Hemingways Hills Like White Elephants, a Critical Inquiry

“Hills Like White Elephants,” by Ernest Hemingway In Ernest Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants,” the two main characters, Jig and the unnamed American man, are at a train station in Spain trying to decide whether or not they (actually just Jig) should go through with an abortion. The first time I read the story it wasn’t very clear to me what type of an operation it was that they were talking about. Hemingway …

…didn’t leave she would have the kid. In the distance was barren land, symbolizing that she would abort the child if she decided to take the train. Hemingway leaves the end open to the reader’s imagination. It is not sure whether she decides to get on the train, but it is apparent that the man wants to get on since he’s eager to take her luggage to the end of the station.