Character Comparison - "Hills Like White Elephants"/"A Rose for Emily"

Wyche disputes all the critics who suggested that the text was either about whether Jig should carry the pregnancy to a full term or have an abortion. Wyche feels that the text was a metaphor representing pain which comes as a result of an end of a relationship between two people. One of his main ideas was therefore to dispute some of the ideas that critics had put forward in the past and bring forward a new meaning to the short story. As Wyche noted most of the critics saw a metaphor of abortion but failed to see that the abortion could also be used as metaphor to mean something else which in this case means the pain of a breakup. By bringing other critic’s point of view into play, he successfully acknowledges what they wrote and their ideas but also presents him with a point to dispute the same. Even if he does not refuse the ideas produced by earlier critics, the author presents a different point of view from whatever was presented before.

In Hills Like White Elephants, Ernest Hemingway uses controlled concise diction to develop a tension-filled tone, which characterizes the woman as a pushover to the man, revealing how society gives in to lust, blinding them from the love they desire.

He tells her that she does not have to have the operation, but tells her it is the best thing to do. The girl begins to think, “And if I do it you'll be happy and things will be okay like they were and you'll love me” (Hemingway 107)? He reassures her that he loves her now. Jig is more realistic about the situation and the consequences in front of her. She knows that she is going to make the ultimate decision, although she is asking for reassurance from the American(Short Stories for Students). The girl also knows that regardless of her situation, their relationship might not work out anyway. The choice to abort or not abort the baby ultimately leaves her with the same consequence: life without the American.

Tension appears although this conversation suggests that they have been fighting prior to their arrival at the train station. Jig implies that she believes the American is stuck in his own perception and is unable to see beyond it . Since Jig is still dependent on her mate at this point when making choices, if only about drinks, she remains calm and changes the subject.

In each of these selected pieces, the woman’s position is dependant in some form to the male figure. Each work deals with conflicting views of the female protagonist and the expectations of their male counter-character, though each has a differing outcome that correlates to the woman’s reaction to this male supremacy. “A New England Nun” features Louisa and Joe Dagget, who come to a mutual agreement to call of their engagement. This ending follows closely with realism, as there is a healthy development and closure to the conflict. Then, Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants” has possibility of development, however, the loose end does not establish any sort of progress. This piece ends with the American asking if Jig is alright, to which she smiles and states she’s fine (. Despite the fact that there is no closure to this particular ending, there is a chance that Jig does defy the American’s wishes. Lastly, Brooks’s poem “A Bronzeville Mother Loiters in Mississippi. Meanwhile, a Mississippi Mother Burns Bacon” follows the chaos and self-conscious characteristics of postmodernism, as the white woman’s thoughts of the “Fine Prince” evolve from submissive denial to hatred, over the course of the piece. Although these pieces end quite differently, each portrays a woman that is submissive in some way or another at a point in the story.

Jig was concerned that the relationship she had the American would end if she did not go through with the abortion. She knew that he had not been happy since

Although this may seem like a casual remark, it actually serves as a segue for the couple to finally evaluate their relationship as a whole. Furthermore, as she later takes back the comment, it supports that Jig once and for all accepts the fact that the relationship with the American is failing. Jig’s final words in the story: “I feel fine…There’s nothing wrong with me. I feel fine” (Hemingway 143), implying that the problem has been with the American the whole time and that her pregnancy isn’t what ruining the relationship. Jig begins to see that the American has been trying to control and manipulate her for probably longer than just the time she has been pregnant. The reader can see that she favoring the lush landscape over the dry and lifeless landscape suggest her leaving her relationship with the American for a life with the baby.

