Communicating Conflict in Ernest Hemingways Hills Like...

Ernest Hemingways short story Hills Like White Elephants touches on an issue as ageless as time: communication problems in a relationship. He tells his story through conversations between the two main characters, the American and the girl. Conflict is created through dialogue as these characters face what most readers believe to be the obstacle of an unexpected pregnancy. Their plight is further complicated by their inability to convey their differing opinions to each other. Symbolism and the titles meaning are other effective means of communicating conflict. To begin, consider the main characters point of view. Single and in his prime, he makes the most of his lifestyle by traveling and seeing new sights. The story is set on†¦show more content†¦But when she asks if it means anything to him, he immediately responds, Of course it does. But I don?t want anybody but you. I don?t want anyone else. And I know it?s perfectly simple (277). The man, however, is not the sole contributor to the communication breakdown. Right away the girl begins to show her weakness and inability to express herself. When the man initially directs the conversation to the operation (abortion), her reaction is described: The girl looked at the ground the table legs rested on [and] . . . did not say anything (275). Failure to state her conviction is illustrated in this example, and is further indicated by frail hints of her desire to keep the baby: Once they take it away, you never get it back (276). An obvious hint, yet she never clearly voices her hunger to have the baby. She continues to desire his will over hers in lines such as this one: Then I?ll do it [have an abortion]. Because I don?t care about me (275). After a few of these vain attempts to convince the man to consider having the baby, she implores him to Please. please please please please please please stop talking (272). The author uses her avoidance of confrontation and denial of self-expression to assure the reader that the girl?s weak and dependent nature prevents her from verbally expressing her point of view. Even the use of character terms?the man and the girl?reinforces this effect. Hemingway also uses a component of the setting, aShow MoreRelatedOppression Of Women Essay1141 Words   |  5 PagesWritten Task 2 Outline (HL) Question: How and why is a social group represented in a particular way? Texts: â€Å"Indian Camp†, â€Å"Hills Like White Elephants† and â€Å"The Killers† by Ernest Hemingway Introduction: Hemingway uses gender oppression towards women specifically in order to make the ideality of masculinity appear more pristine. He creates a society where men are superior to women by insulting and nullifying them even when the reader is aware of a female character’s presence. 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