Category: Hills Like White Elephants

The variety of literary works can easily teach the reader or make to change the readers mind and attitude to a situation. On the one hand, the works and their messages differ because of various authors, periods of time, and interests.

On the other hand, the similarities between the works of absolutely different authors are united by their messages to help the reader evaluate this life and make the necessary improvements.

The analysis of Hills Like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway and Sonnys Blues by James Baldwin proves that different approaches to life and its challenges, unique visions of the writers, and certain writing techniques may lead to one purpose  promote the reader to think about people around and grasp the ways of how to understand each other.

Such fiction elements like plot, characters, and settings in the two short stories are perfectly described and serve as powerful means to explain the essence of the stories: plots of the stories touch upon the relations of two relatives (a couple in Hills Like White Elephants and brothers in Sonnys Blues), who need to takes important decisions and think about their future lives in spite of rather depressive and disappointing settings.

The success of the story usually depends on a properly chosen authors technique. In case with the works of Hemingway and Baldwin, their choices of techniques are justified and rather effective. The plots of the stories under discussion are all about human relations and the necessity to find out the connection and understanding.

The peculiar feature of Baldwins plot is the idea to use flashbacks and add to the plot more captivating details and facts. It may seem that the reader knows enough to accept one more idea, however, a new flashback adds another circumstance that should be evaluated on a new level, and the relations between two brothers become more interesting and understandable.

Hemingway describes a certain period of time between two people, who are going to make one of the most important decision in their lives. And even in the situation, when the decision should be taken by both, male domination is still evident, and a girl does not have enough powers and skills to live in accordance with her own principles and demands.

In Hills Like White Elephants, a young couple is bothered with an idea of having a baby. A girl believes that things are like white elephants so strange, so innocent, and so beautiful (Hemingway 121). She wants her unborn child help her to accept this world as it is and enjoy its beauty and charm.

However, her couple is not ready to forget about his interests and desires and devote his life to their baby. Almost the same is observed in relations between two bothers in Sonnys Blues. Sonny tries to demonstrate his brother the beauty of music and the grounds of his choice, but it is hard for the elder brother to follow his brothers dreams and thoughts.

Settings of the stories deserve more attention, especially the one used by Hemingway. His idea to unite setting with symbolism is winning and more noticeable in comparison to Baldwins attempts. Though there was no shade and no trees (Hemingway 119), the situation seems to be uncertain.

Everything is not as it should be, and the characters should be ready for a new challenge. The author does not give concrete descriptions but it becomes clear that the idea of abortion is burning. The setting of Sonnys Blues is clearer: the people, the houses, the music, the dark, quicksilver barmaid, with menace (Baldwin 11). The author does not want to use specific setting to attract the reader but relies on his powerful use of flashbacks.

Both reading unite all fictional techniques in a proper way; each writer uses one certain technique better that makes these stories captivating and effective in their own ways. Flashbacks in the plot make Sonnys Blues more captivating and intriguing for the reader, and powerful examples of symbolism in setting cannot stop amazing the reader of Hemingways works.

Works Cited

Baldwin, James. Sonnys Blues. In Sascha Feinstein and David Rife The Jazz Fiction Anthology. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, 2009.

Hemingway, Ernest. Hills Like White Elephants. In Margaret Bishop Single Scene Short Stories. Layton, Utah: Gibbs Smith, 2007.

People often face situations that require them to make tough decisions and they have to live by them for the rest of their lives. In the story Hills Like White Elephants, Ernest Hemingway writes about a couple that is in a dilemma about an unborn child and they have to decide on the best decision to take regarding the pregnancy.

Jig and his companion the American are in Spain at a rail station taking drinks while awaiting a train. The American tells Jig to abort the fetus because the procedure is simple. He does not entertain the thought of becoming a parent. After, the deliberation on the issue, Jig decides to carry out the procedure.

Jig and the American man is an unmarried couple who have consummated their relationship and as a result, Jig is pregnant. Her boyfriend the American tells her to get rid of the pregnancy even though the author does not use the word abortion we can deduce its meaning from the conversation, Its just to let the air in (Hemingway 1). The man tells Jig, Its really an awfully simple operation. It is not an operational at all (Hemingway 1).

The American wants the fetus aborted because he does not want it to interrupt his adventurous lifestyle. He is a man who likes to travel from one place to another, their travel bags had labels from the various hotels they had checked into during their travels (Hemingway 1). On the other hand, Jig wants to have the baby as she hints in the conversation. She seems to be tired of the adventure and wants to settle down.

The American man manages to manipulate Jig psychologically by telling her not to abort if she does not want to because he senses her hesitance, I think its the best thing to do. But I dont want you to do it if you dont really want to (Hemingway 1). He tells her that after she aborts they can have everything they want in the world.

However, she does not agree with him and tells him that, No, we cant (Hemingway 1). She is aware that once she loses her child she can never have it back, And once they take it away, you never get it back (Hemingway 1). In spite of that knowledge, she seems like she is willing to go through with the procedure not to lose her American. Jig seems afraid of losing the American man And if I do it youll be happy and things will be like they were and youll love me (Hemingway 1)?

