Narrative and thematic elements in short story analysis

Hills like White Elephants is one of the most discussed works of Ernest Hemingway primarily due to excessive use of symbolism in the story to depict conflict of interest of a young couple on the subject of abortion. Interestingly the word pregnancy or abortion is never used in the story but a reader still gets the message through variety of symbols. These symbols and theme augment the iceberg technique used by Hemingway to illustrate his message without actually using the exact words. In the story, the theme and symbol of white hills play an important role as it lends support to other symbols as well.

White elephants refer to the pregnancy and the unborn child. When the American says he has never seen a white elephant, he is possibly referring to the child who hasn't yet arrived. "The girl was looking off at the line of hills. They were white in the sun and the country was brown and dry.

'They look like white elephants,' she said.

'I've never seen one,' the man drank his beer."

The reason it is called white elephants is because of the cost of keeping an elephant is enormous and so is the case with raising a child. The American wants to abort the child because he doesn't want to bear the costs attached with having and raising a child. Hills refer to pregnant belly of the woman and possibly her entire "hilly" structure during this time.

We must understand that white elephant is here used both as a myth and as an expensive item. When we say myth, we are connecting the child with the myth. For the American, an unborn child is not a reality yet so it's a myth. He doesn't want to acknowledge the possibility of this child simply because he hasn't seen him and he is not here yet. A myth is therefore something everyone has heard of but no one has really seen. The American is treating his unborn child as a myth. He is also connecting white elephants with the cost that they would have to bear for raising a child.

Another important theme is futility of chasing meaningless dreams. The young couple has nothing substantial in their lives. They are always doing the same stuff and engaging in the same meaningless activities: "I wanted to try this new drink. That's all we do, isn't it -- look at things and try new drinks?'

'I guess so.'

The girl looked across at the hills."

The two people have nothing that would truly enrich their lives and hence the girl now wants to settle down and have this child. She wants something different from life because everything old has lost significance and everything looks the same: "It tastes like liquorice,' the girl said and put the glass down.

'That's the way with everything.'

'Yes,' said the girl. 'Everything tastes of liquorice. Especially all the things you've waited so long for, like absinthe.'"