By looking at the title of Ernest Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants,” we can already analyze that Hemingway uses symbolism in this short story. Symbolism is one of the most common ways to explore a short story for meaning and understanding. There can be multiple ways to interpret a symbol in a piece of literature when thinking imaginatively. In “Hills Like White Elephants,” some of the many symbols that one can analyze are the landscape, the curtain, the luggage, and the metaphor about white elephants. Each symbol can be described and have a possible symbolic meaning. 

Hemingway’s short story begins by explaining some of the landscape that surrounds the station that the American and Jig are at. The landscape on one side of the station includes white hills along with brown, dry land. This scenery shows that there is not much life. On the other hand, on the other side of the station, there are fields of grain and trees that border the river and mountains beyond that. This land is more bountiful and full of life. Each side of the station can symbolize her decision about having the abortion or not. She can decide to have the baby (create a new life) or have the abortion (destroy a new life). Furthermore, Hemingway describes a cloud that moves across the field of grain. This cloud could symbolize her decision. Clouds can be foggy in the same way that her mind is foggy about the decision. Clouds can move across the sky seemingly fast and with a purpose. When the operation is brought up, the American quickly starts pressuring Jig into getting it done and will not take no for an answer. He says she does not have to get the operation if she does not want to, but in a way that confirms he still wants her to do it. His persistence makes her feel weak and more indecisive about what to do. 

After the introduction of the landscape, Hemingway quickly states there is a curtain made of strings of bamboo beads. It is a very quick and subtle description that seems to have no significance, but in fact has a possible symbolic meaning. The curtain in the story is used in the doorway to separate two rooms. Jig wants to have the baby and the American does not. Therefore, the pregnancy itself creates a curtain between the couple. Throughout the discussion of the operation, the American continues to pester Jig and state his opinion while she asks him to stop. Because of his demeanor, his opinion seems to take precedence over the women’s opinion. The couple’s two different opinions could be what breaks them apart.

The landscape and the curtain are both things that are there already when the couple is at the station, but their luggage is something they bring with themselves. Their luggage is a symbol of their traveling and all the places they have been together. Hemingway mentions there are labels all over their luggage and this can indicate the journey they have had together that led them to this point. This is a set point in their lives and the decision they make (if they ever make one) can dictate the rest of their lives. The train they are waiting for, is bringing them to their next destination. 

Lastly, Jig mentions that the hills look like white elephants. Ernest Hemingway's use of the white elephant metaphor symbolizes something that no one wants. In this story, Jig doesn’t want to kill the baby but the man does not want to have the baby. The couple’s white elephants are different in this way and this is why issues are arising between them. Furthermore, the metaphor is like the expression, "the elephant in the room," which is usually something that is obviously true or there but is not being addressed. At first, when the women points out that the hills look like white elephants, she is trying to say she wants to discuss with the operation with the American. Then, the girl says that the hills actually don't look like white elephant, meaning she doesn't want to talk about the operation anymore. The man doesn't react to this and misses her hint. He keeps pushing to talk about the operation, but the girl tells him to stop talking. 

Throughout “Hills Like White Elephants,” each of the symbols are touched upon. The meaning one takes from these symbols depends on the reader and how they think. The landscape, the curtain, the luggage, and the metaphor about white elephants all back up one of Hemingway’s themes; relationships can often be faulty when a couple has to go through a tough decision or obstacle. The landscape expresses the two different decisions Jig can make and how she is unsure what to do. The cloud that moves in shows how a big decision can confuse two people in a relationship. Not only can a couple become confused, but the curtain shows there can be a separation. As the story goes on, the couple seems to become more divided and “the curtain” ends up more like a wall between them. The luggage indicates that a major decision can decide where the journey of their relationship will take them next. Lastly, the white elephant metaphor symbolizes how many relationships will avoid a difficult decision or task. All of these symbols imply the hardships of a decision and the everlasting effect it can have on a relationship.  

 