The question shows that she is not ready to lose him and says, Then Ill do it. Because I dont care about me (Hemingway 1). The only thing she cares about is being with him and his love. She also wants to make him happy and reduce his worry because he says the only thing making them unhappy is that baby. Therefore getting rid of the baby will remove the hurdle to their happiness.

She also decides to abort because maybe she knows that marrying a man who is not wiling to settle down would only mean a difficult marriage. The American hints that he is ready to settle if she decides to keep the baby,

Youve got to realize &that I dont want you to do it if you dont want to. Im

perfectly willing to go through with it if it means anything to you (Hemingway 1).

This does not reassure her because the American keeps bullying her into procuring an abortion by drumming in the message that the procedure is perfectly simple (Hemingway 1). Thus, she chooses to have the abortion as it seems as the only way out of her current predicament. They do not discuss other options of dealing with the pregnancy such as giving up the baby for adoption and hence she might have decided to abort.

Finally, I think Jig should not abort simply because I belief that abortion is morally wrong. She does not seem to have her own voice. She is controlled by the American because she is willing to go along with his suggestions even if she does not agree with them.

She should keep the baby because she hints that she knows of people who have gone through the procedure and they are not happy. If she goes through with the procedure, she will live with regrets for the rest of her life because she will never be able to bring back her dead child to life again as most of the women who have gone through the procedure attest.

Even if, keeping and raising the child will be a burden she should be willing to bear the consequences of her actions instead of trying to look for an easier way out. She should be firm and tell the American that she will keep the baby and that it is time they stopped their adventurous lifestyle. On the contrary, if she goes through with the abortion she should take precaution not to become pregnant again by using contraceptives because she will find herself in the same predicament yet again.

Work Cited

Hemingway, Ernest . Hills Like White Elephants. gummyprint.com. n.d. Web.

Summary

Published in 1927, Ernest Hemingways short story Hills Like White Elephants is a pinnacle of conversation; that is, more under the surface of the interaction between a girl named Jig and an American man. At first glance, this seems like a simple, sometimes intense communication between two adults waiting for their train, which is going to Madrid. However, a closer reading reveals that they are discussing whether Jig should undergo a procedure.

At a time when abortion was illegal in most parts of Europe and America and where women might have been weaned from the Catholic Church if they had an abortion, suddenly the conversation between the American man and Jig becomes one of the most important, both for their beings and for their relationship. However, no one wants to communicate what choice they would like to make openly. This article discusses topics of choice, communication disruptions, and gender roles.

Characters and Theme

The plot of the story develops in such a way that the word abortion itself is never pronounced. In various situations, only the phrase white elephants appears, highlighting different facets of its meaning. The great writers style, like the underwater part of an iceberg, hides not only the word abortion but also the fear of a young girl, unaware of pain for an unborn child, her flesh from her flesh, which is not destined to see Gods light. The girls dream of a child is inextricably linked with her vision of happiness and measured family life. These properties are genetically embedded in every woman, they are the essential purpose and obligation to be the parent, the one who gives life and the very name of the first woman Eve means life. For the heroine, abortion is the collapse of last hope, leading only to the continuation of a meaningless life.

Let us recall how masterfully Hemingway draws hills whitening in the sun, scorched by the mercilessly blazing sun, the earth and green fields, the shady banks of a rivulet, and the moving shadows of clouds. These different frames are full of functional significance. These are the stages of the girls state of mind, which is likened to scorched earth. At first, the comparison of the hills with white elephants evokes admiration for the girl.

In the middle, this image reappears, but this time there are notes of heartbreaking doubt. In the final part, white elephants appear, but the girls gaze only sees how they descend into the scorched valley. Together with the dream of a child, the colors of the world and hopes for happiness die for the heroine: they fade together. Making a decision, which is to kill her unborn child, turns into the most profound psychological stress, and the girl subconsciously knows that she says goodbye to the highest value.

There is a perception of meaninglessness, absurdity, an irreplaceable void of life, a sense of terrible spiritual poverty. In order to show her emotional conflict and struggle to explain it, Jig says: Cant we stop talking? She feels that life will become unstable, lose stability, love will become soulless and will turn into bitter loneliness. In this life, fiction will take the place of genuine values. The gloom is already spreading not only around the person, and it is already powerfully penetrating the person himself. A man has nothing to rely on, and no one is waiting for him. He is powerless before the power of chaos, No, we cant. It is not ours anymore,  this bitter remark of Jig describes the spiritual condition of a young woman in the best possible way.

Analysis

It seems that the story is an excellent example of understanding the controversial bioethical problem: the problem of abortion, mother, and fetus, in which many aspects can be distinguished. This is a problem of the status of a human embryo, as well as the question of whether it is an individualized human life from the moment of fertilization. This question can be approached from different perspectives: biology and genetics, sociology, law (civil or criminal), psychological, historical, cultural, theological, and moral. From a bioethical perspective, all of the above positions should be combined to draw a solid conclusion.

