Hills Like White Elephants is a short story, written by Ernest Hemingway in 1927. Hemingway was an American writer who lived through both World War I and World War II. He was known for his style as a “minimalist writer” (Carolina Reader 527), meaning his works were simple, yet through that simplicity they had much depth to them. Hills Like White Elephants is about a couple, and “American” and “the girl”, waiting for a train to take them to “uncertain territory”. The story is mostly dialogue between the “American” and “the girl”. By looking at Hills Like White Elephants, we see the use of the metaphor “white elephant” as well as the overall structure of the piece, which is important to the text because it gives us insight to the communication and power problems that couple is facing. 

The metaphor of the “white elephant” can be read exactly three times in this short story. Every time it is mentioned, it evokes a different reaction from the characters, as well as creates more tension between them. This metaphor is important to the overall context of the story because although the true meaning is never mentioned directly, it is mentioned indirectly on a few occasions. 

The first time this metaphor was mentioned was on page 527 of the Carolina Reader when “the girl” said, “They look like white elephants”. The girl was looking off into the hills while waiting for her train, and with the sun shining down on the hills, they began to look sort of white. The reaction of the “American” was nonchalant, as he replied, “I’ve never seen one”, while sipping his beer (Carolina Reader 527). This first mention of the it introduces the tension between both the couple and the subject of the “white elephant”. The woman is trying to get attention from the man by talking about this subject. There is a sense that there is something more that the woman wants to talk about, but feels as though she cannot mention it directly. The man acknowledges this metaphor, but only to a certain extent. His reply of, “I’ve never seen one” seems to not be the reaction that “the girl” wanted because all she says in return to that is “No, you wouldn’t have”. Clearly from those three lines of exchanges, there is more to the metaphor “white elephant” than just referring to hills in the distance.

After more exchanges of words and a fair share of drinking, the metaphor of the “white elephant” continues. It is mentioned once again on page 528 of the Carolina Reader, in reference to the first time it was mentioned. She says, “All right. I was trying. I said the mountains looked like white elephants. Wasn’t that bright?”. The girl does not want to let go of whatever subject matter the “white elephant” is, but this time even she seems to be getting agitated. The reaction of the “American” also is not as into the subject matter as he was the first time it was mentioned. This time his only reaction what she said was “That was bright”. He is avoiding the “white elephant”, while she tries her hardest to bring it up amidst the talk of drinks and bickering. 

The last time that the “white elephant” is mentioned, is very close to the second time she mentions it. She does not leave much time for the subject to disappear. She looks over at the hills and says, “They don’t really look like white elephants. I just meant the coloring of their skin through the trees” (Carolina Reader 528). At this point, the “American” does not even entertain the thought of the “white elephant”, he simply replies by saying, “Should we have another drink?”. 

The “white elephant” clearly means more than just the way that the hills look in the distance, in this story it means an abortion. During that time as well as into today abortion is a very sensitive subject and widely debated due to the morality of it. The nature of the relationship is unknown, but by reading through the story multiple times, I believe they have just recently begun a relationship, whether that be romantic, or strictly sexual. I came to that conclusion through the mentioning and reaction of the metaphor “white elephant”. The man clearly has made up his mind on the subject of the abortion, but the woman keeps bringing it up because she either questions it or at least wants to have a conversation about it. The first time the metaphor was brought up, the man at least entertained the idea of the “white elephant”. The second time it was mentioned, he merely made a sly remark back to the “girl”. The last time it was mentioned he did not even entertain the thought, and asked if the “girl” wanted a drink. The reactions of the “American” got shorter, both in the structure of the story but also in his temper.

The structure of the story is also important in terms of the plot. The story begins with a short setting of the story, as a couple sits outside in Spain waiting for their train to arrive. After this paragraph, the rest of the story is mostly dialogue, other than the occasional description of something. The dialogue is back and fourth between the “American” and “the girl”. It is important to note that the man gets an identity or nationality while the girl is simply known as “the girl”. Throughout the dialogue of the story, the “girl” begins the majority of the conversation, while the man drinks alcoholic beverages and gives snide remarks back. As the story goes on, the girl starts to seem defeated in her dialogue and eventually says the ending line of the story which is, “There’s nothing wrong with me. I feel fine.” (Carolina Reader 531). When comparing that to her first line of the story which was, “What should we drink?” (Carolina Reader 527). The mans maintains similar dialogue throughout the story. 

When comparing both the structure of the story and the metaphor of the “white elephant”, the main theme of the story is brought out. I would say that the main theme of the story is communication. The metaphor of the “white elephant” being used as an abortion is the first sign of a lack of communication. The “girl” cannot even mention the word let alone come out and directly talk about it. The dialogue of the story is also a clear sign of the lack of communication. The man does not entertain any talk of the abortion and therefore shows his control in the relationship. 
