Describing the tale of an unnamed male figure referred to as the American and his companion Jig, The Hills like White Elephants presents a brief and seemingly clear-cut narrative. While waiting for a train bound for Madrid, the duo pauses to savor some beverages.
The main topic of the text is implied to be the possibility of the girl undergoing a procedure that could involve terminating a pregnancy. The man seems unaffected by this idea, while the woman appears uncertain or overcome with emotion. It is hinted that she has faced similar situations before.
Opting for an abortion can be a challenging and emotionally taxing decision for women, which may lead to enduring effects. While waiting at the train station, the woman contemplates the hills in the distance that remind her of white elephants - objects that are burdensome or val
...uable but difficult to let go of.
In the hills that are constant and resistant, she views the infant as a representation of the unaddressed issue. Despite exchanging brief and trivial remarks, they choose to disregard the importance of the matter. Although she tries to gauge his compassion, he simply responds with insincere statements to appease her. The hills signify the challenges that we must surpass throughout our existence.
Pregnancy is comparable to moving hills, as it is a challenging endeavor that requires physical, mental, and emotional perseverance. One must either scale the hill or seek an alternative path, as there is no simple solution. The male individual believes in climbing the hill as a means of deciding to keep the baby.
The task would be a burden and too much work, but the girl recognizes that her
emotional struggle will be her own challenge. The man is oblivious to the white elephants in the hills because he doesn't face the same battle. His statement of "I've never seen one" indicates his lack of experience with such a decision. In effect, a man would never hold the final decision. The girl amends her perception of the hills later on.
From my observation, the woman appears to recognize that choosing life over death is a more challenging decision than tackling an enormous and unyielding hill. It seems that she has already made her choice and plans to proceed with the abortion, potentially not for the first time. However, it appears that their conversation is focused on the woman accepting her decisions rather than reaching a conclusion, particularly considering her consumption of alcohol.
During their journey to Madrid for her second abortion, she emphasizes to him the permanent nature of the procedure, which could affect not only this unborn child but also future pregnancies. While he is solely focused on resolving the immediate issue at hand, she acknowledges the possibility of additional complications like infertility that he does not consider. Although aware of the emotional distress that will ensue, she maintains that her personal welfare is not a priority as she has already undergone this experience.
It is evident that she is undertaking this task because she understands that he will never have complete knowledge of it.
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