of elements of literacy: setting and imagery/symbolism." This story takes place in a very short period of time, yet tells a story much bigger than itself. The woman's name is Jig, where the man is practically recognized as "a man" or "the American". Although the relationship between the two is insecure, they are sincerely not married, but continued a relationship which led to the wife becoming pregnant. It appears the pair are travelers who stop in separate cities before moving on to the next. However, to the reader, their relationship might seem superficial. Jig is a young pregnant woman. The focus of this story is Jig's pregnancy and the subject of abortion added through the different scenes and photos used by Hemingway. Hemingway's motivation in creating the character Jig may have reflected his feelings on abortion to some extent. However, it can also look like a semblance of human nature, the way we go against ourselves and do something undesirable simply to please someone else. The man, otherwise known as "the American", is the story's only logical antagonist. Hemingway's portrait of him is less flattering than that of Jig. He proves insensitive to Jig's feelings, regardless of his typical words. As a reader, the unique views Hemingway portrayed the man leads us to consider him to be someone who prioritizes his personal desires. He is no longer given a proper first identity in the story, unlike Jig. His desire is not clear on the subject. From the first paragraph, the setting immediately introduces the disturbing ecosystem which will reflect the rest of the story. The story is set in Spain and although the time frame is in no way stated, it can be assumed to be around 1927. The first use of imagery is found in Hemingway's introduction of the location of the The story, “The hills across the Ebro valley were long and white. On this side, there was no shade or trees and the station used to be between two railway tracks, in the sun. The American and the woman who accompanied him were sitting at a desk in the shade outside the building. It was very hot and the Barcelona show was coming in forty minutes. He stopped at this intersection for two minutes and headed towards Madrid. Much like the two train lines that passed through the station, there were only two options and two instructions in which the couple had to decide as they appeared to be making a drastic decision. She seemed to care a lot about the man, to the point where as a character she is torn between two decisions. The landscapes and surroundings of the station play a necessary role in the story through their vast symbolism. When the female sees the long white hills, she says they "look like white elephants." A white elephant is a metaphor for an expensive asset that represents a financial burden to maintain. There.