The girl remarks that she and the American man never do anything together except try new drinks. This can represent that their relationship is boring and mundane which seems to bother the girl. These feelings can reflect that girl may be ready for change and a chance to settle down, unlike the man who doesn't seem interested in changing his carefree ways. She also asks the man permission for a drink and has to rely on him to order the drinks because of her inability to speak Spanish. She appears disappointed that she is so dependent on the man and no matter what her decision may be, their relationship will no longer be the same. After trying the new drink she replies that “Everything tastes like licorice. Especially all the things you’ve waited so long for like absinthe” (Hemingway 655). Another symbolism that Jig is now feeling bittersweet about the decision because she may want to have the baby, but the man's decision is to have the abortion.

Jig's main objective throughout the story is ensuring that her partner is happy. This is apparent when she tells him that she will go through with the abortion. "Then I'll do it. Because I don't care about me." "And I'll do it and then everything will be fine." Through these comments it is evident that she truly believes if she has an abortion their relationship will be fine giving little thought to the emotional and physical trauma the procedure will cause. Jig's subservient attitude is indicative of her low self esteem throughout the story. She allows herself to be shaped by a man whose care for her is more than obviously not a reciprocation of hers for

The couple must choose a path to take and deal with the consequences of that choice. In this time period abortions were rarely heard of. Because of the lack of knowledge of abortions in this time period, the decision becomes much harder for the couple to make. Jig is afraid of what

I got to an important point in the story when the girl Jig wants to have the baby, but the American person is convincing her that he only wants her not anybody else. He also wants to continue the relationship as it was before. I think Jig will not do this abortion because in 1920’s in Madrid where they were going to have an abortion was illegal, dangerous, and socially unacceptable in the community. It seems like the setting of the story was Catholic and conservative. In 1920, abortion was illegal and it was condemned as a grave evil by the church.

She sees trees, grain fields, and the Ebro River, then says, “And we could have all this.” When the man tells her that they can have whatever they want—“We can have the whole world”—Jig says, “It isn’t ours any more . . . And once they take it away, you never get it back.” (Cummings) Cummings explains this expert from the story showing the conflict. Jig believes that they can still be together with keeping the baby and there is more to offer while the American man says they still can have everything without the baby. Jig implies that once the abortion happens things will change and its something that you can’t get back. She refers to the baby as well as her emotional stability with giving up a child and loss of

Jig’ companionship is always pleasing because of her so called sexual willingness. Not to mention, Jig’s source of physical attractiveness maybe the cause of her misery. Plus, Jig’s agenda includes a permanent, family arrangement, but the American can only think of to end an unsavory situation. (Abdoo,

It is in fact a drama where tough decisions are being made, but the choices are almost all one sided. The premise of the story is a discussion between Jig and the American about how are they going to solve the problem of Jig’s pregnancy. In the story, the only two choices seem given to be considered are marriage or abortion, both drastic as the other. Jig seem to want to keep the unborn child while the American does not. The American being in the male hierarchy position he is in, controls their relationship, in which result in Jig to rely on him. She is not able to speak Spanish so Jig cannot talk to anyone else or order her own drinks, this further her dependence on the American. With the American controlling the situation, it further shows the helplessness that Jig is in this relationship. The American says, “I think its best thing to do. But I don’t want you to do it if you don’t really want to” (Hemmingway 116). The American states he supports her decisions, but at the same time tell her that he still does not want her to keep the baby. The

Johnston analyzes that although Jig is able to choose the choice of her baby; she mentally cannot choose as she risks losing the American if the baby is kept or lose the life inside of her to keep the relationship between them. The jig has the choice, although she represents the complete opposite of how the American acts; as she is seen with a more submissive attitude, but better with imagination, and has more love to give compared to the American, Johnson notes in his criticism of why it’s such a hard choice for her. Akers brings to the point involving the end of story when the American returns to Jig and everything seems fine as if the conversation never happened, like as if the white elephant never appeared in front of them; Akers notes that this could seal the choice of Jig as she decided to give up the baby and go back to their old lives before the events of the elephant. something equally important to mention is how both characters view the white elephant’s presence together and expressing their attitude towards