Hills like White Elephant

Ebro River side

Ebro River side symbolizes life. The river side has lush of green where it has ÐŽofields of grain and treesÐŽ± (171) and beyond the trees there is a river. All these components make up life, and in the story, this indirectly describes the baby. As she looks at this scenery, she says that ÐŽowe could have all thisÐŽ¦ and we could have everythingÐŽ± (171). This shows that the baby is very important to her. She believes that the baby can bring everything like the life itself. However, only she wishes this life. Due to their disagreement, she thinks that ÐŽoeveryday [they] make it more impossibleÐŽ± (171) to achieve that. Therefore, she cannot have everything nor whole world because ÐŽoonce they take it away, [she] will never get it backÐŽ± (171).

The Other side

The dry side represents the AmericanЎЇs attitude toward the baby. In the story, Jig comments that the hills ÐŽolook like white elephantsÐŽ± (169). White elephants are rare animal and they do not have much use, but are very expensive to maintain. Therefore, to American, the baby is like a white elephant; a heavy burden. While Jig is full of life and has a growing life within her, he is just like the other side with no trees, no shades, and no life. Also, he describes the baby as the ÐŽothing that bothers [them]ÐŽ¦itЎЇs the only thing thatЎЇs made [them] unhappyÐŽ± (170). The readers can see that the baby has no meaning to the American, but an obstructor to their relationship.

The Bags

The two bags symbolize freedom. This symbol also represents the AmericanЎЇs desire of going back to their old relationship. In the story, the bags had ÐŽothe labels from all the hotels where they had spent nightsÐŽ± (172). This tells the reader that they live a nomadic life style. For instance, Jig comments that ÐŽoall [they do is] looking at things and try new drinksÐŽ± (170). The American wants this life; a freedom. He is afraid that this journey might end because of that ÐŽothing.ÐŽ± The act of looking at the bags shows that he yearns for that life. So once again he tries to persuade Jig to do that ÐŽosimple operationÐŽ± which it will bring them their lost happiness. He does not want to establish a family, but just travel around and continue sticking on the hotel