The Tone of a Story: Analyzing Ernest Hemingway’s ‘Hills Like White Elephants’

Elephants standing on a Hill Ernest Hemingway's fictional story, Hills Like White Elephants, carries a strong underlying meaning between the two characters, the conflicting views on what to do with their problem, which is an unexpected pregnancy and the thoughts of an abortion. In this story a man and a women are drinking beer and discussing a problem in their relationship. At a first glance of this story, many readers may not see the symbolism and the direct meaning. They discuss a procedure but they do not come out and say what it is exactly, you have to read into it. The man states "I know you wouldn't mind it Jig. It's really not anything. It's just to let the air in"(pg365) This is where symbolism and deep reading play into this story.

Symbolism contributes strongly to the meaning conveyed in this story and it is what leads you to believe it is an abortion they are talking about. A white elephant is an old term referred to as something that won't go away. Yard Sale items that never sell would be called "white elephants". The couple was not expecting to have a child and the man is strong is his belief that they will be fine if the women just has an abortion. The hills going up and down could be symbolism of the women's pregnant stomach or her thoughts of what she may look like if the baby is kept. The hills could also represent the highs and lows she is having in her relationship and her own mind set on whether or not to continue the pregnancy, which is why she is constantly distracted by the hills.

Symbolism also comes into play at the end of the story and constantly runs throughout the story. The fact that they are always drinking is a sign that they both are tense and worried but trying to hide their fear. In the beginning of the story the girl notices a beaded curtain with a drink's name painted on it. She ends up ordering the drink and they ask her if she wants it with water. The curtain that was blocking the way to another room could symbolize her drinking blocking the way to another life, one with a child.

Order custom essay The Tone of a Story: Analyzing Ernest Hemingway’s ‘Hills Like White Elephants’ with free plagiarism report

450+ experts on 30 subjects Starting from 3 hours delivery

Get Essay Help

Towards the end of the story the man "picked up the two heavy bags and carried them around the station to the other tracks. He looked up but could not see the train."(pg.367). This could be a way the man is viewing this problem. The heavy bags could represent the baggage and the strains in their relationship over the pregnancy. The train not being in sight could represent the fact that a common ground and feeling on this situation is not in the near future, and he must wait, the ultimate decision is hers, no matter how hard he fights it.

Ernest Hemingway has a strong gender role in this story, which helps to drive the plot. The man is set on her having this abortion and talks to her in a very manipulative way. For example, "It's really an awfully simple operation, Jig"(pg. 365) and he also says "You don't have to be afraid. I've known lots of people that have done it."(pg.365) The women makes a few counter remarks like this one made about other people having abortions, "And afterward they were all so happy"(pg. 365), so she is somewhat stating her point that she does not want to do it but she is constantly being nagged and pushed down when she speaks up. During some parts of this story she also seems very clingy and emotional, she states " But if I do it, then it will be nice again if I say things are like white elephants, and you'll like it?"(Pg 366) It gives the impression that she may be considering the abortion just so she will not be bothered by it anymore and so she would not lose her companion.

The tone of a story is important just like symbolism and gender roles, it tells if the story is happy or sad and what emotions are taking place. The tone fluctuates throughout the story depending on who is speaking and what is being said. You can clearly see a constant push pull relationship and you can see happiness in the hills and sadness in the alcohol.

In this story, Hills Like White Elephants, the woman is left with a choice to make. The story is so brief on the outside and extremely deep and full of meaning when picked apart, it only gives you an idea of what the women finally does. There is enough evidence on both sides to say that she has the abortion or that she doesn't have the abortion. The textual evidence that supports the idea of her having an abortion is when she says "Oh, yes. But I don't care about me. And I'll do it and then everything will be fine."(pg.366) An example of textual evidence that states she will keep the baby and not have an abortion is the following "Doesn't it mean anything to you? We could get along." (Pg.367), and "No, it isn't. And once they take it away, you never get it back.". (pg.366)

She also gets annoyed after making these comments and asks the man if he will do something for her and that is to "please please please please please please please stop talking". (pg.367) Her anger and frustration and her independence are seen here along with her want to keep the child. Even though there are arguments for both sides I believe she does not have the procedure and keeps her "white elephant".

In conclusion, this story was about a couple and what to do with their unwanted pregnancy. An abortion was the procedure mentioned in the story and it was what the man seemed to want. He said it was her choice when really he was trying to make it his choice. In the end I believe she does not have an abortion and that was displayed through some textual evidence and a lot of symbolism. Symbolism, Tone, and the gender roles displayed in this story are what make it so unique and such a deep read. They also help to carry the plot throughout the story. The hills being compared to white elephants symbolize the ongoing problem on both sides. If she has an abortion she will never forget it and it will become a "white elephant" and if she has a child it will never go away and could become a "white elephant".

