Hills Like White Elephants (Hemingway): Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 18:22, 28 May 2023

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Hills Like White Elephants

1927

Summary of the Short Story

Microsummary: A couple discussed the possibility of the woman undergoing an abortion while waiting for a train, revealing their differing perspectives on the matter and the strain it put on their relationship.

A man and a girl sat at a table in the shade outside a train station, waiting for the express from Barcelona to arrive.

🧔🏻

The American — man; trying to convince the girl to have an abortion; persuasive, somewhat insensitive.

👩🏻

Jig — girl; uncertain about having an abortion; thoughtful, emotional.

They discussed what to drink, eventually settling on beer. The girl commented on the hills in the distance, saying they looked like white elephants.

They look like white elephants,' she said. 'I've never seen one,' the man drank his beer.

They tried a new drink called Anis del Toro, which the girl said tasted like licorice.

The man brought up the topic of an operation, assuring the girl that it was a simple procedure and that he would be with her the entire time.

It's really an awfully simple operation, Jig,' the man said. 'It's not really an operation at all.'

The girl seemed hesitant, asking what would happen afterward and if they would be happy. The man insisted that the operation was the only thing making them unhappy and that they would be fine once it was over.

The girl went to the end of the station and looked at the fields and mountains in the distance, lamenting that they could have had everything but were making it more impossible every day.

And we could have all this,' she said. 'And we could have everything and every day we make it more impossible.'

The man tried to reassure her, saying they could still have everything, but the girl disagreed.

They continued to discuss the operation, with the man emphasizing that he didn't want her to do it if she didn't want to. The girl asked for another beer and requested that they stop talking about it. The man agreed, but reiterated his willingness to go through with the operation if it meant something to her.

The girl asked the man to stop talking, and he complied. As they finished their beers, the woman from the bar informed them that the train would arrive in five minutes. The man took their bags to the other side of the station, and when he returned, the girl said she felt fine and that there was nothing wrong with her.

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 | Author = Ernest Hemingway
 | Literary form = short story
-| Year of publication = 1955
+| Year of publication = 1927
-| Microsummary = A couple at a train station discussed their drinks and the surrounding landscape before delving into a serious conversation about an implied abortion. The woman hesitantly agreed, but tension remained.
+| Microsummary = A couple discussed the possibility of the woman undergoing an abortion while waiting for a train, revealing their differing perspectives on the matter and the strain it put on their relationship.
-| Wikisource = Men Without Women/Hills Like White Elephants
 }}
 {{Start of text}}
-A man and a young woman, referred to as Jig, were sitting at a train station on a hot day, waiting for the express train from Barcelona to Madrid.
+A man and a girl sat at a table in the shade outside a train station, waiting for the express from Barcelona to arrive.
 {{Character
-| Name = The Man (The American)
+| Name = The American
-| Description = middle-aged; the girl's partner; persuasive, insistent, and seemingly concerned about their relationship
+| Description = man; trying to convince the girl to have an abortion; persuasive, somewhat insensitive
-| Emoji = 👨🏻‍🦱
+| Emoji = 🧔🏻
 }}
 {{Character
-| Name = The Girl (Jig)
+| Name = Jig
-| Description = young woman; the man's partner; hesitant, emotional, and longing for a life with the man
+| Description = girl; uncertain about having an abortion; thoughtful, emotional
-| Emoji = 👩🏻‍🦰
+| Emoji = 👩🏻
 }}
-They sat in the shade outside a bar, discussing what to drink. They decided on beer and later tried a new drink called Anis del Toro. As they drank, the girl commented on the hills in the distance, saying they looked like white elephants.
+They discussed what to drink, eventually settling on beer. The girl commented on the hills in the distance, saying they looked like white elephants.
-{{Quote|“They look like white elephants,” she said.}}
+{{Quote
+| Text = They look like white elephants,' she said. 'I've never seen one,' the man drank his beer.
+| Context = The girl compares the hills to white elephants, which symbolizes the unwanted pregnancy. This conversation takes place while they are waiting for the train and drinking beer.
+}}
+They tried a new drink called Anis del Toro, which the girl said tasted like licorice.
+The man brought up the topic of an operation, assuring the girl that it was a simple procedure and that he would be with her the entire time.
+{{Quote
+| Text = It's really an awfully simple operation, Jig,' the man said. 'It's not really an operation at all.'
+| Context = The man tries to convince the girl that the abortion is a simple procedure, downplaying its significance. This occurs during their conversation at the train station.
+}}
-Their conversation took a more serious turn when the man brought up a "simple operation" he wanted Jig to undergo. Although the operation was not explicitly named, it was implied to be an abortion. The man tried to convince Jig that the operation was necessary for their happiness and that it would be a quick and easy procedure.
+The girl seemed hesitant, asking what would happen afterward and if they would be happy. The man insisted that the operation was the only thing making them unhappy and that they would be fine once it was over.
-{{Quote|“It’s really an awfully simple operation, Jig,” the man said. “It’s not really an operation at all.”}}
+The girl went to the end of the station and looked at the fields and mountains in the distance, lamenting that they could have had everything but were making it more impossible every day.
-Jig, however, was hesitant and expressed her desire for a life with the man, including the possibility of having children.
+{{Quote
+| Text = And we could have all this,' she said. 'And we could have everything and every day we make it more impossible.'
+| Context = The girl expresses her desire for a different life and the realization that their current situation is making it increasingly difficult. This happens while they are still waiting for the train.
+}}
-As they continued to discuss the operation, the man insisted that he loved Jig and only wanted what was best for her. He claimed that the operation would solve their problems and make them happy again. Jig eventually agreed to the operation, but asked the man to stop talking about it.
+The man tried to reassure her, saying they could still have everything, but the girl disagreed.
-The man left the table to move their bags to the other side of the station, leaving Jig alone for a moment. While he was gone, she looked out at the landscape and thought about the life they could have together if they didn't go through with the operation. When the man returned, he asked if she felt better, to which she replied that she felt fine and that there was nothing wrong with her.
+They continued to discuss the operation, with the man emphasizing that he didn't want her to do it if she didn't want to. The girl asked for another beer and requested that they stop talking about it. The man agreed, but reiterated his willingness to go through with the operation if it meant something to her.
-Throughout their conversation, the couple's emotions and the tension between them were evident. The man's insistence on the operation and Jig's hesitance to agree highlighted the conflict they were facing in their relationship. Despite their differing opinions, they tried to maintain a sense of normalcy by continuing to drink and make small talk. In the end, Jig agreed to the operation, but it was unclear whether this decision would truly resolve their issues and bring them happiness.
+The girl asked the man to stop talking, and he complied. As they finished their beers, the woman from the bar informed them that the train would arrive in five minutes. The man took their bags to the other side of the station, and when he returned, the girl said she felt fine and that there was nothing wrong with her.
 {{End of text}}