Some readers, summing up the laws of genetics and embryology, might conclude that the fetus from the moment of conception has its determined biological reality. It is a fully distinguished human individual in development, which autonomously, step by step, continuously creates its form, carrying out, following the plans laid down in it, the project outlined in its genome. This fact is scientifically established and should be accepted as given, not like anyone elses opinion. Since the embryo is already a developing individual, which will become a specific person, we can freely talk about the ontological and ethical value of the newly conceived fetus. Starting from the first instant of the emergence of human life, the human individual is a human person. Any criticism of this position will be a denial of the ontological approach to personality.

From the very first days, the embryo enters into a special kind of dialogue with the mothers body, blocking the production of hormones through specific signals to the pituitary gland and other internal organs. Thus, the process causes a combination of changes in the mothers body, forcing it to recognize the presence of a new life, a unique personality. Psychoanalysts prove that the fetus is in social relations with the mother, accumulating in-depth experiences, feelings, positive and negative impulses that, even in adulthood, will leave their imprint on it. Sociologists say that it is not relationships that determine the reality of the subject, but the existence of the issue that makes interpersonal relationships possible. However, a human fetus does possess a partial form of consciousness due to its responsiveness to outside signals.

Conclusion

It is critical to note that the given book gives a clear perspective on the issue of abortion. Under the current legislation, affirming the unrestricted right of every woman to have an abortion, is an example of a misunderstanding and use of freedom. The main character does not precisely show her stance on the issue, but either way, ones independence will be limited.

In the framework of the strict logic of personalistic philosophy derived from the book, we can summarize that the embryo or the fetus, as a result of a continuous process of development programmed from the inside, is a unique human individual possessing actual social value. Besides, the embryo or the fetus has a genuine connection and a true destiny to become a person. Consequently, abortion is a crime against the life of a human person.

Bibliography

Cornell, Drucilla. The Imaginary Domain: Abortion, Pornography and Sexual Harassment. New York: Routledge, 2016.

Hemingway, Ernest. Hills Like White Elephants. New York: Men Without Women, 1927.

Sanger, Carol. Talking About Abortion. Social & Legal Studies 25, no. 6 (2016): 651666.

Sisson, Gretchen, and Katrina Kimport. Depicting Abortion Access on American Television, 20052015. Feminism & Psychology 27, no. 1 (2017): 5671.

Introduction

This story brings up a particularly challenging issue of abortion, which always provokes a lot of debate and controversy. Paradoxically, this topic is as significant as is taboo and is usually bypassed in works or represented one-sidedly. The story is not long-drawn and with no explicit details; but is replete with metaphors and veiled essence, like an iceberg. In this work, two people discuss the matter of conceivable abortion. Most readers would probably side with the girl since this character is better spelled out and easier to sympathize with. However, for the whole comprehensive picture, it is vital to look at what is happening through the eyes of the second side  her man.

The Mans Alternative Perspective to the Circumstances

One of the main characters, Jig, is lost, upset, and in urgent need of the support of her lover. Her partner does not have a name in this story, only the faceless description American at the beginning of the narrative. The couple travels throughout Spain without doing anything on purpose, but just trying different drinks, which Jig says sarcastically. During their conversation, it becomes clear that the man does not need a child since this is a serious obstacle on the way to an open-handed life. He actively convinces the girl of the littleness of the operation, that all people do it and live happily ever after. There is no constructive communication; people do not understand each other. The frivolity of the man is expressed in belittling the seriousness of abortion and unwillingness to disclose the subject. He also offers Jig alcohol drinks one by one, deliberately neglecting the fact of her pregnancy (Schumacher, 2017). In his eyes, everything is pretty simple and can be solved in a couple of minutes.

Varying Interpretations of Metaphors in the Story

The man is not on the same wavelength as his companion. He does not understand her imaginative comparison of hills to white elephants due to his more down-to-earth reflection. If Jig sees the whole picture, her man does not see it as well as the future with a child. The expression white elephant means a too high-priced and pretentious gift, which is hard to appropriately adapt to everyday life (Schumacher, 2017). The girl consciously or unintentionally attempts to reveal a parallel between such a gift and a child. She already considers the child as a present but does not know what to do with it. However, the man not only does not share her point of representation, he persistently does not see her whole picture of the world. For him, everything is easy: hills are hills, white elephants are animals, and abortion is a small operation on the way to a freewheeling life.

Conclusion

The story does not have a well-defined core and is more like a part of some big novel. However, even a few lines of the dialog can make readers assume the feelings of the woman and charge the man. He probably does not do this out of malice or intentionally; there is a big misunderstanding and disconnection between the lovers. They had a former life full of joy and travel; perhaps he sincerely does not understand why to change it. The mans emotions are not sufficiently described in the text, but his actions and quick catchwords speak for themselves.

Reference

Schumacher, A. (2017). Disenfranchised mothers and maternity insurance  tracing progressive arguments in Ernest Hemingways short stories. Current Objectives of Postgraduate American Studies, 18(1).

Introduction

Subtext and metaphors play an enormous role in Hemingways works. A story written in 1927 called Hills Like White Elephants is an example of such a work. So, two characters are waiting for a train, a couple, they are talking, she orders a drink, it seems like nothing special. The style is very precise, telegraphic, and dry, and the author avoids even such remarks as he/she said, which many English authors are very fond of. But behind these terse dialogues  is the whole story of the relationship.

