Hills Like White Elephants

The Use of Imagery in "Hills like White Elephants"

Ernest Hemingway's style is consistent with the use of short, concrete, direct prose, and exclusive dialogue. Hemingway uses distinct aspects of the setting to describe the conflict of the American man and the European girl, Jig. Ernest Hemingway uses the imagery of the setting to symbolize the uncertainty of Jig's decision.

The first scene of imagery that symbolizes is the setting at the train station. The train track is located in the valley which is between two very different areas. On one side of the valley there is a non-fertile side which contains no grass, no trees, and dry weather. The other side is very fertile with lots of grass, many trees and even a river. The sides symbolize the decisions she will have to make soon on whether to keep the baby which is what Jig wants or to have an abortion which is what the American man wants.

The hills in the story are significant because as Jig looks at them they are dry and barren without life. Hemingway shows the negative side of Jig in having the abortion when she thinks that her life will be lifeless, loneliness and barren. While the American man thinks about the decision, he is possibly considering the option of having the abortion. The two railroads that are on the sides of the train station show the path that the couple will have to take.