Hills like White Elephants by Hemingway - Literature Essay Sample

In Hills like White Elephants Hemingway presents a different account of both the male and female members of the society. In the piece, there are glaring stereotypes that are gender based and that portrayed through the miscommunication between the male and female character in the story. Through the conversation between the two individuals in the train station, Hemingways rigid concept of masculinity is depicted, and the woman is portrayed as less assertive, persuasive, she is also shameless, helpless, confused and indecisive. The man on the hand is presented as knowledgeable, worldly, in control of the situation and omniscient. It is, therefore, clear through the male and female stereotypes in the miscommunication that the concept of gender is distorted and the Hemingway era valued male hierarchy which the female characters try to break from towards the end of the story.

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The conversation between the lady, Jig and the American happens in a bar in a train station in Spain. As they wait for the train, Jig attempts to regain intimacy with the American and the serious of conversation that follows depicts a gender- based communication between the two. Typical of many patriarchal settings, the American is dominant, assertive and purports to know everything. The American makes it clear his intentions and shows what he wants, Jig, on the other hand, is submissive, and does not engage the Americans in active vocalization. The American introduces the conversation about abortion with totality and understated language which is meant to convince Jig to buy into his arguments and not question what is bad and what is right for the situation. The American tries to convince Jig that abortion is a simple process claiming it is an awful operation. It is not even an operation after all (Hemmingway, 757). Jig does not say anything at this point and continues to keep quiet, and this is a feminine way of communication. The silence, in this case, is a rebuke to American's desire to have the abortion.

The American however, consoles her that he does not want her to do anything she doesnt want to do, from this it can be seen that the American tactically, pacifies Jig into feeling guilty and complying to what he is suggesting. The American is manipulative and uses conciliatory language to manipulate Jig. When prodded by Jig if he wanted the abortion, Jig claims it is the best thing to do. However, he would not wish for it if it went against Jig's will (Hemingway, 757). This part indicates manipulation and the American are motivated by self-interest and impartiality. His main aim is to promote the abortion agenda.

Typical of most female responses when concerned in a situation where they have to save the relationship, Jig tells the American that then Ill do it. Because I dont care about me. (Hemingway 758). The American applies subtle pressure on the Jig by his choice of words. While jig uses "we and us" pronouns like we could get along (Hemingway 758), American, on the other hand, uses singular pronoun, I dont want anyone elseI know it is perfectly simple (Hemingway 758). The use of singular pronoun erects boundaries and could be interpreted as a hidden threat to separation should jig fail to procure the abortion.

In conclusion Jig and the American go through an unprecedented power struggle, from their mode of communication, the American leverages on the masculinity of the agreed communication standards set by the society to manipulate and assert dominance over the jig. Jig on the other hand because she wants the American, as well as the child, is forced to suppress her feelings, pretend to smile and allow the American have his way.

Works cited

Hemingway, Ernest. Hills like White Elephants. The Norton Anthology of Short Fiction. Ed. R.V. Cassill. 5th ed. Norton. 1995. 755-759.