The Themes of "Hills Like White Elephants" The theme of choices and consequences is expressed through the short story "Hills Like White Elephants" through the American and through Jig. The next theme is the theme of doubt and ambiguity which is sensed by the reader through both the American's doubts and Jig's doubts. The last is the theme of men and women in which Hemingway explores the way that men and women relate to each other. In "Hills Like White Elephants," Ernest Hemingway expresses three major themes; these themes include choices and consequences, doubt and ambiguity, and men and women.
First, the theme of choices and consequences is sensed by the reader through the American and Jig. For the American, having the abortion would let both of them go back to their previous lives and not worry about it. With the abortion both of them would have plenty of freedom (Tim 158).
Ernest Hemingway in Milan, 1918
American Author Ernest Hemingway aboard his Yacht ...
American Author Ernest Hemingway with then-wife El...He tells Jig that "it's really not anything. It's just to let the air in" (Baker). If Jig does have the baby, then the American knows that the consequences will lead to a breakup. After the breakup Jig would be left with the baby and both would be miserable (Tim 158). In Jig's case of an abortion, she wants reassurance from the American. The American does not give her reassurance and "she is extremely irritated by his insensitivity." Not only does Jig want reassurance, she wants his love (Oliver 178). If Jig does deliver the baby then she knows that she would have to live a life without happiness. The American will leave her if she goes through with the pregnancy and has the baby. This would leave her unhappy because it would lead to a life without the American whom she loves. Jig knows that...