Introduction
Subtext and metaphors play an enormous role in Hemingway’s works. A story written in 1927 called Hills Like White Elephants is an example of such a work. So, two characters are waiting for a train, a couple, they are talking, she orders a drink, it seems like nothing special. The style is very precise, telegraphic, and dry, and the author avoids even such remarks as “he/she said”, which many English authors are very fond of. But behind these terse dialogues – is the whole story of the relationship.
The Dialogue
The first thing worth noting is the dialogue in the story. The point is that the writer, in fact, does not insert his own comments or vision of the situation. The entire work is built through a dialogue between two people, whose remarks describe the world around them, and their thoughts and what is happening in general. It is necessary to consider one of the most striking examples of revealing the world through dialogue:
- It’s a minor operation, Jig, – the man said. – It’s not even an operation.
- And if I do it, won’t you be nervous? – No, because it’s nothing.
- Well, then I will. I don’t care what happens to me (Hemingway, 2).
Not a single sentence says anything about the baby or the abortion. But the reader understands that the situation is this – the characters are expecting a child, the young man does not want one, their relationship is falling apart, and he pushes her to take the tragic step.
The Environment
Geography plays an important role in literature. The geography in this short story shows the situation’s positive side but also the downfall and negativity. The resolution contributes to the conflict and tension that lies between the couple, showing the literal and figurative aspects of the situation. The couple sits facing the side of the valley with no trees, and there is a brown area in the distance, which is in great need of water. On the opposite side of the valley, along the banks of the Ebro, there are “fields of grain and trees” (Hemingway 1). But as she watches this happen, “the shadow of a cloud moved across the field of grain,” foreshadowing the death of her unborn child (Hemingway 1). Another thing to keep in mind is the cultural aspect of the setting. Hemingway placed his story in Spanish territory. Most Spanish-speaking countries are mostly Catholic, which means they don’t agree with abortion. “However, the woman does not understand Spanish, which helps to reveal her essential helplessness and dependence. She is a stranger in a foreign country where her companion is her only interpreter and guide” (Hemingway 2). Their luggage reveals that they are not from the entire area, and their luggage also hints that they have two options once they leave the station. They can go to Madrid and become a family, or they can go to the same place and have an abortion.
Symbolism
Hemingway uses symbolism in his works to hide the obvious by making the reader think. There are many examples of symbolism in this work. For example, the suitcases, the train, and the character’s name. The main symbolism is the hills, around which the story revolves and through which the climax occurs. This is the most important symbol, revealing everything, both the meaning of the character’s journey and their different attitudes toward what is to come. In addition, it is the white elephants that show the conflict. Thus, Hemingway does not need to tell the story of what happened because the symbolism does that on its own.
Conclusion
Ernest Hemingway’s stories are characterized by their strangeness and expressiveness, related to the artistic techniques used by the author. In the story Hills Like White Elephants, it becomes apparent that dialogue and symbolism are central to the writer’s work. In addition, Hemingway hardly ever comments on what is happening; readers either understand it themselves or are told by the symbols. This effect is achieved through the charismatic setting and symbols, which makes the writer’s work unique.
Work Cited
Hemingway, Ernest. Hills Like White Elephants. Short Story. HarperPerennial Classics, 2013.