Ernest Hemingway's fictional story, Hills Like White Elephants, carries a strong underlying meaning between the two characters, the conflicting views on what to do with their problem, which is an unexpected pregnancy and the thoughts of an abortion. In this story a man and a women are drinking beer and discussing a problem in their relationship. At a first glance of this story, many readers may not see the symbolism and the direct meaning. They discuss a procedure but they do not come out and say what it is exactly, you have to read into it. The man states "I know you wouldn't mind it Jig. It's really not anything. It's just to let the air in"(pg365) This is where symbolism and deep reading play into this story.

Symbolism contributes strongly to the meaning conveyed in this story and it is what leads you to believe it is an abortion they are talking about. A white elephant is an old term referred to as something that won't go away. Yard Sale items that never sell would be called "white elephants". The couple was not expecting to have a child and the man is strong is his belief that they will be fine if the women just has an abortion. The hills going up and down could be symbolism of the women's pregnant stomach or her thoughts of what she may look like if the baby is kept. The hills could also represent the highs and lows she is having in her relationship and her own mind set on whether or not to continue the pregnancy, which is why she is constantly distracted by the hills.

Symbolism also comes into play at the end of the story and constantly runs throughout the story. The fact that they are always drinking is a sign that they both are tense and worried but trying to hide their fear. In the beginning of the story the girl notices a beaded curtain with a drink's name painted on it. She ends up ordering the drink and they ask her if she wants it with water. The curtain that was blocking the way to another room could symbolize her drinking blocking the way to another life, one with a child.

Towards the end of the story the man "picked up the two heavy bags and carried them around the station to the other tracks. He looked up but could not see the train."(pg.367). This could be a way the man is viewing this problem. The heavy bags could represent the baggage and the strains in their relationship over the pregnancy. The train not being in sight could represent the fact that a common ground and feeling on this situation is not in the near future, and he must wait, the ultimate decision is hers, no matter how hard he fights it.

Ernest Hemingway has a strong gender role in this story, which helps to drive the plot. The man is set on her having this abortion and talks to her in a very manipulative way. For example, "It's really an awfully simple operation, Jig" (pg. 365) and he also says "You don't have to be afraid. I've known lots of people that have done it."(pg.365) The women makes a few counter remarks like this one made about other people having abortions, "And afterward they were all so happy" (pg. 365), so she is somewhat stating her point that she does not want to do it but she is constantly being nagged and pushed down when she speaks up. During some parts of this story she also seems very clingy and emotional, she states "But if I do it, then it will be nice again if I say things are like white elephants, and you'll like it?"(Pg 366) It gives the impression that she may be considering the abortion just so she will not be bothered by it anymore and so she would not lose her companion.

The tone of a story is important just like symbolism and gender roles, it tells if the story is happy or sad and what emotions are taking place. The tone fluctuates throughout the story depending on who is speaking and what is being said. You can clearly see a constant push pull relationship and you can see happiness in the hills and sadness in the alcohol.

In this story, Hills Like White Elephants, the woman is left with a choice to make. The story is so brief on the outside and extremely deep and full of meaning when picked apart, it only gives you an idea of what the women finally does. There is enough evidence on both sides to say that she has the abortion or that she doesn't have the abortion. The textual evidence that supports the idea of her having an abortion is when she says "Oh, yes. But I don't care about me. And I'll do it and then everything will be fine."(pg.366)

An example of textual evidence that states she will keep the baby and not have an abortion is the following "Doesn't it mean anything to you? We could get along." (Pg.367), and "No, it isn't. And once they take it away, you never get it back.". (pg.366) She also gets annoyed after making these comments and asks the man if he will do something for her and that is to "please please please please please please please stop talking". (pg.367) Her anger and frustration and her independence are seen here along with her want to keep the child. Even though there are arguments for both sides I believe she does not have the procedure and keeps her "white elephant".

In conclusion, this story was about a couple and what to do with their unwanted pregnancy. An abortion was the procedure mentioned in the story and it was what the man seemed to want. He said it was her choice when really he was trying to make it his choice. In the end I believe she does not have an abortion and that was displayed through some textual evidence and a lot of symbolism. Symbolism, Tone, and the gender roles displayed in this story are what make it so unique and such a deep read. They also help to carry the plot throughout the story. The hills being compared to white elephants symbolize the ongoing problem on both sides. If she has an abortion she will never forget it and it will become a "white elephant" and if she has a child it will never go away and could become a "white elephant".

Don't let plagiarism ruin your grade

Run a free check or have your essay done for you

Check my essay Hire Writer