Of course, she must also face the psychological damage that an abortion would have on her. However, she knows that if she does not have the abortion, the life she has enjoyed with her boyfriend will be destroyed and he will probably leave her. While he claims that he will do anything for her, it is clear that he will not because he cannot even respond to her situation with the slightest bit of empathy. His statement, "It's not really an operation at all" (Hemingway) demonstrates his inability to grasp the depth of the situation. His inability to comprehend the scope of the situation indicates his inability to handle anything even slightly more complicated, like a family. Jig is in love with him, however, and admits that she does not care about herself. When she says, "But I don't care about me. And I'll do it and then everything will be fine" (Hemingway), she is submitting to his desires and not her own. This statement illustrates how their relationship is careening for disaster because she has no concern for herself. In fact, when he says, "but just can't think about it. You know how I get when I worry" (Hemingway), we see how he puts himself first. It also points to the end of the relationship because she is willing to go against her own intuition, something she will eventually grow tired of in the future. His lack of effort to relate to her only reinforces the demise of their relationship. In "A Very Short Story" and "Hills Like White Elephants,"...

Both stories end with a certain sense of despair that nothing can replenish or repair. Nothing can be as picturesque as we imagine and the brutality of war drove this message home. The mood and tone of both of these stories is hopeless, pointing toward deterioration. Hemingway's connection to the "lost generation" is reflected in these stories because there appears to be no hope in them. They end hopelessly, with the afterthought that life is nothing but a series of disappointments. The dramatic point-of-view reinforces the distance that exists between the characters and highlights the theme of alienation in the stories. Hemingway captures the sentiment of the lost generation through these characters that come close to the depths of despair, lingering on the edge of hopelessness.
Works Cited

Hemingway, Earnest. "A Very Short Story." Vancouver Island University Online Text. Information Retrieved December 18, 2008. http://records.viu.ca/~lanes/english/hemngway/vershort.htm

Hills Like White Elephants." Moonstar Selection of Short Stories. Information Retrieved December 18, 2008. http://www.moonstar.com/~acpjr/Blackboard/Common/Stories/WhiteElephants.html