An Inferential Analysis of Hemingway's “hills like White Elephants”

In Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants” I found many layers of symbolism, and a fascinating psychological underplay afoot between his two characters. It begins with the girl’s comment about a line of white hills seen in the distance, which she compares to white elephants. The man responds with the comment “I’ve never seen one.”

The symbolism of a white elephant is widely known as something very large or apparent that no one wishes to acknowledge or speak of in American society. It is an interesting opening to a very strained conversation concerning an apparent pregnancy, and the man’s wish to terminate it. The couple’s careful avoidance of actually naming the problem, or the proposed solution, suggests the situation in which a mate, reluctant to assume responsibility, or unprepared for the task of parenthood, is lobbying to prevent it.

In her next comment, “No, you wouldn’t have.” the girl returns a very passive aggressive riposte, perhaps suggesting that the man cannot, or will not, recognize an unpleasant issue. His defensive reaction to her response suggests that she is correct. She then changes the subject casually, as though retreating from his irritation. He plays along with it in a placatory manner, seemingly eager to avoid an escalation of the tension that obviously exists between them. Clearly, the woman in this story is reluctant to abort her pregnancy, while the man is strongly committed to making it happen.

After he orders them a new drink, the girl remarks on its licorice taste. Then perhaps attempting to hide her pain over his rejection of the baby, she responds to his comment “That’s the way with everything.” by agreeing with him and adding bitterly “Especially the things you’ve waited so long for, like absinthe.” This, I assume, is a reference to the base ingredient of absinthe, which is the aromatic herb called wormwood, once considered a remedy for intestinal worms. As an interesting note, the name ‘wormwood’ derives from the German word Wermut, which translates as ‘grievous’ in the English language.

The man’s response to her bitterness is one of irritation and he snaps at her, whereupon she promptly blames him for his lack of appreciation for her clever metaphor about the white hills; referring , most likely, to his distracted attitude. It seems likely she is accustomed to him complimenting her for her intelligence and wit, which is now not happening due to his worry over her pregnancy. He again placates her, this time by agreeing the metaphor was a bright comparison.

When she softens her reference to the hill with an explanation, he makes small talk for a moment, then launches into his campaign to convince her of the banality of an abortion. At this point, Hemingway inserts her name, which suggests empathy for the girl’s position. By giving her a name, while leaving the man without one, the reader might find her to be a more personalized character. She has a name, which in human society is a symbol of individuality and importance, while someone that remains nameless, or worse, someone no one speaks of, is accorded little or no importance. I infer that Hemingway disapproved of the man’s behavior, which certainly seems dishonest and craven in the face of his selfish arguments.

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