Relatioships in Hills Like White Elephants Essay Example

Relatioships in Hills Like White Elephants Essay Example Relatioships in Hills Like White Elephants Essay Relatioships in Hills Like White Elephants Essay All relationships have conflicts, and some are even doomed. In Hemmingway’s, â€Å"Hills Like White Elephants,† we catch a glimpse of a couple that are facing a precipice, because of an important decision that is looming. Throughout the short story the author uses a variety symbolism ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­. The constant motion of a train, a persistent reference to a white elephant, and even a barren landscape to represent the conflict and divergence of opinions, which will eventually lead to the end of their relationship. The limited time and space the story is set in serves as a symbol for the relationship. It is set at a train station, and the time at the station is very constrained. Hemingway shows a sense of time by beginning the story, stating that the two protagonists have limited time in the station: â€Å"the express from Barcelona would come in forty minutes. It stopped at this junction for two minutes and went on to Madrid,† (Hemingway, 196). This framework gives you a sense that the piece is confined to fleeting moments; minutes to be precise. Overall the setting also serves as a perfect representation for this doomed relationship, because of the nature of trains. Trains are capable of moving along in only on direction, they move along only stopping momentarily for brief moments, are confined to tight time schedules. Their relationship is also like this. They are forced by time to make a decision, and like the trains, time is constantly moving forward. So, despite the characters obj ections or desires for, â€Å"it [to] be finejust like before,† (Hemingway, 197). That moment has passed and like the trains is arriving at a new destination. So, too has their relationship. The characters attempt to avoid the confrontation of this reality by ignoring it. Stating, â€Å"but I can’t just think about it. You know how I get when I worry,† (Hemingway, 198), or avoiding the subject completely by saying, â€Å"please, please, please,