Ernest Hemingway’s famous short story “Hills Like White Elephants” is a short work but full of contextual details. The setting in which the events of the story unfold is notable for how much it influences the course of the narrative. Various non-obvious aspects presented by the author allow the reader to find new meanings in the story and reveal the characters more deeply. First of all, it is worth noting the location within which the conversation unfolds. The Spanish countryside emphasizes conservative views on difficult moral decisions such as abortion. The railway station refers to the crossroads on which the couple is located. The hills against the background of the story unfold to show the man’s lingering from the events and his misunderstanding.
First, Hemingway chose a specific location to describe the actions of his story. Spanish setting “contributes to the ironic tone of the story, for the moral drama takes place in a predominantly Catholic country where the church stands in firm opposition to abortion” (Johnston). Thus, the narrative acquires an ironic and satirical tone since the central conflict between the characters has a moral basis. In countries with dominant religiosity, such conversations could not arise at all. Moreover, the girl, unlike her companion, does not know Spanish and asks him “what does it say” (Hemingway 229). This emphasizes her dependence and incompetence, the American being her only acquaintance and guide.
The bar at the train station is also a notable element of the story’s setting, as it symbolizes path and movement. This location emphasizes the tension of the situation as abortion is an “unspoken reason for their trip to Madrid” (Bloom). Being in a bar, drinking, and having a not effective conversation, the characters show that they are in an uncomfortable situation where they both do not want to make a decision. The railway station is a pathway for both of them, on which their joint fate is decided. Thus, the setting of the story emphasizes the dynamics of events, the reader experiences anxiety. Moreover, the train must arrive soon, which means that a decision must be made, which cannot be delayed any longer.
Another significant detail, undoubtedly, are the hills themselves, against which the conversation unfolds. Kozikowski notes that “American man, as distant from metaphor as he is from the hills.” In reality, the hills symbolize childbirth, just as their color refers to the difficult decision and the uniqueness of the girl’s position. However, only she was given to understand how much pregnancy and abortion are of great importance in a woman’s life. Her companion cannot understand this fact, which is emphasized by the presence of hills, to which the girl pays attention, but the man does not. The setting, in this case, emphasizes the man’s indifference and Jig’s anxiety.
Hemingway skillfully incorporates many details into a short story, turning it into meaningful work. It is difficult to learn much information directly from a conversation between a girl and a man. However, the setting allows the reader to understand the meaning of events occurring. The irony of the situation is underscored by the Spanish location with a dominant Catholic restrained faith, within which it is impossible to talk about abortion. The railway station is a symbol of a difficult decision, as well as its fatefulness. The hills refer exclusively to the values ​​of the girl, which the man does not share since he cannot understand them. Thus, the setting in the story plays no less role than the characters themselves and their dialogue.