Critical Analysis Of Hills Like White Elephants By Ernest...

Ernest Hemingway was a towering figure in 20th century American literature, known mostly for his larger-than-life persona and for his simple, declarative style of writing. The latter arguably won him a Nobel Prize, and also influenced possibly an entire generation of aspiring writers who came after him. 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 White Elephants.† The story is about two people who are simply referred to as ‘the American’ and ‘the girl,’ at a train station, waiting to catch the next express to Barcelona; they have drinks as they wait and they talk about the seemingly mundane,†¦show more content†¦The reason for this, for trying to identify the age range of the girl, is to gain some understanding of where her mentality and emotions are during this exchange because so lit tle is said and known about her (and the American), and any piece of factual information, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, is essential in unraveling the hidden attitudes and feelings of the characters; now that the age of the girl is established, one can gather that she may be entering into the pinnacle of her womanhood and assume her coming to the realization that the prospect of having an abortion is something far more complex than simply letting â€Å"the air in.† Due to any and all the factors that come into play when one is placed in such a situation, age being a notable one here, the girl may not feel ready to have or even want a child, but what is more clearly communicated in the story is that these thoughts are never fully able to surface and be discussed because of the American’s abundant persistence of her getting an abortion and encouraging her that â€Å"everything will be fine† as they once were, which only creates more pressure and conflict. However, very little of this is actually said in a clear, cut-and-dried way. Hemingway never states that the girl is confused, frustrated, or uncomfortable, but through the little that is saidShow MoreRelatedCritical Analysis of the Short Story ‘Hills Like White Elephants’ by Ernest Hemingway.1497 Words   |  6 Pages------------------------------------------------- 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’sRead 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 More 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 MoreCritical Analysis of Hills Like White Elephants923 Words   |  4 PagesMikhail Shimonov Professor Kaufman March 28, 2011 Critical Analysis of Hills like White Elephants At first glance, Hills like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway, may allude to many interpretations, however, the short story has a clear purpose. Set in the Ebro River valley in Spain, the story looms around the issue brought forth by Jig and the American, who is nameless throughout the whole story. The issue here being the ‘simple operation’ that Jig is about to undergo which happens to be anRead 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. At Hemingway’s time feminism was known as a famous movement and it affected many important writers like Octavia Butler and Virginia Woolf. Hemingway was a literary icon of his time and he was influenced by the political, social and human rights movements of his time. He was also touched by the hopelessness of women and how their thinkingRead MoreHills Like White Elephants, a Theme Analysis Essay1243 Words   |  5 PagesErnest Hemmingway uses time, place, and symbolism in Hills like White Elephants to intensify the central dilemma in a story about a man and a woman deciding on whether to go through with an abortion. 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 MoreEssay about Modernism: Hills Like White Elephants, by Ernest Hemingway1578 Words   |  7 Pagesall seek to free the restricted human spirit. It had no trust in the moral conventions and codes of the past. One of the examples of modernism, that breaks the conventions and traditions of literature prior to Modernism, is Ernest Hemingway’s short story â€Å"Hills Like White Elephants†. The short story uses plot, symbolism, setting, dialogue, and a new style of writing to allow human spirit to experiment with meaning and interpretation. Some of the characteristics of Modernism are: a desire to break conventionsRead 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 also 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. Hemingway refers to past events in his life in hisRead MoreThe Many Styles Of Ernest Hemingway1768 Words   |  8 Pages The Many Styles of Ernest Hemingway Ernest Hemingway is well known throughout American literature for his unique style of writing, which contributed greatly to the overall effect and meaning of his stories. Before writing short stories, Hemingway was a journalist, which is where he adopted many of his unique techniques of writing. While writing as a journalist, Hemingway tended to write pieces that contained brief, choppy sentences and were generally minimalistic andRead MoreAnalysis Of Hills Like White Elephants By Ernest Hemingway2013 Words   |  9 PagesErnest Hemingway was a towering figure in 20th century American literature, known mostly for his larger-than-life persona and for his simple, declarative style of writing. The latter arguably won him a Nobel Prize, and also influenced possibly an entire generation of aspiring writers who came after him. 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 White