Most readers believe any literary work should have an evident plot and properly developed characters. However, Hemingway builds his great short story “Hills Like White Elephants” primarily on the argument between the two unnamed persons, adding tension to their conversation and not revealing its nature. However, the relationship between the couple may be understood with the help of the elephants’ symbolism, the lack of names, and the way the characters communicate.
Although the girl’s comparison of the hills with white elephants may seem insignificant childishness, it is actually the key to understanding the relationship between the American and Jig. First, the color of the elephants the girl sees refers to their symbolization of an unneeded, unwanted, and unvalued thing that is challenging to eliminate. This symbol may describe the connection between the man and Jig, highlighting its strange nature. The following is the dialogue they have: “’They look like white elephants,’ she said. ‘I’ve never seen one,’ the man drank his beer. ‘No, you wouldn’t have.’” (Hemingway, 1927, p. 229). This exchange of phrases indicates that there is a misunderstanding or opposition between the two. Thus, by seeing white elephants, the girl probably highlights that she needs this ‘thing,’ whether it is their relationship or something else, and tries to make it valuable, while the man does not. However, later in the text, Jig says that “they don’t really look like white elephants” (Hemingway, 1927, p. 230). Readers may suggest that this is her attempt to become closer to the Americans and eliminate the differences between them.
Further, Hemingway’s decision not to reveal the two characters’ names or backgrounds was the author’s intention to make the situation more common. To be more precise, there is no clear plot in the short story, only the man and the girl having a strange conversation. However, what happens to them may also happen to any other couple. The American even refers to others, saying: “I’ve known lots of people that have done it” (Hemingway, 1927, p. 230). Therefore, if the two had names or other distinguishing features, it would be more challenging for the readers to relate to them.
At the same time, although the names of the man and the girl are unknown, it is possible to analyze their behavior, noticing signs of manipulation from the Americans and fear from Jig. The man insists that she undergo an operation, and his attempts to convince the girl seem very intrusive, even though he tries to hide it. Thus, he constantly repeats: “If you don’t want to you don’t have to. I wouldn’t have you do it if you didn’t want to. But I know it’s perfectly simple” (Hemingway, 1927, p. 230). With such pressure applied on her, Jig feels insecure and unhappy about the future: “And we could have everything and every day we make it more impossible” (Hemingway, 1927, 231). As a result, all these factors make it evident to the readers that there is tension between Jig and the American, with the latter manipulating the girl.
To draw a conclusion, one may say that Hemingway greatly develops this short interaction between Jig and the man, showing the readers as much as they need to see. Having journalistic skills, the author manages to convey the nature of the characters’ connection without giving their names and backgrounds or describing their emotions. The symbolism of the white elephants and hills demonstrates the misunderstanding between Jig and the American; his tricky phrases show that the man manipulates the girl, and Hemingway ensures to make the whole situation relatable.
Reference
Hemingway, E. (1927). Hills like white elephants [PDF document]. Web.