Hills Like White Elephants
Life is full of dilemmas that test the strength of an individual’s character. Some decisions require the input of more than one person. However, a decision that involves more than one person requires that the interests of each party are treated equally. In Ernest Hemmingway’s “Hills Like White Elephant,” abortion is used to show how people may become selfish while addressing issues affecting them. Although abortion is omitted from the story, the author makes sure that the plot of the story gives the reader a clear idea that abortion is the central theme of the story. The man in the story is attempting to convince the lady that abortion is best for both of them. The bright idea, however, is that the man does not feel ready for responsibilities that come with becoming a father.
Selfish nature of people is witnessed when situations arise, and someone has to make a decision that affects another person. Some people will choose decisions that will be best for them and will have all kinds of explanations to justify their choices. The story of “Hills Like White Elephant” shows the selfishness of some men in handling issues that involve women. The lady in the story is presumably pregnant and is contemplating between giving birth or carrying out an abortion. Moreover, the lady depends on the opinion of the man, whom she appears to be in a romantic relationship with. The man, however, seems unsupportive of the idea of giving birth and attempts to convince the lady to terminate the abortion. The fact that the lady asks, “And you really want to?” shows that the man has a stake in the decision. The trust that the lady has on the man appears to be affecting her ability to make an informed decision.
The title “Hills Like White Elephant” is symbolic in the story and represents the perception of the characters towards responsibility. Ideally, white elephants present precious gifts, although the maintenance ruins the person entrusted with the gifts. Therefore, the title represents the man’s lack of acceptance of responsibility. A child is viewed as a blessing, although bringing up the child is a burden that most people do not accept to have. The man’s fear of responsibility affects his reasoning, and he convinces the lady to attempt an abortion. Besides, the man tells the lady that he only needs the lady and no one else. Also, the lady and the man appear to avoid questions such as whether they will live together after the abortion, or whether the lady will manage to go through the abortion process. The decision to carry out an abortion is forced by the man, although the lady is the victim of the process. Therefore, the man falls into the category of people who ignore the interests of other people to make decisions that fit their interests.
In sum, the man in the story is attempting to convince the lady that abortion is best for both of them. However, the clear idea is that the man does not feel ready for responsibilities that come with becoming a father. The trust that the lady has on the man appears to be affecting her ability to make an informed decision. Generally, the man falls into the category of people who ignore the interests of other people to make decisions that fit their interests.
Work Cited
Hemingway, Ernest. “Hills Like White Elephants.” 1927.” The Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway (2016): 273-278.