Assignment for 10/21 - Hemingway

“Hills Like White Elephants” is both enigmatic and extremely easy to understand, once the imagery of the story is unlocked, and once it is unequivocally decided that the young couple are discussing a probable abortion. Rounded hills call to mind a pregnant belly, the elephants are those in the room with them with the not directly discussed nearly-child, and a “white elephant” is a rummage sale where you get rid of things that you don’t want any longer. Though this term is anachronistic in our time, it was used frequently in the early half of the last century. It was a garage sale before most people had garages. It also carried the connotation that there were valuable items among the junk, but no one had bothered to separate them beforehand.

Hemingway’s writing is like a house waiting for the new owners to arrive and move in. Without the furniture of emotional context, backstory, or detailed description, the narration is an empty, echoing room. The narration does not comment on the imagery used in the story, it just stands back and lets the characters draw metaphors. This is a method of characterization that in some ways depends on the narration to be neutral, which often leads to a sense that the narration is harsh. A lack is discerned as coldness. This is something that Hemingway relies upon to carry the emphasis in his writing.

When the girl says, “‘It tastes like liquorice,’” and then puts the glass down, note that licorice has been used as an abortifacient since ancient times.