“Hills Like White Elephants”

Hemingway sets “Hills Like White Elephants” at a train station to highlight the fact that the relationship between the American man and the girl is at the end. Now in the middle of a desolate valley, the station isn’t the last destination but merely a stopping point between Barcelona and Madrid. Travelers, including the characters, must decide where to go and, in this case, whether to go with each other and keep their relationship.

Moreover, the contrast between the white hills and barren valley possibly highlights the comparison between life and death, fertility and sterility, and mirrors the choice the girl has of keeping the baby or aborting it . The girl seems torn between the two places, not only commenting on the landscape of the hills. Also, physically walking to the end of the platform and gazing out at the brown vacant land around the station.

The analogy of comparing hills to white elephants also, show the playing role the girl has. She tells this to her boyfriend to downplay the harsh reality of her true problems and issues, which is her soon coming baby. She puts barriers up in order to stall on the decision she should make of their kid and her place in life. Her boyfriend stands behind her getting the abortion, but backs her up if she doesn’t want to.

This shows people the true harsh struggles of life: moving, choosing to have birth, and relationships. Its compares life to the most biggest, but most gentle creature. This represents the good and the bad of decisions and the turns you have to make in life. Also, gives the consequences being made only by the fate of one choice