Responses to Hills Like White Elephants by Hemingway

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An opinion regarding the short story Hills like white elephants, written by Ernest Hemingway, has been ambiguous from its first publication until now. It pictures a girl and a man at the train station, waiting for their train and entertaining themselves with drinks and conversation (Hemingway, 1927). At first glance, the story might appear like a casual conversation between two travelers. However, while the dialogue and writing do not contain any difficult language constructions and literary expressions, it is challenging to perceive the message conveyed by the author. Notably, that was one of the main reasons for the story’s poor initial reception – many critics failed to understand what the story was about (CliffNotes, n.d.). The author deliberately withdraws himself from the story, leaving little to no clues about the character’s emotions and thoughts. Thus, readers are motivated to read more carefully and familiarize themselves with Hemingway’s hints and methods. As a result, individual interpretations might vary, but abortion remains the most popular (Study.com, 2021). The girl’s fears and doubts contrast with the man’s confidence and reassurance attempts, resulting in a substantial dramatic context behind the casual conversation.

Hills like white elephants and other notable Hemingway works illustrate the application of the so-called iceberg theory. He stripped everything but the essentials from his novels and stories, leaving readers on their own with the remaining dialogue and narrative pieces. Analogically to how behind the tip of an iceberg, visible above the ocean surface, hides a great mass of ice, Hemingway’s work conceals genuine tension and drama (Sparknotes, n.d.). Such an approach to writing contradicted the established technique of providing excessive details or addressing readers directly (Cliffnotes, n.d.). Nevertheless, the contemporary reader managed to adjust to the reading, realizing the value and bringing deserved attention to Hemingway’s work.

Back at the time of a given story, the topic of abortion was far more controversial than the iceberg theory. The girl in Hills like white elephants feels great uncertainty facing such a decision, and many readers can sympathize with that fact. Across the lifespan of an individual, everyone has to face hard decisions sooner or later. For instance, considering my single day, I might struggle with the choice of appearance. While a walk to the grocery store does not imply any substantial conditions, events such as a potential part-time job interview or date already establish certain requirements due to social expectations. The more respectful the position is, the more official my look is expected to be. In the meantime, a date, especially the first one, does involve a factor of impression I can make on my potential partner.

In a broader scope, a month or a year, I can struggle with the strategic planning of a budget. Depending on my current income, I have to set priorities and define what is necessary and what is optional. Undoubtedly, it becomes easier for me to discipline myself as I grow older. However, correctly distinguishing the “wants” from “needs” has always been and will be tricky on certain occasions.

Finally, a decision regarding the life vocation that hides behind the choice of my future employer is perhaps the most challenging decision I can make. The decision itself might not take that much time – the submission of a resume can be made with the click of a button. Nevertheless, this click embodies all the days, months, or even years I spent thinking about it during my everyday routine.