Love And Licorice

In order for a relationship between a man and a woman to flourish and grow, both people should be reasonably mature and honest with one another. Their goals in life should be similar. Otherwise, it is difficult to maintain a substantial base in the partnership, and inevitably, it will wither and die.

HemingwayЎЇs "Hills Like White Elephants" is a very short story covering less than forty minutes in the lives of the two main characters. It doesnЎЇt take long, however, to discover that the relationship between them is not particularly deep or meaningful.

Jig and her lover lead a nomadic life, spending nights here and there, as the labels on their luggage indicate. All they really do, she laments, is "look at things and try new drinks." They bicker childishly; when he warns her to "cut it out," she retorts, "you started it."

In an attempt to make clever conversation, she observes aloud that the line of hills off in the distance "look[s] like white elephants." Instead of trying to make her feel "bright," JigЎЇs companion tells her flatly, heЎЇs "never seen one." Annoyed by his lack of imagination, she attacks with "no, you wouldnЎЇt have." It seems that they must really "try" hard to "have a fine time." This is not a mature relationship.

Nor is it honest. Rather than admit the fact that he doesnЎЇt want the responsibility of a baby, JigЎЇs lover tries to flatter her by saying, "I donЎЇt want anybody but you." He also avoids taking any blame for their faltering relationship. After all, being pregnant is "the only thing" that has made them unhappy. He makes light of the abortion by telling her, "ItЎЇs not really an operation" and that itЎЇs "perfectly simple," even "natural." Of course, she "doesnЎЇt" have to if she "doesnЎЇt want to," but he knows that itЎЇs "the best thing to do." Best for whom, I wonder.

Jig really thinks sheЎЇs ready to settle down and have a child, or she wouldnЎЇt be struggling so hard with the question of abortion. She too has trouble approaching the problem honestly. When she announces "IЎЇll do it because I donЎЇt care about me," sheЎЇs hoping that heЎЇll feel guilty

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