The American
The American is one of the two main characters in Hemingway’s story. He is seated at a table with a girl at a train station in Spain. Their conversation reveals that the girl is his lover. Throughout the narrative, the American persistently tries to persuade the girl to have an abortion. He attempts to present himself as logical and reasonable, but as their dialogue progresses, it becomes evident that he is both selfish and hypocritical. He states, "You’ve got to realize... that I don’t want you to do it if you don't want to. I’m perfectly willing to go through with it if it means anything to you.” However, his words do not genuinely reflect a desire for her to keep the baby, despite his claim that he’ll “go through with it.” By the end of the story, the American has exposed himself as self-centered and lacking genuine concern for the girl, Jig, despite his declarations of love.

The girl
See Jig

Jig
The second character, referred to as "Jig" by the American, is called "the girl" by Hemingway throughout the story. This contrasts with Hemingway’s naming of the other character as "the American" or "the man." Jig is a young woman who is pregnant with her lover’s child. She and her lover have been traveling across Europe, and the labels on their suitcases indicate the hotels where they have stayed. At the story's setting, she is sitting at a table with the American, drinking beer and anise liqueur while waiting for a train. It gradually becomes clear that the man is attempting to persuade her to abort their child. Although the topic of abortion is never directly mentioned, the pregnancy is central to their conversation. By the story's end, it is unclear if Jig has made a decision, or even if she is capable of making one. What is evident is her dissatisfaction with the choices before her: keeping the baby and losing the American, or aborting the baby and staying with him. She seems doubtful that either outcome will unfold as the American promises. As the story concludes, Jig asserts that she is "just fine," but under the circumstances, it is obvious that this is not true.