“Hills Like White Elephants” Lecture Notes PLOT SUMMARY • • • • •
The story is set at a train station in the Ebro River valley of Spain. A young American man and a woman referred to as “the girl” (later named “Jig”) wait for a train to Madrid. They engage in a tense, indirect conversation about a procedure the man wants Jig to undergo, strongly implied to be an abortion. The landscape around them—barren hills on one side, fertile fields on the other—mirrors the emotional and moral crossroads they face. The story ends without resolution: the train arrives, and the decision remains ambiguous.
THEMES & ANALYSIS 1. Communication & Miscommunication • The characters talk around the central issue (abortion) rather than addressing it directly. • Hemingway’s dialogue-driven narrative reveals emotional tension through what is left unsaid. • Their inability to communicate reflects the broader emotional disconnect in their relationship.
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2. Gender Roles & Power Dynamics • The man subtly pressures Jig into having the abortion while insisting it’s “her choice.” • Jig’s hesitancy and indirect resistance highlight the unequal power dynamics and her inner conflict. • The story critiques male dominance in romantic relationships, especially around reproductive decisions. 3. Symbolism • The Hills: Jig says they look like white elephants—a metaphor suggesting something unwanted or burdensome (a pregnancy, in this case), but also something rare and sacred. • The Landscape: Two sides—one barren, one fertile—symbolize the life paths Jig might choose: motherhood or remaining with the man on his terms. • The Train: Symbol of time, change, and the inexorable approach of a decision. 4. The Iceberg Theory • Much of the story’s meaning lies beneath the surface of the dialogue. • Hemingway offers minimal narration, forcing readers to infer the emotional stakes and moral dilemmas.
CHARACTER ANALYSIS Jig • Torn between pleasing her partner and her own desires. • Expresses subtle rebellion and existential uncertainty. • Her growing awareness and ambiguity drive the story’s tension. The American • Persuasive but emotionally distant. • Represents a pragmatic, perhaps selfish view of relationships. • His calm demeanor masks a manipulative undercurrent.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS • • • •
Why do you think Hemingway never explicitly mentions the word “abortion”? How do the physical surroundings (landscape, train station) mirror the couple’s emotional state? What does the story suggest about choice and autonomy in relationships? How does Hemingway’s minimalist style affect your reading of the characters’ emotions?
KEY POINTS •
“Hills Like White Elephants” is a masterclass in subtext, showing how tension and meaning
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can be conveyed through what remains unsaid. The story explores heavy themes—gender, autonomy, communication—within a deceptively simple setting. Hemingway challenges readers to actively interpret the emotional landscape, making the story rich for analysis and discussion.
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