The Dialogue

The first thing worth noting is the dialogue in the story. The point is that the writer, in fact, does not insert his own comments or vision of the situation. The entire work is built through a dialogue between two people, whose remarks describe the world around them, and their thoughts and what is happening in general. It is necessary to consider one of the most striking examples of revealing the world through dialogue:

• Its a minor operation, Jig,  the man said.  Its not even an operation.
• And if I do it, wont you be nervous?  No, because its nothing.
• Well, then I will. I dont care what happens to me (Hemingway, 2).

Not a single sentence says anything about the baby or the abortion. But the reader understands that the situation is this  the characters are expecting a child, the young man does not want one, their relationship is falling apart, and he pushes her to take the tragic step.

The Environment

Geography plays an important role in literature. The geography in this short story shows the situations positive side but also the downfall and negativity. The resolution contributes to the conflict and tension that lies between the couple, showing the literal and figurative aspects of the situation. The couple sits facing the side of the valley with no trees, and there is a brown area in the distance, which is in great need of water. On the opposite side of the valley, along the banks of the Ebro, there are fields of grain and trees (Hemingway 1). But as she watches this happen, the shadow of a cloud moved across the field of grain, foreshadowing the death of her unborn child (Hemingway 1). Another thing to keep in mind is the cultural aspect of the setting. Hemingway placed his story in Spanish territory. Most Spanish-speaking countries are mostly Catholic, which means they dont agree with abortion. However, the woman does not understand Spanish, which helps to reveal her essential helplessness and dependence. She is a stranger in a foreign country where her companion is her only interpreter and guide (Hemingway 2). Their luggage reveals that they are not from the entire area, and their luggage also hints that they have two options once they leave the station. They can go to Madrid and become a family, or they can go to the same place and have an abortion.

Symbolism

Hemingway uses symbolism in his works to hide the obvious by making the reader think. There are many examples of symbolism in this work. For example, the suitcases, the train, and the characters name. The main symbolism is the hills, around which the story revolves and through which the climax occurs. This is the most important symbol, revealing everything, both the meaning of the characters journey and their different attitudes toward what is to come. In addition, it is the white elephants that show the conflict. Thus, Hemingway does not need to tell the story of what happened because the symbolism does that on its own.

Conclusion

Ernest Hemingways stories are characterized by their strangeness and expressiveness, related to the artistic techniques used by the author. In the story Hills Like White Elephants, it becomes apparent that dialogue and symbolism are central to the writers work. In addition, Hemingway hardly ever comments on what is happening; readers either understand it themselves or are told by the symbols. This effect is achieved through the charismatic setting and symbols, which makes the writers work unique.

Work Cited

Hemingway, Ernest. Hills Like White Elephants. Short Story. HarperPerennial Classics, 2013.

Introduction

Why I live at the P.O and Hills like White Elephants are two short stories based on different issues. The following discussion will compare and contrast these two short stories.

Summary of Why I live at P.O

In this story Stella is the younger sister of Eudora. She was recently married to Mr. Whitaker but they later separated. Eudora complains that prior to her sisters marriage; she was relating with Mr. Whitaker. However, their relationship did not last for long since Stella revealed to Mr. Whitaker her sisters negative issues, which contributed to the termination of their relationship.

After the separation, Stella went back home with a child, Shirley-T, whom she claimed was adopted. One day while they were taking their meal at the table, Eudora commented that Shirley looked like Papa-Daddy, only that she had no beard. The statement annoyed Stella so much that she turned Papa-Daddy against Eudora. Their grandfather got offended and stopped eating. Stella made him believe that he was insulted by her sister because of his beard. He could not understand why Eudora said that he should cut his beard ( Welty, 1941, par. 5).

According to Papa-Daddy, he thought that Eudora did not appreciate his efforts to get her a job as a postmistress. From his annoyance, he left to go and sit outside. The argument was caused by Stella who made her grandfather believe that he was offended by Erodora. After sometime, uncle Rondo Arrived and Eudora told him what had happened. He then went outside to talk to Papa-Daddy who was sleeping on a hammock. The two had a conversation; meanwhile Eudora went upstairs to Speak to Stella who was staring through the window. She claimed that uncle Rondo was wearing part of her trousseau out in the broad daylight. Stella and her sister got into a brief argument again as the issue of the child came up again. Eudora left her sisters room and went downstairs where their mum was. Uncle Rondo was always on Eudoras side though Stella also influenced his negative attitude towards her sister. Stella told their uncle that her sister had criticized what he was wearing. Everyone in the house was against Eudora and all of them were on Stellas side ( Welty, 1941, par. 6).

It was at this point that Eudora decided to go and live at the Post Office, since everyone opposed her. She went to the extent of accusing that Shirley-T had no manners as she was sticking out the tongue at her in a horrible way. As she left the house, she knew that something had gone wrong between Stella and Mr. Whitaker. She even told her family about what she thought of the two. Uncle Rondo, Stella and Papa Daddy did not oppose the shifting. Papa Daddy even said he would not go to the Post Office where her grandchild was going to stay. For Mama, all she wanted was for Eudora to apologize to her sister although it was in vain. She left her home and got assistance from a girl whom she met. Eudora moved into her new home where she liked having everything she wanted like radio and a sewing machine. She was happy with her new home ( Welty, 1941, par. 7).

