"Hills Like White Elephants"

 

Ernest Hemingway introduces two characters in this short story, the American man and the girl, Jig, right away I can tell there was a relationship involved. They quickly have a back and forth conversation that really was not a conversation but just as I throw a phrase here then you throw a phrase there, which in my opinion was headed nowhere. But what seemed like nothing, in fact was a very important interaction for each other’s lives. This, taking place in just under an hour, gave a lot of insight of what seemed like a transformative decision.

            As they have some alcoholic beverages, the American man randomly brings up the theme by saying, “It’s really an awfully simple operation, Jig” “It’s not really an operation at all” He states, “It’s really not anything. It’s just to let the air in.” This insinuates that once you let the air in, something else must be let out, in this case, abortion. They spoke about what this may do to their happiness. Their happiness before and if they would still have this happiness when and if it happens.

            Irony in this short story is that they are located at a junction, where two roads meet, literally very similar to their life situation, they have to choose the right path. If they abort, will they be happy? If they don’t, will they be happy or even remain together? Bringing up the “White elephants” mentioned by the girl has a symbolic form of expressing, “the line of hills” as stated in the story, is to divert the theme to a happy place and not an uncomfortable one.

            As I read, I realized this interaction gets nowhere because in the end the American asks the girl, “Do you feel better?” She replies, “I feel fine” shows a lot of signs that this sarcasm towards the end, sounds to me like he makes it seem like a “you”, the girl situation and not the “we” situation, the American and the girl.        

"Story of an Hour"

            

            The short story starts by stating “heart problem” which means the character, Mrs. Mallard, was already underlying a problematic health issue. In the beginning, there was foreshadowing, with the hint that something with the heart was going to happen. Receiving this news, everything seemed so clear to her now but at this precise moment she was unsure whether to weep, let it out, or hold it all inside and let it die within her body. As stated, “And she opened and spread her arms out to them in welcome.” In a form to let it be liberated or not, where there is this connection between body and soul. Also mentioning, “Free! Body and soul free!”. “She breathed a quick prayer that life might be long.” As if she was letting go and was ready for a fresh start. She closed the door and opened a new one. When in the 1800’s women were afraid to do so. You were looked down on if you did it. It was rare to split up from your spouse in these times as well, so to be able to do so in this situation, was a breath of fresh air. I believe that the shocking news one after the other in such short time, caused poor Louise to go into shock, and the second time around was too much to bear.