“They look like white elephants” (Hemingway 475) says a girl, referring to a burden that is never called by its name in the story. Although the girl and her partner converse throughout the story, neither speaker truly communicates with the other, highlighting the distance between the two. Both speak, but neither listens to or understands the other's point of view. The 1920s had a political and social phenomenon that clearly influenced Ernest Hemingway's “The Hills Like White Elephants.” In 1918, a year after graduating from high school in Oak Park, Illinois, Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) volunteered as an ambulance driver in World War I. On the Italian front he was seriously wounded. This experience haunted him and many of the characters in his stories and novels. In Our Time (1925) is a collection of short stories, including "Soldier's Home", which reflect some of Hemingway's attempts to readjust to life in his homeland after the war. The Sun Also Rises (1926), A Farewell to Arms (1929) and For Whom the Bell Tolls (1940) also deal with war and its impact on people's lives. Hemingway courted violence throughout his life in war, in the arena, in the ring and in big game hunting. When he was sixty-two years old and terminally ill with cancer, he committed suicide by shooting himself with a rifle (Meyer 165-166). Ernest Hemingway's short story “Hills Like White Elephants” focuses on the couple traveling from Barcelona to Madrid. They are waiting for the train in a bar and have a conversation about the decision they have made. A couple who is thinking of having an abortion is an American man who is quite sure of his decision, and a Jig girl who is hesitant. The story ends with an indeterminate ending, giving the opportunity to think about the story independently. Hemingway's use of symbolism in “Hills Like White Elephants” shows that they continued on their intended path and that historical and social context has a great influence in this story. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayHemingway features two main characters. An American is older and speaks Spanish. For him "everything" seems to mean a freedom, so when we talk about it intensely, we risk losing it. A girl nicknamed Jig is younger, doesn't speak Spanish and needs the man's help to understand the world outside, for her "everything" seems to mean a baby, settling down and starting a family with the man next to her. The girl's inability to speak Spanish to the waitress demonstrates her dependence on the American, but also the difficulty she has in expressing herself with him. Both characters are flat, their characteristics are simple and can be briefly described, although Jig becomes dynamic towards the end. Jig refers to a child: “…And once they take him away, you'll never get him back” (Hemingway 477). While the American thinks that they will be happy without a child, “...You don't have to be afraid. I have known many people who have done it” (Hemingway 476). To this Jig sarcastically replies, "Me too." “And everyone was so happy afterward” (Hemingway 477). They discuss their “everything,” which really means their different points of view on the world. “Everything” in the story illustrates that the American definitely wants Jig to have surgery. Even though he says, “If you don't want to, you don't have to.” I wouldn't do it if I didn't want it", (Hemingway 477) is not sincere. His honesty in this dialogue is questionable. From his previous statements it is evident that he does not want to settle down, nor does he want to take responsibility for an operation; it is clear that he very much wants her to undergo this operation and certainly seems to remain deaf to her wishes.The beginning of a story has the description of a land with a train station located in Spain. There are two sides of the tracks where Jig and the man wait for a train: “On this side there was neither shade nor trees…” (Hemingway 475). and “…on the other side were cornfields and trees…” (Hemingway 477). The author describes the shadow of a cloud on the smile field where Jig rose. The shadow of the cloud can be accepted as a literary symbol of impending troubles. The setting is important in this story. Name two possible outcomes of the Jig decision. The road to Madrid where they are headed has a negative description of treeless and shadeless land, which if Jig will abort. The ground feels dry, as if it hasn't rained in a long time. There are hills in the distance that have a white color when the sun shines on them. And a road to Barcelona that vividly describes life. The Ebro river represents life, as it irrigates the fields. The cornfields and trees also represent fertility and fruitfulness. The story takes place in the 1920s, what is known in history as the "Roaring Twenties", with the prohibition of alcohol, flapper culture, bohemian life and expanded women's rights. The ban was caused by women, believing that it would protect families, women and children from the effects of alcohol abuse. Prohibition has only been successful in some parts of the country, while others have had its “side effects,” such as alcohol poisoning and increased lawlessness. The Mafia became more powerful thanks to Prohibition. Arguments raged over the effectiveness of the ban. The more limited people are, the more eager they are to do it and long to find a way. This is how flapper culture appears, recognized mainly by women's short haircuts, unlikely by women's behavior such as smoking cigarettes and becoming sexually more free than the previous generation. Modern society appeared in fashion, jazz and women gained the right to vote. This was the beginning of the propaganda of the good life of women in Hollywood, which in turn advertised freedom among people also known as bohemian people. The bohemian lifestyle rejected permanent residence, the pursuit of wealth, alcohol and restrictions on sexual freedom. Because the characters in “White Hills Like Elephants” live in the 1920s, they are affected by a period of prohibition and a bohemian lifestyle. They can see this by traveling in Europe, drinking and having freedom in choosing a partner. “…there is a common bond between Jig and man; ... We know that the couple were lovers, which means that at some point in their lives they had a common 'level' of communication…” (Ramsey 267). The relationship between Jig and the American clearly represents the bohemian lifestyle. However, since the bohemian lifestyle rejects the permanent relationship, “their efforts are futile and we see, after knowing that they have taken care of every style of communication, that their relationship and their feelings for each other, once alive, are now dead and empty. It is time for them to part as would two people who met one evening and found they had nothing in common” (Ramsey 267), their relationship must be defined to define the further direction. At first the story appears to be a conversation. We see a hint of the topic in the man's speech to Jig: "It's really a terribly simple operation, Jig", ... "It's not an operation at all." (Hemingway 476). The American does not perceive her abortion as an operation. The title also reveals a child, which to the characters means an elephant. Figurative elephant. A burdensome or expensive goal, undertaking, or possession, esp. one who appears magnificent; a financial liability [OED]. So, from the story we see that a Jig=13211.