The other story, Hills like White Elephants, is about an American man who had gone with a certain girl to a place where they had drinks. They were sited outside the main building where they could view their scenery clearly. Across the place where they were sited, they could see hills which the girl said looked like white elephants. They sipped their drinks while admiring their scenery, but at one point they had a minor argument (Hemmingway, 1927, par. 8).

Comparison

Comparing the first story (Why I live at the P.O) and the second one (Hills like White Elephants); one observes that in both stories, there is an element of conflict. In story Hills like White Elephants, the American man and the girl argued briefly. Similarly in the other story Why I live at the P.O, there is also an element of conflict where Stella often quarreled with her sister Eudora. In addition, both stories used past and present tenses to express their plot. Moreover, both stories used direct quotations evident in the presence of direct speech in the stories.

Contrast

In the story Why I live at the P.O, the playwright had given names to the characters, while in the other story Hills like White Elephants, no names have been given to characters. In additional, in the story Why I live at the P.O is more of a narrative, as the narrator is the one who narates the story. On the other hand, in the story Hills like White Elephants it is a story told by a third person. More than three characters can be observed from Why I live at the P.O., they include Stella, Papa, Sheila-T and Uncle Rondo. There is also an aspect of separation as Stella left her husband to go and stay with her family. The Eudora also left her family to go and stay at the Post Office. In Hills like White Elephants, there were only three characters; the man, the girl and the lady who served. Even though there was a bit of argument, the man and the girl did not separate, unlike in victims in the story Why I live at the P.O.V.

References

Hemmingway, E. (1927).Hills Like White Elephants. Web.

Welty, E. (1941).Why I live at the P.O. Southern U.S: Mississippi. Web.

The Theme of Love

There is love in the three short stories. In the Two Kinds there is some love between the mother (Suyuan) and daughter (Jing Mei) (Tan, 2006). In the Hills Like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway some love abounds between the American man and the pregnant girl.

This story is about the way self-interest can ruin the love that people have nurtured for a long time. In the fall of the house of usher there is love between Roderick and his twin sister Madeline. The love has also been strengthened by their illnesses. This paper specifically discuses the theme of love in the three short stories. More especially, the way love is advanced or frustrated by the characters.

The Two Kinds

Love that is evidenced in this short story is parental love. This love is depicted in the way the mother prevails upon her daughter to succeed in her studies. This is depicted in the way her mother says, If you work hard you can achieve your dream here in America, she added, of course, you could be prodigy too (Tan, 2006, p. 132).

However, the daughter took her mothers advice literally. She responded, You want me to be someone Im not, she continued, I will never be the kind of daughter you want me to be. Only two daughters, she shouted, those who are obedient and those who can follow their mind, the only daughter who can live in this house is the obedient one (Tan, 2006, p. 132).

In as much Jing-mei was feeling that her mother never loved her because she was dictating or forcing her to do things she did not like, their bond was strong (Tan, 2006). This is seen in the way she reacted when her mother passed on. Jing-mei started to recognize that what her mother was telling her was right.

The death of her mother functioned as an eye opener for her. In the story it indicated that she looked back over the music that she had previously rejected and discovered something that she had never noticed (Tan, 2006). The two songs were the Perfectly Contented, the Pleading Child. However, upon examining these songs, she realized that they were two different parts of just one song.

It is motherly love that her mother does not want her daughter to go through the sufferings such asthe misfortune of losing kids, the fear and privations of conflicts, as well as the challenges encountered when settling in a different culture (Tan, 2006). That is why her mother has taken the initiative to ensure that her daughter becomes a genius and standing tall amongst other children in America.

Apparently, from her conduct, she is not a genius. This is because geniuses have innate abilities and work only under slight guidance or supervision. As the author indicates, Jing-mei even refused to practice the piano. If she were a genius, this should have been something that would have fascinated her.

The fall of the house of usher

Love is evident in this short story (Poe, 2011). More especially is revealed in the way characters deal with situations or they way react when dealing with their spouses. In the poem The Raven, Poes love is reveled. Poes love for his beloved wife, Virginia, is revealed when she died.

It is indicated that Poe was traumatized by her demise. It is also indicated that her death became an everyday motif in his undertaking. This statement stresses the degree of love that the two had. In other words, it was almost inseparable and no of them could do without the other.

There is also brotherly love in this novel. There is a strong love between Roderick and his sister, Madeleine. It is indicated that Roderick affectionately loved his sister (p. 42). There affection is also based on the fact that they are twins. As the author puts, they have an outstanding semblance (p. 46). That is, they behaved in a way that someone could easily say they had one soul in two different bodies.

Hill Like White Elephants

This short story revolves around the theme of love and responsibility (Benson, 1990). The author has used abortion to show how much the American man loves her pregnant girlfriend named Jig. However, the love showed by the American man is selfish. That is, he does not extent it beyond his girlfriend. This is evidenced when the boyfriend says, Ill stay with you. He also added, I do not want anyone else, but you (p.161).

