In “Hills Like White Elephants” Hemingway conveys a story of a couple with a subtle, yet major problem. They experience extreme tension and disagreement while at the train station discussing the operation the man wants the woman to undergo. The man seems to have the upper hand on the decision as the woman is more submissive to his desires. The American and the woman he has with them are in a disagreement over getting an abortion, this disagreement is affected by the abortion laws and the public perception of abortion as well as traditional gender roles during that time and therefore escalates the problem. 

Although the problem of abortion is clear, it is never explicitly stated anywhere in the story. The vague language used by both the man and the woman can be tied directly into the distance and disagreement of their opinions. The questions that they ask and the answers that are given reveal a major lack of communication and connection between the two. The fact that the abortion is simply referred to as an “operation” and instead of discussing what could happen with the operation, the man just tells her that they will be fine once it’s done and that its very simple. In the dialogue between the man and woman, although the topic of the abortion is talked about, much of the conversation is centered around the drinks. Despite the major issue at hand, both man and woman avoid it and clearly do not want to talk about it. The woman claims, “they look like white elephants,” upon looking at the hills around them (527). Alex Link of York University claims that a white elephant, in North American context, is a “metaphor for an expensive and burdensome property.” In this case, the white elephant being referred to in the story could be a symbol of the burden of having a child. The obvious could be the white elephant is just a comparison to the woman’s stomach while she’s pregnant, yet a deeper analysis of the symbolism reveals a greater meaning to it. I agree with the fact that the white elephant could represent the burden of having a child, yet I believe that the burden that it represents could be lack of communication between the couple. It could symbolize all the problems that couple experiences beyond the abortion even. After the woman claims that the hills look like white elephants, the man comes back and says, “I’ve never seen one,” further stressing the disconnect and problems that plague their relationship (527). Alex Link later argues over the use of the word “it” and its situational use throughout the story. He claims that “the fact that ‘it’ is never named suggests both the intimacy of the couple’s relationship […] and the unspeakability of that information.” The lack of communication and connection between the two contributes to the burden that the white elephant refers to. The couple is never able to fully communicate or directly discuss the issue at hand. They continually avoid saying anything specific in favor or just claiming that it will be “fine.” Link claimed that, per context, a white elephant symbolizes burdensome and expensive property. I agree with his statement that the burden that a white elephant symbolizes in this story is the nature of having a child. Yet, I also believe that the burden is the disconnect between the American man and women. 

The problems that the couple experience are also magnified by the abortion laws and public perception during that era. In The Politics of Moral Sin, it is stated that “abortion is often viewed as a ‘cultural’ or value issue” (Blofield 2). In most countries abortion is viewed as morally incorrect. The problems and tension among the couple over this issue is affected by abortion during that time. The woman’s decision to not want the abortion could be affected by the public perception that an abortion is morally wrong. She could be resisting abortion since it would be shunned by the people around them and she would not want that reputation. Yet, despite this stigma that abortion is morally wrong, the man claims that “they just let the air in and then it’s all perfectly natural” (529). The man clearly does not agree with many people and the humanity aspect of an abortion. He downplays what getting an abortion truly is and therefore tries to get the woman to agree with what he is saying. Her unwillingness to get an abortion, and the American’s denial of the value issue of getting the procedure further complicates their problems and disconnect in views. It is later stated by Merike Blofield that “the Catholic church defines abortion as homicide” and “Pope Pius IX prohibited any form of abortion for Catholics in 1869” (2). This is important because the story takes place in Spain at a train station and Spain is a predominantly Catholic country. Abortion was against the laws during the time that this story takes place yet it is not once discussed or brought up in dialogue between the man and the woman. The American refuses to acknowledge the fact that abortion is illegal in Spain and his failure to recognize that contributes to his almost ignorant statements to Jig. By not recognizing the legality of abortion and the general attitude towards it, it undermines the problems that could arise from getting an abortion and going through with the operation. In downplaying the seriousness of an abortion, it also serves as symbol of his attitude towards their relationship. He believes abortion isn’t significant and the problem of having a baby is a quick, easy fix. That also symbolizes his attitude that their relationship has a quick fix and then they will be okay. He fails to look deeper and recognize the size of the problems at hand in order to get what he wants. Abortions are not as easy as the man wants to believe as in Spain “a comprehensive reproductive health policy […] dramatically reduced the abortion rate” (13). If a health policy significantly reduced abortion, there must be a link between getting an abortion and health problems. The American clearly fails to recognize that there are many problems that could result instead of everything being just fine after the operation. Maybe the man and the woman were unaware of the abortion laws of that time in Spain. Maybe they were both unaware of the harmful health problems that could arise with getting and abortion. But if they were seriously considering doing it, they should know about all of this. The lack of discussion about side effects and the legality of an abortion in Spain in the 1900s shows that the man truly does not care. He just wants the baby to be gone and move on yet it is not that simple. 

Nilofer Hashmi stakes a claim that “regardless of what actually transpires, the existing relationship between the American and the girl will deteriorate.” I agree with this statement due to the stubbornness of the man and his unwillingness to consider the woman’s opinion. The man refuses to have the baby and is insistent upon the woman getting an abortion despite public opinion. The constant disagreement about the topic of this abortion will eventually end their relationship no matter how it ends according to Hashmi. He claims that “the conversation between the two seems to indicate that there is little love between them” which seems fittingly true. Their lack of intimation is conversation says much about the nature of their relationship and the topic of an abortion is enough to end a relationship. The American says after the operation that they will “be fine afterward. Just like [they] were before,” yet other interactions prove otherwise. There is little to no affection between the two and an abortion is a major problem to possibly get through without much love holding the relationship together. The relationship doesn’t seem to have much foundation and the abortion will cause it to come to an end. 

The problems between the American and the woman with him are being magnified by the cultural context around them. They are in Spain in the 1920s in a time where abortion is not only frowned upon and viewed as morally wrong, but illegal. This context creates a bigger problem at hand than just getting an abortion. The man’s ignorance of that public view on abortion further shows the disconnect and lack of communication on the topic between the couple. This contributes to the metaphor that the white elephant is representative of the burden of bearing a child that will eventually end the relationship. 
