Ellington Castillo
Prof. Raquel Corona
English 102, September 5, 2014
Hills
Like White Elephants By Ernest Hemingway
To me, the Title choice by the Author of “Hills Like White Elephants” carries a dual
meaning one for each of the characters in the story. After researching the
meaning using, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_elephant.
And finding that there are two historical symbolic meanings, which can be
derived from this phrase. One having negative implications, while the other having
various positive ones. For Jig, who is the Young lady in the story, she views
the White Elephant, “her pregnancy, as a burden. It’s a possession which based
on the Definition cannot be disposed of. Although they are discussing “doing
it” aborting it, for the Woman, when aborting a child, there is a possibility
that the emotional burden of aborting a human life growing inside of her, would
be one she may never be able to relieve her self of. A belief that once
pregnant, the baby, dead or alive, may be permanently attached to the Woman’s
conscience, hence the term “ White Elephant.
The second meaning could be assigned to the Bilingual American
Man. As per the definition I found. In Asia a White Elephant can symbolize:
power, peace, prosperity and justice. This could symbolize the Mans fertility
and vibrancy because he is able to procreate and pass on his linage. He would
be afforded the benefit to teach his of spring how to grow to adulthood and
carry his name forward.
Yet in Hindu beliefs a
White Elephant was viewed as Gift and a curse. This can symbolize a third
metaphor for life. This would be that we have a choice in how we view life’s
situations. We could choose to be destructive and terminate that, which we see
as obsolete or useless. Or we could accentuate the use and value of situations
or objects, to see them as beneficial and good. I believe that Hemingway left
that question for each reader to decide. He did that by not including a definite
ending. Today, we get to decide what the White Elephant will symbolize in
our own life?
I love the fact that you gave many definitions for the phrase "white elephant". As I read a few other responses, I attributed the term to the baby, and only the baby. A white elephant being this unwanted burden in your life. I can see the power that this American man has over Jig, as she seems to want to please him very much. She changes her mind and follows along with almost every decision he makes, like what she chooses to drink. My favorite definition is the white elephant being regarded as a blessing and a curse. It was a great comparison for me, especially in this story. I felt as though Jig thought the baby could be a blessing, yet it would curse their relationship because the man didn't truly want this baby. It seemed like his many "only if you want to" statements were forced.
ReplyDeleteThanks, life is so much like that. Everything can be a blessing or a curse. Its all in the perspective, right?
ReplyDelete