Basing on this utterance, it is also clear that the American man is taking advantage of the love he has for his girlfriend to convince her to have the abortion. However, the girlfriend does not actually feel the same as she loves both of them. This is evident from the way she turned him down saying, Would you please stop talking (p. 298). Generally, this shows that her love is not selfish and that she is the mans superior in sensitivity, imagination and above all, capacity for love.

Conclusion

As it has been established in the discussion, the theme of love is espoused in the three novels. In the Hill Like White Elephants, both the American man and his girlfriend show love to each other but the pregnancy is threatening their peaceful affection. Their love is therefore selfish or situational.

In the Two Kinds, parental love dominates. The mother feels that she has the responsibility to guide her daughter to success. Her dominance of over her daughter is also threatening their affection. The daughter feels that she is not being given space to enjoy life like other kids. However, in the end, the daughter realizes that her mother was somehow right.

In the fall of the house of usher, is a sad story of two twins who share brotherly love. Their situation has brought them together more than ever. Poe also has strong love for his beloved wife, Virginia. This is evidenced when she died as it was hard for Poe to forget her both in his personal and work life.

References

Benson, J. (1990). New critical approaches to the short stories of Ernest Hemingway. Durham: Duke University Press.

Poe, E. (2011). The fall of the House of Usher. New York: Books of Wonder.

Tan, A. (2006). The joy luck club. New York: Penguin Books.

The short story Hills Like White Elephants relationships between a young girl and her boyfriend who try to solve the problem of romantic love and further relations. This short story is based on symbolism and vivid images which add emotional tension to the story. Two academic essays, Ernest Hemingways Hills Like White Elephants by K. Bernardo and Hemingways Hills Like White Elephants and the tradition of the American in Europe by D. Grant propose different Apaches to symbolic interpretations and themes, thus they underline a unique nature and outstanding style of Hemingway and his literary vision.

Bernardo concentrates on symbolic interpretations and visual images used to define the meaning of the short story. He underlines that what reader is not amazed at the end of Hills Like White Elephants to learn that thirty-five minutes have passed while Jig and her man wait for the train to Madrid, a detail that suggests long silences between sparse dialogue, and hints at the lack of connection between the two. The early versions of that story put Jig and the American man on the train for which they only wait in the finished version. In contrast to Bernardo, Grant concentrates on traditions and language usage. The author underlines that in the dialogue the reader has no indication of authorial privilege. Focusing on both Hemingways evolution as a writer and on the writing process itself, a number of seminal studies have emerged over the past decade that traces the transformation of jotted notes into finished art. At this point, however, we stand upon the threshold of discovery. The construction of a comprehensive view of Hemingways stylistic development, evolving aesthetic, and philosophy of composition not only presents new directions for study but will also establish the theoretical framework necessary for a fresh examination of the entire Hemingway canon, seeming oddities and all. Their function is to determine, again, whether the ruthless, aggressive component of mans need to create form and/or take life is dominant by nature or conditioning, and (this time) whether or not a woman can discover in herself the capacity to experience such aggression, so as to participate in mans endeavor rather than merely appreciate its necessity in another.

Bernardo gives attention to details while Grant proposes to readers a general overview of the text and its cultural meaning. Bernardo writes: It is clear that Jig does not want to have an abortion  not from what she says, of course, but from the pressure, the man applies to talk her into it (Bernardo n.d.). Bernardo underlines that the young girl is in practice torn apart by needs simultaneously to compete and nurture. And though she incorporates both drives in a nearly incredible symbiosis with Grants interpretations, not even their remarkable concord of interests holds them together. In a bold, final attempt to resolve creatively the impasse of differing primary concerns between the sexes, these speculative portrayals of sexual atavism push human nature beyond its limits.

In contrast to Bernardo, Grant proposes to readers a cultural analysis of the text and interprets its meaning in terms of social relations and interactions. Hemingways characters look to Europe for an escape from an American mode of time (Grant 1998). The authors construe in the fragments as a whole a thrust toward closure based upon classical resignation, beyond reliance even upon Hemingways customary mysticism. This would be an advance. Bernardo and Grant underline that for the resolutions of his other mature works, profound as they are, sustain his muted romanticism by the reassurance of epiphany  by transcending those contradictions in the human breast that render all quests for concord in love unfinding, and the makers quest for intimations of order unrealizable in the end. It is to that country beyond the material realm that the major direct his now-detached gaze at the end.

The main similarity is that both essays interpret the state of the young girl as pregnancy, thus there is a clear explanation of this situation. This textual suggestion that the abortion will be the demarcating event bound to form the dividing line between their past and future experience is what the man seeks to neutralize by depicting the operation as a natural process of healing and restoration (Grant 1998). He is reconciled to the spare compensation of going through the motions of commitment in an apparently random world, simply because this is the country in which we have been placed and in which we must participate with the resolution if we are to demonstrate our full detachment from the dashed dreams of mortal life. Only thus can we prove the true situation to all that men and women hope to gain by embraces.

