Response: Hills Like White Elephants

This is the fourth time that I have read Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants" allowing me to approach the reading with some previous knowledge of the symbolism, etc. I know that there are multiple ways to interpret this story and in my opinion, this story serves as an excellent allegory for American views and lifestyles post World War I, when this story is thought to have been written.

The American in the story can be seen advising his lover (most likely a much younger girl) to have an abortion. This is implied at multiple points throughout the story. He assumes that an abortion will fix whatever problems are occurring in their relationship because he thinks that the pregnancy is what caused them in the first place. This is a great example of the kinds of lives that Americans were leading in the 1920's. They were looking for immediate pleasure, and living more wildly than they had been, especially during the war. It could also be said that there was a lack of responsibility in this era, which is clearly depicted through this story. The American does not want to assume responsibility and face the consequences of his actions, and the girl seems to be looking for more. By saying that all they do is "look at things and try new drinks" she seems to be saying that she wants more from life. She has a desire to face challenges (i.e. the baby on the way) while he is happy with life as it is and wants a quick fix for conflict rather than confrontation and resolution.

When you compare the "white elephants" in the distance to the conflict in the couples' life, which is the baby, it is easy to see the differences in the man and woman's thoughts on the matter. The woman says they look beautiful. She sees the challenge of raising a child to be an inviting one. She sees beauty in the baby. They man, on the other hand, seems to see the hills as trouble looming in the distance. He is made uncomfortable by the fact that she refers to the hills as "white elephants" because it reminds him of the baby and the shape of a pregnant woman. He sees the white elephants as being an awful challenge, threatening to destroy him and the carefree life that he has created.

The maturity of each character is also depicted in this story, showing the lack of responsibility held by both characters. The girl is not only young, making her antics seem very immature, she handles the argument with the man by asking him to stop talking and pretending to be fine. She ignores the real problems at hand and settles for a quick fix of simply ending the conversation. The man shows his lack of maturity and responsibility by treating an abortion as a simple and painless procedure that would have no lasting effects. In this sense, he is completely ignorant and selfish. He argues with the girl not because he wants what is best for her, but because he doesn't want to lose his comfortable lifestyle. Their interactions throughout the entire story show the lack of understanding and responsibility in their relationship.

Overall, I did not enjoy reading this story, because of the style in which it is written and the lack of resolution in the end. I did, however, enjoy the symbolism and the process of decoding some of that. On the surface, this story seems dry, but when there is another layer of meaning hidden behind it, the story comes to life and becomes thought provoking.