The short descriptions of setting may not seem very detailed but combined with dialogues they tell us the true meaning of this three and a half page story. There is a couple waiting for the train. The American and his young girlfriend nicknamed Jig are sitting at a table in the shade, waiting for the train, talking and drinking beer. The whole story centres on a conversation over whether the girl should undergo an abortion or not. Although Hemingway never uses the words “abortion“ or “baby“, we can clearly tell that is all the characters are talking about.
The reader can only imagine that in 1927 era, in the Catholic country of Spain, where abortion was illegal up until the year 2009, Jig would be concerned about more than the beauty or the countryside. There were moral questions, legal concerns, and the worry of where their relationship was heading. Jig couldn’t even make the decision whether or not to have a beer though. So, making the choice between having a baby, or not, is clearly more complex.
Women across the country who must go through the traumatizing horrors of abortion are often categorized as shameful. They are judged enough already and certainly don’t deserve to bear the burden of ugly legislation. Planned Parenthood is an organization who supports women’s rights and is in disagreement with the things that they must put women through because of these regulations. A recent bill in Texas called the “Women’s Right to Know Act” was passed and requires women to make at least two visits to the abortion clinic before the
There are not any trees in sight only two distant hills and the woman refers to them as white elephants. They sip on their drinks and through conversation you can conclude that the woman and the man are at odds over her pregnancy. She wants to have the baby, but the man does not. He tries to sway her decision by telling her that the abortion process is simple. “Awfully simple and not really anything.” He wants to keep the lifestyle that they have on track.
12 Apr. 2012 Many people do not want to hear the word abortion, but when it comes to rape victims that get pregnant, it is often brought up. Even pro-life advocates agree that an innocent child shouldn’t perish for the sins of their father (1). Harvard students give their opinions and come to the conclusion that no rape victim shall be frowned upon when deciding to get an abortion. “Abortion is not some magical surgery which turns back time to make a woman ‘un-pregnant’ – or, for the matter, ‘un-raped’” (1).
Define observation and inference. After careful reading of Ernest Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants”, it is very clear what it’s purpose is. The story takes place in the Ebro River valley of Spain, where an American man and his female companion Jig are waiting for a train and having drinks discussing “doing it”. Obviously, by “doing it”, they’re referring to whether or not they should have an abortion. At the end of the story, we can only assume that they decide to go through with the abortion, when Jig tells the American male “I don’t care about me.” The man goes and haves a drink by himself and return to his companion.
The American discounts the young woman’s remark and keeps drinking (Napierkowski, par. 2). This statement and the title are symbolic to the meaning of the story. At the time the story was written, it was well known that if one was given a white elephant then they are given an unwanted and useless gift. This leads the reader to believe that this is what the story is about.
The girlfriend says that the hills in the distance look like white elephants, which the man says that he has not seen one. They order a type of liquor called Anis del Toro and start to argue about the taste of it. The Man scolds his girlfriend about it and tells her to enjoy herself. The girlfriend says to the man that she’s trying to have some fun and then takes away her opinion of the hills looking like white elephants. They soon order another round of beers, and the man comments that he wants her to have an operation, but he never says what kind of operation he wants her to have.
Section 1: • Topic Sentence: o After only reading the title and the first paragraph, the idea that both the hills and white elephants appear to be symbolizing a certain choice involving something precious yet burdensome. • Supporting Evidence: o Description of hills on the first side: by Jig • “No shade” • “No trees” o References the title on the very first page: • “They look like white elephants” Goes back and says that they don’t actually look like elephants (does this mean that she only wanted to mention white elephants for no apparent reason?) o Description of hills on the other side: by Jig • “fields of grain and trees” • “beyond the river” makes it seem way cooler/colder than the other side • Mountains in the distance In comparison to hills on the other side • Shadows from clouds are found on this side No shade on the other o Each side appears to represent a choice, one seeming to be the very obvious, 2nd side, and one seeming not as good, 1st • Topic Sentence: o Hemingway chooses words and phrases that subtly give off hidden
This brings up the fact that people only get abortions where it is only beneficial to themselves or that friends or family don’t want to have the child depending on if the woman is not ready for parenthood or whether she was accidently impregnated. It is also reported that it is a burden for doctors to do abortions themselves. Natural Law is seen and interpreted in different ways by different people in various situations. There are many problems in the world to where there it’s nearly impossible for everyone to be happy