An analysis of Ernest Hemingway's Hills like White Elephants

Seminar paper from the year 2009 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature grade: 10 University of Erfurt course: The American Short Story language: English abstract: Can the reader of Hills like White Elephants experience the success of the male character known as the American or the triumph of Jig the female character at the end of the story? The argument of the American couple waiting at a junction between Barcelona and Madrid represents the centre of Ernest Hemingway's short story. Heming-way published this short story as part of the story collection Men without Women in 1927 (ANONYMOUS 1996). Therefore it can be assumed that the setting of the story is also conceived for the 1920ies. It is never directly mentioned that both discuss the abortion of their unborn child although it becomes clear through implications within the text. Whereas the man tries to convince her in a manipulating manner to undergo surgery she dreams of a future with the child (HEMINGWAY 1956: 249ff). LAMB even states that: Much of the conversation is so obscure that on the literal level it can be comprehended only in light of the entire story (LAMB 1996: 469). Sev-eral metaphors images and other literary devices such as the simile being present in the title and in its several repetitions in the story add to the reader's perception of the shown conflict. Apparently the male character represents the dominant part in the relationship and the successful one in the conversation. As the girl states But I don't care about me. And I'll do it and then everything will be fine (HEMINGWAY 1956: 251) after being talked at by her boyfriend it seems that she gives up and sac-rifices her wishes. However scholars discuss whether the American or the girl can force their individual points in the end. The aim of this research paper is to examine this question. An analysis of the structure of the short story the impor-tance of place and positionin