Hills Like White Elephants Literary Analysis

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We all share a fundamental drive to communicate. Communication has become the process of understanding and sharing meaning. In Ernest Hemingway’s, “Hills Like White Elephants” the American and the girl Jig, struggle to communicate with each other. The characters in the story live in a world without traditions and established values. They are in a situation that neither of them is able to resolve, due to a lack of proper communication. The dullness of the man and the desperation of the girl reveal the reality of their own freedom and independence is put at risk. Alcohol, Manipulation of Identity and the luggage are all conflicts and symbolism that supports the theme of communication in “Hills Like White Elephants.” An important example of alcohol given by writer Bukowski, “When you drank the world was still out there, but for the moment it didn’t have you by the throat.” This particular quote can be connected to Jig and the American. Throughout the story they continue to find escape through the alcoholic drinks- it is although they are looking to avoid a problem in their relationship. The couple finds an exceptional escape through alcohol, since alcohol takes away from the obvious.…show more content…
Another important key to a relationship is being able to find support from your loved one through difficult decisions in one’s life. Jig is often manipulated by her boyfriend, the American. The American desperately finds ways to convince the innocence of Jig to go through with the abortion, as stated: “It’s really an awfully simple operation, Jig. It’s not an operation at all.” The American seems rather young and possibly uneducated in to what the process of abortion consist of. He calls it a simple operation, in his own defense and protection. He is incapable of knowing exactly what the process of an abortion is- if the American did he would have put Jig’s health and well-being before all
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