Hills Like White Elephants - Full Audiobook - Hemingway Short Story

Summary

In Ernest Hemingway's 'Hills Like White Elephants,' a couple sits at a train station in Spain, discussing a sensitive topic over drinks. The dialogue is indirect, with the girl's pregnancy and a potential abortion only hinted at through metaphors, such as the 'white elephants.' Tension builds as they navigate their feelings, the man reassuring her of the simplicity of the procedure, while the girl expresses her fears and concerns about their future. The story concludes with the train's imminent arrival, leaving their decision unresolved, capturing the essence of a pivotal moment in their relationship.

Takeaways

• 🏞 The story is set in a hot, dry, and sunlit train station near the Valley of the Ebro in Spain, with the backdrop of the hills described as 'white elephants'.
• ☀ The lack of shade and the intense heat are emphasized, contributing to the atmosphere and the characters' discomfort.
• 🍺 The characters, an American man and a girl, engage in a conversation over drinks, which serves as a vehicle for their deeper discussion.
• 🐘 The girl's comment about the hills resembling white elephants initiates a metaphorical conversation about their situation.
• 🥂 The couple's dialogue revolves around an 'operation', which is subtly revealed to be an abortion, a topic that is central to their conflict.
• 💬 The man tries to reassure the girl that the operation is simple and that it will lead to their happiness, while the girl expresses her doubts and fears.
• 🍊 The girl's comparison of the taste of everything to licorice, including the long-awaited things in life, symbolizes the bitterness of their situation.
• 🚂 The impending arrival of the train from Barcelona, which stops for only two minutes, adds a sense of urgency and a ticking clock to their decision.
• 🌬️ The warm wind and the bead curtain that moves against the table serve as a symbol of the tension and the barriers between the characters.
• 🏞️ The girl's final contemplation of the landscape and her statement about making their happiness 'more impossible' each day highlight the complexity of their relationship and the weight of their decision.

Q & A

What is the setting of the story 'Hills Like White Elephants'?

The story is set in a small train station in Spain, near the Valley of the Ebro, with the American and the girl sitting at a table in the shade outside the station building.

What are the main characters discussing throughout the story?

The main characters, an American man and a girl, are discussing a potential abortion in a subtle and indirect manner, symbolized by the 'white elephants' and the drink 'Anis del Toro'.

Why does the girl compare the hills to white elephants?

The girl compares the hills to white elephants because of their appearance in the sunlight, which she finds to be similar to the color and texture of an elephant's skin, although she admits they don't really look like white elephants.

What does the 'Anis del Toro' drink symbolize in the story?

The 'Anis del Toro' drink symbolizes the complexity and bitterness of the situation they are in, as well as the girl's desire to try something new and different, reflecting her mixed feelings about the abortion.

How does the girl feel about the operation mentioned in the story?

The girl is apprehensive and uncertain about the operation, which is implied to be an abortion. She questions whether it will make them happy again and expresses her fears about losing something important.

What does the man believe the outcome of the operation will be?

The man believes that the operation will be simple and that it will resolve their current unhappiness, allowing them to return to how things were before.

Why does the girl say that everything tastes like licorice?

The girl says that everything tastes like licorice as a metaphor for how the anticipation and anxiety about the operation have tainted her perception of everything, making it all seem the same and bitter.

What is the significance of the train that is coming at the end of the story?

The train symbolizes the impending decision and the need to make a choice. Its arrival signifies the urgency and the couple's need to confront their situation and make a decision about the operation.

How does the girl react to the man's insistence that the operation is simple and they will be happy afterward?

The girl is unconvinced and expresses her doubts about the man's assurances. She is worried about the irreversible nature of the decision and the potential loss of their current happiness.

What does the girl mean when she says, 'I just know things'?

When the girl says, 'I just know things,' she is expressing her intuition and her fears about the consequences of the operation, suggesting that she has a sense of what is at stake that the man does not fully understand.