“Analyse a text of your own choice. Consider its use of metaphors and symbolism to create meaning”
“Hills Like White Elephants” is a short story written by Ernest Hemingway in 1927, which successfully incorporates the Theory of Omission. The premise appears to revolve around a couple conversing while waiting for their train to arrive however, the underlying meaning of the text is that the couple are considering an abortion and are on the verge of separating. Although abortion and breaking up is never mentioned directly in the text, it is made obvious through symbolism and metaphors that allude to it.
In “Hills Like White Elephants”, abortion is hinted at, through the recurring use of symbolism, metaphors and allusions. The story begins by describing the hills that are “long and white” and have “no shade and no trees”. Through this minimalistic imagery, the barren hills act as the first symbolic reference to infertility in the text. The female protagonist, Jig then mentions that the line of the hills “look like white elephants,”. This is another indication of abortion as ‘white elephants’ are a metaphor for a burdensome belonging that is troublesome to maintain and hard to get rid of. These traits are all reminiscent of an unborn baby being considered for abortion.
A bit further into their conversation, Jig asks her boyfriend, “And you really want to?’ when talking about the procedure. This proves that his opinion matters in the decision and he must therefore, be directly invol...
