The women in the past were not always judged fairly. In the short story “Hills Like White Elephant” by Ernest Hemingway, the author uses symbolism and dialogue to show that in the pass society, females are being used as nothing but sex symbols, the man in a relationship is dominant to a woman.

In the short story “Hills Like White Ele1phants” by Ernest Hemingway, One important idea in this short story is that in the pass society, females are being used as nothing but sex symbols. Throughout this story, we know that two characters love drinking beer, although Jin is pregnant. They seem to have nothing in their life but sex and drinking. They drink a lot and they spent nights at hotels. It means they don’t care about their unborn child because they love travel and they don’t have a certain relationship. If Jin keeps the child, it will affect their relationship. From the story, we know Jig is pregnant and the man is trying to convince her to get an abortion. For example, the writer states: “It’s really an awfully simple operation, Jig. I know you wouldn’t mind it, Jig. It’s really not anything. It’s just to let the air in.” This quote illustrates an example of the dialogue that describes how the man convinces the woman to get an abortion. By using the word “operation”, it shows the reader that the operation is about abortion. The man wants his girlfriend to give up their unborn child by having an abortion. He convinces her that the operation is a “simple operation,” all they do is “let the air in.” This shows that the man is selfish and he doesn’t care about the girl’s health. This story takes place in 1939 in Spain. It is not legal to do an abortion and it is very dangerous. Although the man knows abortion is very dangerous, he still tries to convince his girlfriend to get an abortion. He even says that the operation is very simple and easy. It shows that the females never get respect from the man in the pass society, they are used as nothing but sex symbols. Another quote that supports this literary element states, “And if I do it you’ll be happy and things will be like they were and you’ll love me?” “I love you now. You know I love you” This also an example of dialogue because the writer is showing us the girl will have the abortion so the man will be happy and love her again. She is afraid that their relationship will fail if she doesn’t get an abortion. She asks him if he will love her again if she has the abortion. As the conversation goes on, the girl decides to get the abortion and she says: “…..But I don’t care about me. And I’ll do it and then everything will be fine.” This quotes shows that the girl ignores her feelings and do something to let her boyfriend to be happy. In the relationship, the man is dominant to a woman. Also, the author states: “….I don’t want anybody but you. I don’t want any one else. And I know it’s perfectly simple.” This quote shows the reader that the man is selfish, he only wants the woman and he doesn’t want to take the responsibility for their unborn child. He only wants to get advantages from the girl and he doesn’t want to take any responsibility in their relationship. These examples express that in the pass society, females are being used as nothing but sex symbols, and the man in a relationship is dominant to a woman.

Throughout the story, Ernest Hemingway use dialogue to express the relationship between the woman and the man, the man in a relationship is dominant to a woman. The author states: “if you don’t want to you don’t have to. I wouldn’t have you do it if you didn’t want to. But I know it’s perfectly simple.” He doesn’t really mean it. The quote illustrates an example for dialogue that shows the man continues to convince the girl to get an abortion. This quotes sounds that the man gives an opportunity the girl to make the decision, but girl does not really have the situation to do so. The man still continues to convince the girl to do the abortion and he describes “it’s perfectly simple.” He continually pushes her to do the abortion even she does not want to .He doesn’t really give the opportunity to the girl to make another decision without having an abortion. He is dominant her girlfriend in their relationship.

In the beginning of the story, Jin and her boyfriend are waiting for the train to Madrid in a station. The train tracks in opposite direction. It is symbolizing Jin and her boyfriend are facing an important decision in their life-having an abortion or not. Jin wants to keep the child, but her boyfriend wants her to have an abortion. From the text, we also know that the train is an “express train” that comes from Ebro to Madrid. The train is stopping only for two minutes. The writes states “It stopped at this junction for two minutes and went to Madrid.” This quote illustrates an example for symbolism that Jin has a bad relationship with her boyfriend. By using the word “ two minutes,” the author shows us that Jig and her boy friend has a very short time to make the decision that they will keep their unborn child or has the abortion. The short time symbolizes they have a bad relationship and their relationship will end weather the girl do the abortion or not. Though the title “Hills Like White Elephants”, the author uses symbolism to show that two different point of view for the abortion. “White elephant” is an idiom that refers to useless or unwanted things. It the short story “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway, “white elephant” symbolizes the woman will do the abortion to give up the unborn child and they don’t want to unborn child to effect their relationship. In the other hand, “white elephant” symbolizes the shape of a pregnant woman. The woman in the story sees pregnant is lovely. It shows that she doesn’t want to get an abortion. But the man has the opposite opinion for pregnant. He says: “ I’ve never seen one.” The word “one” here means the white elephants. This quote illustrates an example for symbolism that the man doesn’t want the woman is pregnant. The word “White Elephants” is symbolizing the unborn child and the woman. It shows us that the man will ask the woman to get an abortion to give up their unborn child. Also, their relationship will be end after the woman has an abortion. At the end of the story, the author states “He picked up the two heavy bags and carried them around the station to the other tracks.” This quote illustrates an example for the symbolism that shows the reader that the man is making the decision to give up their unborn child. By using the word “Two heavy bags”, it symbolizes his girlfriend and his unborn child. It shows us the woman does not have the choice the make a decision to keep the unborn child or not. She is only use for sex and the man in a relationship is dominant to a woman. The decision is always is the man’s hand and the woman only need to follow whatever the decision is taken by the man.

In conclusion, many females do not have the equal right with the man in the pass society. In the short story “ Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway, the author use symbolism and dialogue to convey in the pass society, females are being used as nothing but sex symbols, the man in a relationship is dominant to a woman.

# posted by yanpingchen @ 10:14 PM