In Hills Like White Elephants, the short story written by Ernest Hemingway, we are taken to a train station where we listen to two individuals having a drink and engaged in an intense conversation. “Jig” and the American, the two main characters, sadly discuss a difficult decision they must make. The author uses symbolism to compare their situation to hillsides that resemble white elephants; one side with “no shade, no trees” (1) and the other side with “grain fields and trees”. (70) Although the subject in question is never mentioned directly, it is clear that it is an unforeseen burden. carried by both. In his juxtaposition, Hemingway uses the hillside with no shade or trees to represent the current situation they have placed themselves in and he uses the hills with grain fields and trees to represent the old life they had before their mistake. Through proper analysis of their intense conversation, we as the reader can uncover their hidden topic of discussion and get a clear picture of Jig and the American's perspective on their impending decision. The topic of discussion in this story appears to be taboo; although subtle allusions are made throughout the dialogue, the exact issue being discussed is never named. If the reader examines the work carefully, the topic will be revealed through the analysis. The first big clue we get is when the American abruptly changes the conversation from simple dialogue to saying, "It really is a terribly simple Operation Jig." »(42) We can assume from this statement that some sort of medical procedure is going to take place. , and that he supports the idea. Another important piece of information in the climax of the story is where we find out that ...... middle of paper ...... baby's life, she knows that if she does it, she risks losing the American's love forever. Although no definitive resolution is ever reached in this story, I believe that her deep desire to be loved and the way she considers herself worthless both play a role in her decision-making. Even though this story does not support pro-life views, it gives us a good perspective on the weight such a decision can place on people. Hemingway accurately describes the pain, suffering, confusion and uncertainty that many feel when placed in the same situation and shows us that if we can learn to stay away from these specific situations in the first place, it could save us from all the insurmountable heart tensions. pain that this couple faces. Works Cited Hemingway, Earnest. “Hills like white elephants.” Literature: an introduction to reading and writing. 9th ed. Longman. 344-47. Print.