Critical Analysis of the Short Story ‘Hills Like White...

------------------------------------------------- Critical Reading of Literature in English Critical Analysis of the short story ‘Hills like White Elephants’ by Ernest Hemingway. Word Count: 1367 Hills like White Elephants – Ernest Hemingway â€Å"Will Jig have the abortion and stay with the man; will Jig have the abortion and leave the man; or will Jig not have the abortion and win the man over to her point of view?† (Hashmi, N, 2003). These are the three different scenarios that have been seriously considered in Ernest Hemingway’s short story, â€Å"Hills like White Elephants†. Ernest Hemingway is a great writer, he worked as a reporter after graduated from high school and continued this career on and off for the rest of his life. He†¦show more content†¦The American and the girl with him sat at a table in the shade, outside the building.† (Hemingway, E, 1927). The setting is in a railway station â€Å"between two lines of rails in the sun† in Spain. On one side the land is dry and desolate, but the other side has trees and grain. Hemingway divided the outside natural environment landscape setting in half to reflect the inner landscapes of the relationship. Furthermore, the contrast between the white hills and barren valley highlighted the dichotomy between life and death, fertility and sterility, and mirrors the choice Jig faces between to do abortion or not to do abortion. (SparkNotes Editors, 2007) Hemingway is good at using the word â€Å"know† in a humorous and complex way. During the argument between Jig and the American, â€Å"‘I love you now. You know I love you.’ ‘I know. But if I do it, then it will be nice again if I say things are like white elephants, and you’ll like it?’ ‘I’ll love it. I love it now but I just can’t think about it. You know how I get when I worry.’† (Hemingway, E, 1927) The conversations are fundamentally about Jig and the American talk about their relationship, but through the abstract above we can feel that the American’s language overpowers Jig’s. â€Å"‘Doesn’t it mean anything to you? We could get along.’ ‘Of course it does. But I don’t want anybody but you. I don’t want anyone else. And I know it’s perfectly simple.’ ‘Yes, you know it’sShow MoreRelated Analysis of Hills Like White Elephants Essay1049 Words   |  5 PagesAnalysis of Hills Like White Elephants â€Å"Hills Like White Elephants†, by Ernest Hemingway, is a short story published in 1927 that takes place in a train station in Spain with a man and a woman discussing an operation. Most of the story is simply dialogue between the two characters, the American and Jig. This couple is at a critical point in their lives when they must decide whether or not to have an abortion. Certain themes arise from this story such as choices and consequences, doubtRead Moreâ€Å"the Lottery† and â€Å"Hills Like White Elephants† Essay881 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"The Lottery† and â€Å"Hills like White Elephants† Regardless of the type of society people live in controversial topics and cowardly individuals can create conflict. The stories â€Å"The Lottery† by Shirley Jackson and â€Å"Hills like White Elephants† by Ernest Hemingway implement this concept. â€Å"The Lottery† is about a small town that holds an annual lottery in which the winner will be killed. â€Å"Hills like White Elephants† is the story of a couple’s discussion over the decision they must make of whether orRead MoreHills Like White Elephants : A Critical Analysis1708 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Hills Like White Elephants†: A Critical Analysis Introduction: One of the many themes in his stories for which Ernest Heming way is known, includes feminism. 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Although a literal reading of the title may not seem to have any relation to the story, the title is rich in implications. Critics suggest that Hills refers to the shape of a womans stomach when pregnant, and Websters 21st Century Dictionary defines white elephant as: [An] awkward, useless possessionRead MoreHemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants Essay1908 Words   |  8 Pagesfeel in the best and simplest way† (E. Hemingway, Brainy Quote). It is evident that this is why Ernest Hemingway writes the literary pieces he writes. Hemingway proves this by writing his short story, Hills Like White Elephants. Hemingway al so quoted, â€Å"I never had to choose a subject - my subject rather chose me† (E. Hemingway, QuotesPedia). This also relates to Hemingway composing Hills Like White Elephants along with many of his other works. 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Hemingway’s short and economical style is perhaps best displayed in his earlier work, most notably in his short stories, and one of his earliest, and most famous, short stories is â€Å"Hills Like WhiteRead MoreANALIZ TEXT INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS28843 Words   |  116 Pagesï » ¿TEXT INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS The purpose of Text Interpretation and Analysis is a literary and linguistic commentary in which the reader explains what the text reveals under close examination. Any literary work is unique. It is created by the author in accordance with his vision and is permeated with his idea of the world. The reader’s interpretation is also highly individual and depends to a great extent on his knowledge and personal experience. That’s why one cannot lay down a fixed â€Å"model†