English 102 - a Crossroads at the Railroad

Jordan McDermid

Professor Cardoza

English 102

17 September 2015

A Crossroads at the railroad

        An isolated train station somewhere in Spain on a hot summer day, this is the beginning picture Ernest Hemingway paints in, “Hills Like White Elephants.” At first glance, we find a couple at a train station apparently on some sort of vacation. Typically this would indicate a happy, jovial time for them, but it’s quite the contrary. The more the true nature of the characters is discovered it is plain that there are some major underlying problems between the two lovers. They find themselves in the midst a making a very big decision and while what decision will be made is not clear, one thing is certain. There is a good chance that this relationship may not stand the test of time.

        One of the things I noticed about this short story by Hemmingway is it’s intense focus on communication. Immediately after the opening description of the setting, an ongoing dialogue begins to develop between our two main characters “Jig” being the woman, and “the American” being the man (Hemingway 564,565). In fact there are very few narrative events that the author takes us through other than minor movements around the train station such as, “The girl stood up and walked to the end of the station” (Hemingway 566). Any other break in dialogue is simply to describe more of the setting. The author gives us no background information about Jig and the man. We are not privy to any personal information about the characters, what the nature of their trip is, or what their relationship history is like. The only information we are given come later in the story when the author describes their suitcases as having multiple tags on them from the different places that have stayed. Other than this it seems Hemmingway purposely leaves out information, because he wants the reader to imagine the sequence of events led up to their current situation.

It is likely that the reason the author puts such an emphasis on the dialogue is that he wants us to see the struggle they have with communicating. It seems although they are talking to each other, that they are not truly listening to or understanding one another. They jump from one subject to the next, disagree, and to supersede everything they are avoiding talking about what’s really on both of their minds. The deliberate attention focused on their communication, points out the tension in their relationship.

        At first the flow of conversation seems normal between the two, and that everything is well between them. They start off with normal common discourse Jig asking, “What should we drink?” “It’s pretty hot,” the man said. “Let’s drink beer,” says Jig (Hemingway 564). The dialogue continues further in a seemingly positive tone with Jig making comments about the scenery and the décor of the bar they are drinking at. Later on, however, we see discontent beginning to erupt.

        Jigs unhappiness is first noticed after the couple orders a drink called Anis del Toro. The man and Jig begin to talk about the drink, and sarcasm becomes clearly identifiable in her voice. “Yes,” says the girl. “Everything tastes of licorice. Especially all the things you’ve waited so long for, like absinthe” (Hemingway 565). At this point the couple starts to bicker and the tension in their relationship begins to manifest. When the girl makes the comment, “all we ever do is look at things and try new drinks,” it is another indicator that she is not happy with where thing are between her and the man (Hemingway 565).

Jig’s displeasure in the things that they do, is not the real topic they both really have in mind though. When the man suddenly jumps in with, “It’s an awfully simple operation, Jig,” it’s clear this subject is on both of their minds, and has already been a topic of conversation that day. This statement is exactly what the girl didn’t want to talk about. She has done her best to focus on other things and talk about everything else to avoid this topic. Nevertheless the topic is brought and this reveals another level of challenge in the relationship.

So, what is this operation that the man claims is so simple? The man says things like, “It’s not really an operation at all.” “I know you wouldn’t mind it, Jig. It’s really not anything” (Hemingway 565). The man wants to make it clear that this operation he wants her to have poses no threat to her health. Furthermore the man communicates that Jig going through with this operation will ensure happiness in their relationship once again. He says things like, “That’s the only thing that bothers us. It’s the only thing that’s made us unhappy” (Hemingway 565). The man communicates that he’s known other people that have done it and they were happy afterwards. However, Jig doesn’t seem convinced and when she responds there is definite sarcasm in her voice saying that she knew people as well and, “And afterward they were all so happy” (Hemmingway 565).