Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants”

In Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants”, the central meaning of the story can be found in the dialogue that takes place between the “American” and Jig. At first their conversation is aimless however the manner in which the two interact with each other provides insight towards their individual characters as well as their relationship.

The repetition of phrases and roundabout nature of their conversation adds to the uneasiness of the couple and the tension that wavers- but never actually builds- through the scene. Back and forth, they each attempt to dissuade the other’s concerns and inadvertently their own as well: “And afterwards they were all so happy,” “...if I do it you’ll be happy” and “I don’t care about me,” “well I care about you,” “oh, yes. But I don’t care about me...”

Jig seems to be younger than the man and almost childlike in the way she says the hills look like “white elephants” and compares the alcoholic drink to licorice. Jig’s talkative manner suggests a quality of naivety and innocence, sharing her thoughts out loud as they come to mind and also voicing her demands whether it be a glass of Anis del Toro or that her companion, “...please please please please please please please stop talking.”

Among the details about the characters provided outside of their dialogue is Jig’s tendency to gaze into the distance, “...and the girl looked across at the hills.” This could either be an avoidance of the subject of conversation or simply a sort of denial that the problem even exists. On the other hand, Jig’s melancholy demeanor seems to suggest a quality of wishfulness exclusive to someone who hasn’t yet let go of their youth, “We can have everything... We can have the whole wide world.”