Hills like Elephants

First, the analogy for the hills of northeastern Spain in the valley of river Ebro as white elephants is beautiful. The connection between the purity and uniqueness of a white elephant and the infant growing inside of the American woman, Jig, astounds me. Yes, I had help from my BFF SparkNotes but still I love it.

The need for drinking in order to bring about a difficult topic is so typical of Hemingway. To be honest, I'm a little sick of the need to assert his masculinity through such trivial means such as guns, alcohol, and sex. There are more to a man than these things yet, he overuses these symbols despite his literary genius.

Next, the setting of the railroad is fabulous with the comparison to the couple traveling but in two different directions. The suitcases and their multiple stickers are representative of the lifestyle the couple shares and how that could all come to an end if she doesn't go through with the abortion.

Finally, the slow descent into role reversal is humorous to watch. I can honestly say I didn't see that one coming and it was nice to be pleasantly surprised for once. 

The following is a sarcastic letter to Hemingway. Please disregard if you have no wishes for my personal opinions. I did this so that I would not push my own political views tomorrow in class. 

Dear Ernest Hemingway,

Please release my heart with the last piece we read for class. Stop traveling and allow my heart to come back to me because you've completely stolen it.


Thank you so much for portraying her in a completely passive role and depicting her as somewhat insane and mad from her love affair to her boyfriend. I just love how she is completely infatuated with this selfish and degrading man. Even though he attempts at redeem himself by retracting his wishes for her to go through with the abortion when he realizes she's mentally unstable, I just find him completely deplorable.

So typical of the time period Ernest, don't you think? Her groveling to appease a man because of the attention he gives her? Her need for validation from the love of a man? So fabulous.

Also, her determination to make things work while he continues to live whatever life he wants to live is just so perfect. I couldn't imagine a more desirable relationship. Especially because of her selflessness to get back to a "normal" relationship with this man.

No, she is not completely selfless you say? No, she is not. She still wants the relationship because of how it makes her feel in the end, yes, but she is the one who will sacrifice her body and future mental health for the whims and immaturity of a man.

Tata for now my love,

Bailey