The Theme of a Lack of Communication in Hills Like White Elephants

Communication Breakdown in Hemingway’s "Hills Like White Elephants"

Ernest Hemingway's Hills Like White Elephants dives into something most of us have probably experienced: bad communication in relationships. The story is just one long conversation between the two main characters—an American man and a woman named Jig. From their words and hints in the dialogue, it seems like they’re talking about an unexpected pregnancy. But the bigger issue here is their inability to actually talk about it openly. They’re both dancing around what they really feel, which makes things worse. Hemingway seems to be saying we often don't express ourselves fully, either because we’re scared of how others will react or we’re protecting ourselves from getting hurt.

The American’s Side of Things

Let’s start with the American’s view. He comes off as a young guy who likes his life as it is—free and easy, with lots of traveling and new experiences. Becoming a dad? Definitely not in his plans. It’s clear he wants Jig to have an abortion, but he never outright says it. Instead, he’s subtle, saying things like, “It's really an awfully simple operation... I know you wouldn’t mind it, Jig.” That’s a weird way to talk about something so serious, right? He’s downplaying it, trying to make it seem like no big deal. It makes you wonder—if it was really so simple, why would he need to keep saying it?

Pressure Disguised as Support

The American’s attitude shows through in little comments. At one point, he says, “Well, if you don’t want to, you don’t have to. I wouldn’t have you do it if you didn’t want to.” But then he adds, “But I know it’s perfectly simple.” He’s being passive-aggressive here. He says the choice is hers, but he keeps pushing the idea that the procedure is no big deal. It’s manipulative, even if he doesn’t mean it to be. He won’t flat-out tell her what he wants, but he keeps bringing it up, hoping she’ll go along with it. This is where their communication totally falls apart—he’s not being honest, and it just adds tension.

Jig’s Dilemma

On the flip side, it seems like Jig might be thinking about keeping the baby, but she’s scared of how the American will react. At one point, she asks, “And if I do it, you’ll be happy... you’ll love me?” It’s clear she’s worried more about saving their relationship than anything else. She’s torn because she knows having the baby might change everything. When she says, “We could have everything,” she’s talking about the life they had before this news came up.

Jig’s getting more and more uncomfortable as the conversation goes on. She even says, “Can’t we maybe stop talking?” But the American keeps pushing, ignoring her. This shows they’re not really listening to each other. Jig’s thoughts and feelings get brushed aside, and you can see that in her final words: “I feel fine.” We’re left wondering—does she really feel fine? Or is she just saying it to end the conversation?

The Power of Setting and Symbolism

Hemingway doesn’t just rely on dialogue to show the breakdown between them. He uses the setting and symbols too. The story takes place at a train station, which is symbolic—it’s like their relationship is at a crossroads. They’re stuck between two choices, just like the station is between two cities. The hills and the valley around them also represent different options: one side is fertile and green (maybe suggesting life and having the baby), and the other is dry and barren (maybe symbolizing the choice of abortion).

There’s also a little moment with the waitress, who only speaks Spanish. The American translates for Jig, just like he’s been trying to “translate” his opinion on the operation. It’s another layer of miscommunication that fits with the overall theme.

The Takeaway: Miscommunication Hurts

In the end, Hills Like White Elephants is all about how we fail to communicate when it really matters. The American and Jig both struggle to express what they really want, and it leaves them stuck. Hemingway doesn't give us a clear answer about what happens next, just like the couple never fully talks things through. Maybe that’s the point—sometimes, in real life, we don’t get the closure we want, and miscommunication leaves us guessing.