Hills Like White Elephants Group

Question:

puti613
puti613
Student
High School - 11th Grade

What do you think the hills represent in the story "Hills Like White Elephants"?

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Posted by puti613 on Wednesday October 7, 2009 at 4:28 PM and tagged with hemmingway, hills like white elephants, symbol, symbolism.

Answers:

  1. ophelious
    ophelious Teacher
    Vocational

    eNotes Editor

    Well, what you are talking about is symbolism. The hills represent some greater truth, idea, or value than they do at first glance.

    In order to get a good idea of what the hills are symbolic of, the reader has to have a good idea of what the story is about.  In short, the man in the story wants the woman to have an abortion, and she is not so sure about it.

    In this context, the setting becomes more important.  The hills are described as being like "white elephants."  White is a color usually associated with purity.  A "white elephant" is something that is valuable but also has a very high cost of upkeep (there are other uses for the term, but this is the one being used here.) Also, think about the shape of hills in context with a pregnant woman...they are literally "bellies."

    So, that's my take on it.  The hills represent the purity of the unborn baby protected in womb.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/hills-like-white-elephants/summary

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    Posted by ophelious on Wednesday October 7, 2009 at 5:49 PM