Week 4 Question #11

Obviously, the entire story (“Hills”) is highly symbolic, and, as is typical of Hemingway, offers little to no commentary – only words and a few actions. As such, it’s entirely up to the reader to flesh out themes and meaning. Interpret the following statement with this in mind. “He picked up the two heavy bags and carried them around the station to the other tracks” (527). Does this statement offer a clear resolution?

In the short story “Hills Like White Elephants” the author, Ernest Hemingway, uses imagery at the beginning of the story when he describes the view as gloomy writing "...the country was brown and dry" in reference to the hills in the distance. The story is presented in real time and is told to us in the form of a conversation between two people, a man and a woman named Jig, who are waiting for a train to arrive at the train station where they are having drinks and talking. In reference to the hills in the distance Jig comments "They look like white elephants." to which the man replies "I've never seen one." and Jig answers "No, you wouldn't have." (524). This response by Jig is a use of symbolism by the author. It symbolizes that Jig believes that the man really does not understand at all what she is going through emotionally. As the story continues to unfold the reader is able to decipher that what the couple is discussing is the fact the reason they are at the train station is to board the train that will take them to the place where she will have an abortion. Jig is seeking reassurance that he will still love her and that they are doing the right thing. In the middle of their conversation Jig walks over to the other side of the tracks and looks out at the view. What she sees is "...fields of grain...(and) Far away, beyond the river, were mountains. The shadow of a cloud moved across the field of grain and she saw the river through the trees." (526). This is symbolic for the other side, the outcome, and her life after the abortion going to be beautiful. She then returns to sit with the man again. They begin to talk about it again but now she asks him to stop talking about it, symbolizing that she has resolved to have the procedure and she believes that there is a brighter side ahead for her like the view on the other side of the tracks. So "He picked up the two heavy bags and carried them around the station to the other tracks." (527). This symbolizes that he too knew they were ready to take the heavy burdens they were feeling and board the train when it came on the other side of the tracks which is clearly a resolution to the question of whether or not they would have the procedure and move forward together in their lives.