Review of 'Hills Like White Elephants' by Ernest Hemingway

The man in the short story 'Hills Like White Elephants' uttered the requiem statement 'That's the only thing that bothers us. It's the only thing that's made us unhappy.' The instigator of this narrative, Ernest Hemingway is commonly regarded as unornamented for his nature in writing seems obviously of that easy and lucid. Hemingway’s simplicity in writing is what make it subjected to discernment. The characters in this short story regularly interacted in a sheer manner, the fixture of the story is narrated in a plain but intricate ways. Which makes Hemingway’s style far more extraordinary and uncommon. The woman in the story is subjected to a contradicting oppression that many readers failed to perceive. Ernest Hemingway's 'Hills Like White Elephants' illustrates a passive subservient notion of protecting the endearment affection because of the man's conflicting decision, the woman’s forbearing idealism and the truth each characters and readers ceased to absorb.

As the pair awaits the express, The man frequently battles their talk with a contradicting response. The man appears to exhibit dominance. His totaling of things emerged constructively with the way he assert decision at the same time simulating to look like an empathetic significant. But, the case lies elsewhere, the reality that lays with the man's characterization is far more stretched than what the readers depicted of him. Whilst the woman goes on admiring the hills and questioning a lot of things— from the beaded curtain, to the railings of the sun and the empty desolation on the special side of the express designated expanse. With this action, The woman can be viewed as appearing indecisive with the truth of their trip in the form of covering it with countless unenlightened query to further push underneath the candor step that she is about to carry out.

The short story progressed in a brief manner. Further, with a bearing conversation that appears rather a 'casual conversation' with paradoxical hidden representation. The woman in the story bears a lot of characteristic traits that best represents some women in the modern society. Her peripheral perspective in the ways of conversing allows the reader to ponder what outlying metaphor is she trying to execute. Discerning the man's persona is sketchy, he constantly dodged certain topics in hopes of terminating the tense moment. However, there are certain parts that let readers took a bit of a turn with his personality. But, in defiance from his other dialogues it all came to a refutable arrival. Although, the story may appear plain in appearance as it cascades to the end there are still loopholes amiss that let readers take into account as to what these certain statement exhibits, a wondering space that allows the reader to come up with a panorama ideas and theories.

The woman in this short story, “The Hills Like White Elephant”, ”Jig” as what the man from the story referred to her —is about to step her toe in a one way ticket to inevitable demise.. But, not without the man's continues affliction. Similarly, her inflexible nature is what makes this story an illustration of a woman's submission in the direction of her companion; no longer just in commitment, but as well as her personal selection in regards of maintaining what the man regularly guaranteed as the way to being gleeful. Her queries are supplemented of one from a youth. The idea of wanting to gratify the man and his simpering coy of objective. Jig, as what the man called the woman in the short literary piece manifested an endless hesitation with what the man asked of her but nonetheless her submission is still evident with the promise of a good conclusion.

The leap forward and symbolism of each characters differs from one another. The woman seemed quite stressed or possibly baffled with emotions; The projection of intention suggests its rawest intent. The woman uttered this word “But if I do it, then it will be nice again if I say things are like white elephants, and you’ll like it?” in which it elaborate a notion that the woman's incapacity to procure things on her own, blinded by means of submission in the direction of her accomplice has affected her liberty as a woman. The woman is a replication of a typical sexism in the mask of commitment and what is supposed to be “right ” during the story's settings. On the other hand, The man exhibited an endearing emotions, however behind the facade if one will scrutinized thoroughly, his horseplay is perceptible. The man distinctly imposed a self-centeredness attributes from the establishing of the story. Accompanied by his privileged of being born a man his reformation and ruminative thinking has led to the idea of cloying the woman whom he had swore numerous promises in return of convening to his impartial deeds. The story has its own pros and cons in terms of symbolism; The hills that appeared like a white elephant in the distance is the woman’s reference with the action she is about to make of what she believed until the end of the story as “love” but it was nothing near that word for the sublimation of things is clear as the blue water— deception played a role, prejudiced judgement has served its horn, yearning impacted the dilemma and lastly apathy forgone its diagnosis. Was love ever present in the story?

In the middle of the story, while The woman, 'Jig' as referred; is on a verge of bickering with their spar seems to end when the woman uttered this melancholic question like statement that must had let the readers reflect for a moment , 'That's all we do isn't it—look at things and try new drinks?' Was love ever present in the story? The statement gave the impression of a devise relationship. It somehow appeared that the couple is out there exploring things while its still new the same thing applied when the author Ernest Hemingway narrated the following explanation where he stated that the man no longer said anything instead he glanced at the baggage towards the wall of the station. It was narrated that there have been labels on them from all the lodges where they had spent nights. This particular part of the story is a breakthrough of things, it contends to the idea that what they are engaging to was never 'love' but rather a superficial entanglement that has let them believe that they would be able to reach the delight of their trip. Like a drink that is bound to finished or rather a train that is bound to reach it's destination. Both the characters are positioned in a perplexing affair. The story itself was never established in that of a happy ending. Moreover, their relationship appeared of one that is shortsighted. They are too caught up in the moment of their respective intent and excruciation.

Ernest Hemingway's 'Hills Like White Elephants' is structured to convey not just surface level story but rather metaphorical figuration that will let its reader ponder through a lot of things. The ending of the short prose is supplemented with the woman conforming to the mans wishes. As the story reached its conclusion the utterance of the word 'There's nothing wrong with me. I feel fine.' is a final blow. The woman is an epitome of someone who is muddled despite the true tinge of the man was shown throughout the story. The man is a symbol of selfishness that would perhaps lead the pair into an endless trench. The woman is bound again to concede with the man, one way or another. The story has its own creative touch from the descriptive settings to the unembellished but enigmatic dialogue and the symbols that lies beneath every sentences. The author has the ability to leave his reader on a never-ending contemplation. In addition, This notable style is what makes the story bewildering. One may disagree but Hemingway's mode of writing is a reflection of the true essence of his work.

Overall, it may be said that this short literary piece is downright simple in its delivery but both the characters and the authors has brought to life some relating matters that not many is willing to address. The woman's submission towards the man can also be seen as an illustration on how much everyone is willing to unravel every perilous mountain just to gratify someone in a pretense form and just how much a lot of individual is willing to denounce their own emotions in stance for others.