“Hills Like White Elephant” by Ernest Hemingway, is a short story of young lovers, named the American and Jig. We are led to believe that the couple is pregnant and are considering seeking an abortion. The setting uses symbolism as it reinforces the conflicting sides of the issue presented. There is symbolism throughout the story in reference to the weather, the railway station and the scenery on either side of the railroad tracks. The author also uses symbolism in his title setting with the term ‘white elephant’.
The story takes place in the summer of the 1920’s at a railway Station between Barcelona and Madrid. The heat from the summer sun adds to and can be symbolic of the tension between the couple, in the introductory paragraph of the story it is stated, “It was very hot.” There is a warm wind blowing inductive to the heated and seemingly simple thoughts of abortion between the couple. The warm air is also symbolic of the procedure its self as explained by the American, “They just let the air in and then it’s all perfectly natural.”
The railway station symbolizes a cross road in the life of the couple. The tracks on either side of the station are going in two different directions. One road leads to Madrid with Jig’s side and keeping the baby. The other road goes to Barcelona with the American’s side and getting the abortion. At the center of the station is a building from where the couple is receiving their train and drink services. It is unclear to exactly what is inside the building as there is a beaded curtain blocking the door. This parallels and symbolizes the story’s central conflict, as abortion is never mentioned but is inferred.
On either side of the station is a very different scene. On one end “ were fields of grain and trees along the banks of the Ebro.” On the other side “the country was brown and dry”. This is symbolic of the two different paths of life that couple must c...