In sum, both academic essays pay attention to symbolic details and the unique theme of abortion thus they follow different approaches and interpretations of the text. The distinctions in expression are even more important, however than the conventions held in common. The words communicate a sense of inevitable and unendurable loss which is a much more powerful rendering of the damnation theme than anything in the short story. The two most conventional reactions to adversity registered by an understanding of isolation are wrath and despair. The strength of this tradition helped to perpetuate the formal, lyrical expression of sorrow. Within a dramatic context representing the providential order that governed all things and all mankind, there arose a dramaturgical method that staged evil as something comic, not only for reasons grounded in the philosophy of human relations but for the more practical homiletic purpose of engaging the least sophisticated of minds.

Works Cited

1. Bernardo, K. Ernest Hemingways Hills Like White Elephants.
2. Grant, D. Hemingways Hills Like White Elephants and the tradition of the American in Europe. Studies in Short Fiction. 1998.
3. Hemingway, E. Hills Like White Elephants.

The Theme of Love

There is love in the three short stories. In the Two Kinds there is some love between the mother (Suyuan) and daughter (Jing Mei) (Tan, 2006). In the Hills Like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway some love abounds between the American man and the pregnant girl.

This story is about the way self-interest can ruin the love that people have nurtured for a long time. In the fall of the house of usher there is love between Roderick and his twin sister Madeline. The love has also been strengthened by their illnesses. This paper specifically discuses the theme of love in the three short stories. More especially, the way love is advanced or frustrated by the characters.

The Two Kinds

Love that is evidenced in this short story is parental love. This love is depicted in the way the mother prevails upon her daughter to succeed in her studies. This is depicted in the way her mother says, If you work hard you can achieve your dream here in America, she added, of course, you could be prodigy too (Tan, 2006, p. 132).

However, the daughter took her mothers advice literally. She responded, You want me to be someone Im not, she continued, I will never be the kind of daughter you want me to be. Only two daughters, she shouted, those who are obedient and those who can follow their mind, the only daughter who can live in this house is the obedient one (Tan, 2006, p. 132).

In as much Jing-mei was feeling that her mother never loved her because she was dictating or forcing her to do things she did not like, their bond was strong (Tan, 2006). This is seen in the way she reacted when her mother passed on. Jing-mei started to recognize that what her mother was telling her was right.

The death of her mother functioned as an eye opener for her. In the story it indicated that she looked back over the music that she had previously rejected and discovered something that she had never noticed (Tan, 2006). The two songs were the Perfectly Contented, the Pleading Child. However, upon examining these songs, she realized that they were two different parts of just one song.

It is motherly love that her mother does not want her daughter to go through the sufferings such asthe misfortune of losing kids, the fear and privations of conflicts, as well as the challenges encountered when settling in a different culture (Tan, 2006). That is why her mother has taken the initiative to ensure that her daughter becomes a genius and standing tall amongst other children in America.

Apparently, from her conduct, she is not a genius. This is because geniuses have innate abilities and work only under slight guidance or supervision. As the author indicates, Jing-mei even refused to practice the piano. If she were a genius, this should have been something that would have fascinated her.

The fall of the house of usher

Love is evident in this short story (Poe, 2011). More especially is revealed in the way characters deal with situations or they way react when dealing with their spouses. In the poem The Raven, Poes love is reveled. Poes love for his beloved wife, Virginia, is revealed when she died.

It is indicated that Poe was traumatized by her demise. It is also indicated that her death became an everyday motif in his undertaking. This statement stresses the degree of love that the two had. In other words, it was almost inseparable and no of them could do without the other.

There is also brotherly love in this novel. There is a strong love between Roderick and his sister, Madeleine. It is indicated that Roderick affectionately loved his sister (p. 42). There affection is also based on the fact that they are twins. As the author puts, they have an outstanding semblance (p. 46). That is, they behaved in a way that someone could easily say they had one soul in two different bodies.

Hill Like White Elephants

This short story revolves around the theme of love and responsibility (Benson, 1990). The author has used abortion to show how much the American man loves her pregnant girlfriend named Jig. However, the love showed by the American man is selfish. That is, he does not extent it beyond his girlfriend. This is evidenced when the boyfriend says, Ill stay with you. He also added, I do not want anyone else, but you (p.161).

Basing on this utterance, it is also clear that the American man is taking advantage of the love he has for his girlfriend to convince her to have the abortion. However, the girlfriend does not actually feel the same as she loves both of them. This is evident from the way she turned him down saying, Would you please stop talking (p. 298). Generally, this shows that her love is not selfish and that she is the mans superior in sensitivity, imagination and above all, capacity for love.

Conclusion

As it has been established in the discussion, the theme of love is espoused in the three novels. In the Hill Like White Elephants, both the American man and his girlfriend show love to each other but the pregnancy is threatening their peaceful affection. Their love is therefore selfish or situational.

In the Two Kinds, parental love dominates. The mother feels that she has the responsibility to guide her daughter to success. Her dominance of over her daughter is also threatening their affection. The daughter feels that she is not being given space to enjoy life like other kids. However, in the end, the daughter realizes that her mother was somehow right.

