Sample 1

The way Ernest Hemingway introduces the main characters is quite remarkable. First, he does not give us any physical description of them. By this, the writer creates an effect of a distance between the couple and us. This also makes us pay extra attention to their dialogue, since it is the only information we get about them. And even their conversation sounds very mysterious, because they never name the subject of it. We know neither what they look like, nor what exactly they are thinking. Second, in the beginning, Hemingway calls them simply "the American and the girl" (p. 155). As you can see, originally, we have more information about the man, for, at least, we know where he is from, but about the girl we know nothing. As we go along, however, we learn the girl's name, Jig, while the man remains just an American, a nameless and faceless American. This symbolizes our lack of knowledge and understanding of the real character of the man. We know nothing about him, and this does not let us trust the man, since we never trust those we know nothing about. Through contrasting the characters in "Hills Like White Elephants", Ernest Hemingway develops the meaning of the story, showing his objection towards abortion.