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In 1959, he moved to Idaho, United States. There he committed suicide on July 2, 1961. He was 61 years old.
Literary work
In his literary work, his novels and short stories stand out, some of which are considered classics of American and world literature. Some of them are:
- The novels:
- Party (1926).
- Spring waters (1926).
- Farewell to arms (1929).
- To have and not to have (1937).
- For Whom the Bell Tolls (1940).
- On the other side of the river and among the trees (1950).
- The old man and the sea (1952).
- short story anthologies:
- Three stories and ten poems (1923)
- In Our Time (1925)
- Men Without Women (1927)
- The Winner Takes Nothing (1933)
- The fifth column and the first forty-nine stories (1938).
- The snows of Kilimanjaro (1961).
- Posthumous works:
- The fifth column and four stories of the Spanish civil war (1969)
- Drifting Islands (1970).
- Nick Adams (1972)
- The Garden of Eden (1986).
- At breaking dawn (1999).
Analysis of Hills as white elephants
Hills Like White Elephants was first published in 1927, within the storybook Men Without Women . It is a short story that, despite its brevity, makes an impact on the reader. Therefore, it is the faithful reflection of the style of this author. Today Hills as White Elephants is considered one of the prime examples of Hemingway’s iceberg theory.
Hemingway and the iceberg theory (or omission theory)
Hemingway affirmed that what is expressed in a story or novel should simply be a small part of the total story, that is, the “tip of the iceberg.”
Like an iceberg with only 80 percent of its surface visible, the pages had to show only part of the story. According to Hemingway, the writer’s talent or mastery was in using as few words as possible, trying to keep most of the plot implicit.
However, Hemingway also stressed the importance of the writer knowing perfectly all the details of his story. Therefore, omissions had to be conscious and strategic. In addition, they had to allow the reader to make their own interpretation of the facts. This marked the minimalist style characteristic of him and distinguished him from other writers.
Hills characters as white elephants
In Hills like white elephants three characters appear:
Jig : is one of the main characters. She is about a young woman of unknown nationality and of whom we do not know more details. Throughout the story he maintains a dialogue with the American that turns into a heated discussion, full of ironies and double meanings. He appears as a pensive and doubtful person, and at times, emotional; he is about to make an important decision.
The American : he is the other main character and we only know his nationality. He appears as a pushy man who tries to manipulate Jig, hoping she will agree to do what he wants. There seems to be a sentimental relationship between the two, although it is not clear exactly what link they have or how long they have known each other.
The waitress: she is a secondary character who delivers drinks to them in a bar near the station. At one point she seems to interrupt the couple’s discussion on purpose. Somehow, it is possible that this character appears in defense of the protagonist.
Meaning of Hills symbols as white elephants
In the story there are several implicit symbols that allow us to understand what the story is about, which remains surrounded by mystery.
The operation
Although not detailed or specifically mentioned, the “operation” refers to abortion. This is the subject on which both protagonists discuss to try to reach a conclusion. Throughout the story, the man makes his position clear that he wants the woman to have the operation. He describes it as a “terribly simple” procedure, “perfectly simple” and “not really an operation.”
The issue of abortion is also glimpsed in other expressions of the protagonists, such as when the North American affirms: «But I don’t want anyone but you. I don’t want anyone to get in the way. And I know it’s perfectly simple.” These words suggest that there will be “someone else” unless the woman has surgery.
The hills
The hills refer to the female anatomy during pregnancy: the curves of the breasts and the bulging belly. By mentioning the hills, Jig is imagining what that process would look like.
white elephants
This is perhaps the greatest symbol of the story. The origin of this phrase is related to a practice in ancient Siam, a kingdom that is now Thailand. Back then, white elephants were sacred and considered as a treasure. However, for the king to give a white elephant to a member of his court meant that there was enmity between them. Although at first glance it seemed like an honor, in reality the gift would cause the ruin of the recipient, since maintaining the elephant was very expensive. Therefore, a white elephant symbolizes a burden or obstacle, something negative and unwanted.
Landscape
The contrast between the dry and arid landscape where they are, with the river, the trees and the hills on the other side, highlight the current situation and the promising future that awaits them after the abortion.
the licorice
Licorice is a common plant in Spain with which a drink is made that is characterized by its bitter taste. This symbolizes the negative or bittersweet feelings of the protagonist as she weighs the options.
absinthe
This plant is known for its abortifacient properties; therefore, its mention is a clear reference to abortion.
Other interesting phrases
In addition to these symbols, the dialogue is full of irony with double meanings that reinforce the theme of the story. For example:
- When the woman comments that the hills look like white elephants, the man says that he has never seen one. She replies, “No, you wouldn’t have.” If the hills represent female fertility and pregnancy, she might be suggesting that he’s not the type to ever have a child.
- In another part of the dialogue, although the man tries to minimize the importance of the matter by using other people as an example, the woman knows that it is not as he says and demonstrates it ironically: “And then everyone was so happy.”
- With the repetition in the phrase “would you please please please please shut the fuck up?” the exasperation of the protagonist is revealed, that she seems to have realized the man’s manipulation. She also seems to have given up hope at her insistence.
- In the final sentence: “I feel very good,” she said. Nothing’s wrong with me. I feel very good. », The protagonist expresses something that seems to be the opposite of her real feelings or even the tranquility of having made a decision. The author leaves this unknown about the woman’s final decision for the reader to make her own interpretation.
Bibliography
- Hemingway, E. Hills Like White Elephants . (2011, 4th edition). Spain. Pocket-size.
- Seva city. Luis Lopez Nieves. Hills like white elephants . Available online at: https://ciudadseva.com/texto/colinas-como-elefantes-blancos/
- Sánchez, JA Story Analysis: We Dissect: ‘Hills Like White Elephants’, by Ernest Hemingway . (2021). Article available at: https://escribiryo.com/2021/05/15/diseccionamos-colinas-como-elefantes-blancos-de-ernest-hemingway/