In the fall of the house of usher, is a sad story of two twins who share brotherly love. Their situation has brought them together more than ever. Poe also has strong love for his beloved wife, Virginia. This is evidenced when she died as it was hard for Poe to forget her both in his personal and work life.

References

Benson, J. (1990). New critical approaches to the short stories of Ernest Hemingway. Durham: Duke University Press.

Poe, E. (2011). The fall of the House of Usher. New York: Books of Wonder.

Tan, A. (2006). The joy luck club. New York: Penguin Books.

The short story Hills Like White Elephants relationships between a young girl and her boyfriend who try to solve the problem of romantic love and further relations. This short story is based on symbolism and vivid images which add emotional tension to the story. Two academic essays, Ernest Hemingways Hills Like White Elephants by K. Bernardo and Hemingways Hills Like White Elephants and the tradition of the American in Europe by D. Grant propose different Apaches to symbolic interpretations and themes, thus they underline a unique nature and outstanding style of Hemingway and his literary vision.

Bernardo concentrates on symbolic interpretations and visual images used to define the meaning of the short story. He underlines that what reader is not amazed at the end of Hills Like White Elephants to learn that thirty-five minutes have passed while Jig and her man wait for the train to Madrid, a detail that suggests long silences between sparse dialogue, and hints at the lack of connection between the two. The early versions of that story put Jig and the American man on the train for which they only wait in the finished version. In contrast to Bernardo, Grant concentrates on traditions and language usage. The author underlines that in the dialogue the reader has no indication of authorial privilege. Focusing on both Hemingways evolution as a writer and on the writing process itself, a number of seminal studies have emerged over the past decade that traces the transformation of jotted notes into finished art. At this point, however, we stand upon the threshold of discovery. The construction of a comprehensive view of Hemingways stylistic development, evolving aesthetic, and philosophy of composition not only presents new directions for study but will also establish the theoretical framework necessary for a fresh examination of the entire Hemingway canon, seeming oddities and all. Their function is to determine, again, whether the ruthless, aggressive component of mans need to create form and/or take life is dominant by nature or conditioning, and (this time) whether or not a woman can discover in herself the capacity to experience such aggression, so as to participate in mans endeavor rather than merely appreciate its necessity in another.

Bernardo gives attention to details while Grant proposes to readers a general overview of the text and its cultural meaning. Bernardo writes: It is clear that Jig does not want to have an abortion  not from what she says, of course, but from the pressure, the man applies to talk her into it (Bernardo n.d.). Bernardo underlines that the young girl is in practice torn apart by needs simultaneously to compete and nurture. And though she incorporates both drives in a nearly incredible symbiosis with Grants interpretations, not even their remarkable concord of interests holds them together. In a bold, final attempt to resolve creatively the impasse of differing primary concerns between the sexes, these speculative portrayals of sexual atavism push human nature beyond its limits.

In contrast to Bernardo, Grant proposes to readers a cultural analysis of the text and interprets its meaning in terms of social relations and interactions. Hemingways characters look to Europe for an escape from an American mode of time (Grant 1998). The authors construe in the fragments as a whole a thrust toward closure based upon classical resignation, beyond reliance even upon Hemingways customary mysticism. This would be an advance. Bernardo and Grant underline that for the resolutions of his other mature works, profound as they are, sustain his muted romanticism by the reassurance of epiphany  by transcending those contradictions in the human breast that render all quests for concord in love unfinding, and the makers quest for intimations of order unrealizable in the end. It is to that country beyond the material realm that the major direct his now-detached gaze at the end.

The main similarity is that both essays interpret the state of the young girl as pregnancy, thus there is a clear explanation of this situation. This textual suggestion that the abortion will be the demarcating event bound to form the dividing line between their past and future experience is what the man seeks to neutralize by depicting the operation as a natural process of healing and restoration (Grant 1998). He is reconciled to the spare compensation of going through the motions of commitment in an apparently random world, simply because this is the country in which we have been placed and in which we must participate with the resolution if we are to demonstrate our full detachment from the dashed dreams of mortal life. Only thus can we prove the true situation to all that men and women hope to gain by embraces.

In sum, both academic essays pay attention to symbolic details and the unique theme of abortion thus they follow different approaches and interpretations of the text. The distinctions in expression are even more important, however than the conventions held in common. The words communicate a sense of inevitable and unendurable loss which is a much more powerful rendering of the damnation theme than anything in the short story. The two most conventional reactions to adversity registered by an understanding of isolation are wrath and despair. The strength of this tradition helped to perpetuate the formal, lyrical expression of sorrow. Within a dramatic context representing the providential order that governed all things and all mankind, there arose a dramaturgical method that staged evil as something comic, not only for reasons grounded in the philosophy of human relations but for the more practical homiletic purpose of engaging the least sophisticated of minds.

Works Cited

1. Bernardo, K. Ernest Hemingways Hills Like White Elephants.
2. Grant, D. Hemingways Hills Like White Elephants and the tradition of the American in Europe. Studies in Short Fiction. 1998.
3. Hemingway, E. Hills Like White Elephants.