Hills like White Elephants

Hemingway's short story "Hills Like White Elephants" touches on an issue as ageless as time: communication problems in a relationship. He tells his story through conversations between the two main characters, the American and the girl. Conflict is created through dialogue as these characters face what most readers believe to be the obstacle of unexpected pregnancy. The already diffcult sitition is worsened by the inability to convey their differing opinions to each other. Symbolism and …

…He does admit that "Hills Like White Elephants" is an invented story, although the setting and dialogue ring of authenticity. Maybe that is why literary critic Sheridan Baker states that "what Hemingway himself counts as fiction seems to contain a very high saturation of actuality" (158). Even so, his use of the title's meaning, symbolism, and the ageless dilemma of communication problems provides an excellent dialogue, giving the story an interesting twist indicative of his style.