Modernism in "Hills Like White Elephants" by Ernest Hemingway

The Influence of Modernism

"Hills Like White Elephants" is a classic example of modernist literature. This movement popped up in the early 20th century and really shook things up. It was all about trying new things, breaking old rules, and diving deep into what characters were thinking and feeling. So, how does this story fit in? Well, it uses a unique style and technique that screams modernism.

The setting is a train station in Spain with an American guy and a girl named Jig. They're having this tough talk about whether or not to have an abortion. But here's the kicker: the conversation's all choppy, like bits and pieces thrown together. Not much detail, hardly any background info. This chopped-up style shows just how messed up their relationship is—it’s like you can feel the tension hanging in the air.

The Symbolic Landscape

The setting isn't just a backdrop; it's like another character in the story. The hills are described as "white elephants," which is kinda loaded with meaning, right? They're this big symbol of the pregnancy neither of them really wants to deal with. The color white makes you think of purity or innocence, which clashes with the heavy choice they're facing.

Everything around them feels empty—no trees, no shade—which matches how hollow their relationship feels. It's like there's no safe place for them to go. This kind of symbolism invites readers to dig deeper and figure out what it all means on their own. That’s classic modernist stuff for ya.

The Implications of Choice

This story zeroes in on choice—the struggle between what they want versus what's expected of them. It's tricky because Hemingway doesn’t tell us what’s right or wrong here; he leaves it all open-ended. That way, we're left pondering, “What would I do?”

Modernist writers loved to shake up traditional views, and this story's no different. By not picking sides on whether they should keep the baby or not, Hemingway’s nudging us to think for ourselves—because life isn't black and white, is it?

Conclusion

Wrapping it up, "Hills Like White Elephants" is all about those key modernist traits: broken-up storytelling, rich symbols, and dealing with tough themes without spoon-feeding answers to us. It messes with how stories used to be told and makes us lean in closer to catch all those subtle layers.

Looking at when it was written helps us see why these elements matter so much even now. The whole choice thing resonates today just as strongly as back then because we’re always making decisions that aren’t easy. Studying stories like this one shows why Hemingway still matters—and why modernist literature keeps sticking around.

Bibliography

• Hemingway, Ernest. "Hills Like White Elephants." Men Without Women, Scribner, 1927.
• Baker, Carlos H., ed. Hemingway: The Writer as Artist. Princeton University Press, 1972.
• Meyers, Jeffrey. Hemingway: A Biography. Harper & Row Publishers Inc., 1985.
• Pound, Ezra. Literary Essays of Ezra Pound. New Directions Publishing Corporation, 1968.
• Wagner-Martin, Linda. "Introduction." New Critical Approaches to the Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway (1990): vii-xvi.