In “Hills Like White Elephants,” Ernest Hemingway uses abortion laws as a key factor in determining if the American and Jig want to have the abortion. The story takes place in the early 1900s in the Valley of Ebro, located near the Eastern Coast of Spain. Abortion was illegal at the time in Spain and did not follow the ideals of the Catholic Church. Having an abortion was said to have a negative psychological effect on women, causing many women to suffer from stress disorders and post-abortion syndrome. Abortion laws in Spain during the Twentieth century plays a role on the American man and Jig’s decision to have the abortion, in “Hills Like White Elephants.” 

The story was published in 1927 and takes place in a valley between Barcelona and Madrid, Spain. Abortion was illegal in Spain at the time. According to Myriah, “Historically, Spanish law followed the Catholic Church’s ideology on abortion…Prior to 1983, abortion, the sale of contraceptives, and access to birth control information were considered crimes” (Pirhala). At the time this story took place, abortions were lawfully considered a crime. This could be the reason why Jig and the American man had to travel someplace else to have the abortion. Before having the abortion, Jig tells the American man, “The train comes in five minutes” (Hemingway 530). They may have had to go someplace else to have the abortion since Spain considered abortion illegal at the time. 

The Catholic Church’s ideology at the time stated that, “Abortions can have extreme psychological effects on women. Many can suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or Post-Abortion Syndrome” (Pirhala). The American man’s control over all of the decisions could have contributed to Jig’s decision to have the abortion. She may have decided to have the abortion to save her relationship with the American man. In the story, the American man would constantly repeat the phrases, “its perfectly simple” or “its all perfectly natural” when he refers to the abortion (Pirhala). The American man was prime in making decisions; however, he still seems to care about what Jig thinks. All Jig seems to care about is if things will go back to normal for her and the American man. She says, “If I do it you won’t ever worry? Oh yes, I’ll do it and then everything will be fine (Hemingway 529). When she refers to everything being fine, she is talking about her relationship with the American man. Along with all of that stress, Jig has the stress of whether or not she wants to keep the baby. She says, “It’s ours. And once they take it away, you never get it back…” (Hemingway 530). Jig and the American man may have not wanted to have the abortion because they were afraid of the psychological effects that may arise after the abortion was done. However, the possibility that the abortion could mend their relationship back together is what may have caused them to have the abortion. Spain followed the Catholic Church’s ideology of abortions at the time, and could have influenced the decision Jig and the American man made to have the abortion. 

Abortion was considered a crime in many countries at the time, including Spain. According to author, Merike Blofield, “Abortion is often viewed as a cultural or value issue…The Catholic Church defines abortion as homicide” (Blofield). At the time this story took place, it was a women's responsibility for, “human reproduction that makes them more restricted than those of men.” Women were expected to have children and giving a child up would be considered a crime against the Catholic religion that Spain followed at the time. This could be part of the reason Jig and the American man were having such a hard time deciding if they wanted to have the abortion or not. Another reason for Jig’s decision to have the abortion is the constant pressure that came from the American man and basic expectations from men in the society and how they held a higher position on the social ladder. The American man said, “I don’t want you to do anything that you don’t want to do” (Hemingway 530). The American man was worried that Jig was going to do something she did not want to do, something she would regret. The regret could be caused from going against the Catholic religion and committing a “crime” against their religion. 

After talking through the various options available, Jig and the American man came to conclusion that she should have the abortion. It was a tough decision for the both of them, and the decision lied solely in the American mans hands. The American man says, “I’ll go with you and I’ll stay with you all the time. They just let the air in and then it’s all perfectly natural” (Hemingway 529). It was almost as if Jig had no choice but to go along with what the American man said and have the abortion. However, abortions were illegal at the time and went against the beliefs of the Catholic Church. Jig could have been a strict Catholic who did not want to go against her religion, which could have contributed to any doubts she had before or after the abortion. Jig’s uncertainty to have the abortion directly correlates to the American man and how he treated her. The American man had more power over the woman in this case and therefore had the ability to pressure her into having the abortion even though she may have not wanted to. According to Blofield, “Countries where the practice is illegal tend to have high rates of clandestine abortions that constitute a costly public health problems for states in terms of high levels of maternal mortality as well as hospitalizations of women” (Blofield). In countries, like Spain, where abortion was illegal at the time, women would secretly try to have an abortion, which lead to health problems and hospitalizations. Jig and the American man may have been uncertain about having the abortion because of its negative effects. However, in the end, they decide to have the abortion to save their relationship.

Another conflict Jig and the American man face along with the abortion, is the conflict of saving their relationship. Throughout the story, it seems as if the couple is having a hard time getting along and making decisions that will benefit the both of them. Jig says, “Doesn’t it mean anything to you? We could get along” (Hemingway 530). Jig assumes that having the abortion meant that her and the American man would get along and everything would go back to normal for them. Even though abortions were illegal at the time, Jig and the American man may have made the decision to have the abortion in hopes of saving their relationship. Therefore, they decided to travel to somewhere where abortions were legal. Abortion laws in Spain play a role on Jig and the American man’s decision to have the abortion, but saving their relationship seemed to be more important to the both of them. 

In “Hills Like White Elephants,” abortion laws play a role on the American man and Jig’s decision to have the abortion. Spain followed the Catholic Church’s ideology on abortions and therefore deemed it unethical. Jig and the American man had different opinions on the topic, which caused their relationship to clash. Abortions were said to have negative psychological effects on women, including stress disorders and post-abortion syndrome. However, Jig and the American man still decide to have the abortion in the hopes of saving their relationship. Abortion laws in Spain in the nineteenth century play an important role in the decision the American man and Jig have to make.
