In life and in literature there is a stereotype of a male persuading the female to believing his point of view. Naturally, a variety of conflicts occur when there is an unexpected pregnancy involved in a relationship. In the story “Hills Like White Elephants”, by Ernest Hemingway, is about a girl named Jig and a man whom doesn’t reveal his name but is referred as “the American”, the setting of the story was taken place at a train station and the couple were having some alcoholic beverages as they converse about the topic of an operation meaning abortion, they debate whether they should go through with the abortion or not.
Similarly, in the story “Good People”, the story is portraying a similar story, the nineteen-year-old guy named Lane Dean quietly sits next to his girlfriend Sheri, at a picnic table debating if they should have an abortion. Although, both stories were told in diverse styles the writers used similar literary elements, the differentiation of love between the two relationships separate the stories it is portrayed in the symbolism, themes and motifs.
Characteristics on whether love exist in the relationships separates the two stories, in “Hills Like White Elephants” there is no love between the couple. Jig in believing that the American will not leave, she goes on ahead with what he wishes, but is aware that the relationship will not have contain any love. Jig addresses to the American that all they do is travel and try new drinks, it is obvious that throughout the whole relationship it was just based on having a good time and drinking up until the pregnancy.
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The American wants to continue living a carefree life and to be able to do so he wants Jig to have an operation so they can continue their previous lifestyle. In contrast to “Good People” although Lane doesn’t love his girlfriend he cares so much to a point that untimely there is caring love not romance. Sheri is referred as “ always smelled very good and clean, like someone you can trust and care about even if you aren’t in love” (Foster 157). Throughout the story you can see that Lane does not passionately love Sheri, but the way he defines her are with caring and warm words, showing compassion. Romance does not exist in this story but a caring love does. Towards the ending of the story Lane questions Sheri why his love is any different from any other, as in why is his love not enough. Lane concerns for Sheri, he will not let her raise a baby on her own because although he is not “in” love with her, he still cares about her.
Symbolism is used throughout literature to create meaning and emotion in a story, throughout these two stories there are plenty of symbolism, in “Hills Like White Elephants”, Ernest uses the white elephant, a white signifies a gift that has no usefulness to the recipient, especially one that is expensive to maintain or difficult to dispose of. The American sees the pregnancy as a white elephant gift, due to the fact that he doesn’t support the pregnancy and wants Jig to follow through with the operation. Another symbol is the elephant in the room, the English expression “avoiding the elephant in the room”, indicates a situation in which someone refuses to address a typically important or obvious topic.
For Jig, her pregnancy I not a gift that she’s unwilling to receive, however when it comes to talking about the situation with the American she’d rather avoid the discussion all together, even begging at one point, “Would you please please please please please please please please stop talking?” (Hemingway, 126). Lastly, the final symbol in that story would be the railway station, the lonely railway station that serves as the back drop for Hemingway’s story represents an important decision to be made, much like a crossroad, uncertain of what direction to take.
In the story “Good People”, by David Foster, the couple are Christians and its harder on them because Christians are anti-abortion, the fallen tree is being used as imagery, what he says ,“fallen” with “sin” is meant to have a double meaning, one thought according to Lane he indicates that it is “inborn fallen nature”, or it can also reference how Sheri is down to earth. There is another symbol with the Title of story itself, “Good People”, it has a single person description, although it is a plural word, Sheri is serious about her faith and values and Lane was desperate to be good people (Foster, 159).
Also, the man that is fishing and the man in the grey suit are being referred to religious imagery, Christ is being symbolized by the fish, the first apostles were actually fishermen, in addition to this Sheri’s last name is in fact fisher. And when Foster states “there are not any ducks in view”, he symbolizes how lane doesn’t even desire to have a baby (Foster, 158). In addition to this, the setting of the story is during spring associating with life, growth and birth, predicting that the couple will go on with the pregnancy and keep the baby.
The themes of the stories are completely different for “Hills Like White Elephants”, it is the fact that the couple was talking instead of communicating with each other, in contrast to “Good People”, it was the crisis of conscience. In Hemingway’s story the American and Jig talk but never communicate, as in they don’t try to understand the other persons point of view in the story, the American will say anything to get his girlfriend to proceed with the operation although he never mentions the abortion, it is understood to be that. As for Foster’s story, Lane just wants to be considered good people, but if Sheri ends up keeping the baby he will take responsibility and be right by her side so she will not have to raise to do it on her own.
Since, in “Hills Like White Elephants”, the couple do not even have a real and sincere conversation it is understandable why the motif in the story is drinking, that is how the couple avoid one another and their problems. By thinking that drinking a lot can they can just avoid talking about the pregnancy, it still comes up, but that’s when Jig remarks to the American that’s all they ever do, drink and find new ways to avoid each other. Towards the ending of the conversation they end up drinking alone, the American drinks at the bar and Jig is a the table taking in consideration that they will both end their relationship and go on with their lives separately.
On the other hand, in “Good People”, considering how the two young Christians do not know what to do with the issue and their religion is making their decision even harder for them than it already is, the battle is constantly being, good people or bad people. Because they are coming to an agreement due to a religious aspect, Lane comes to a realization he should be their for Sheri and the baby, just like any good person would do.
These two authors have created short stories in which both deal with a debate in having an abortion. In Ernest Hemingway’s story “Hills Like White Elephants”, it is clear that Jig will have the procedure, therefore the American and her can live a carefree life just like the American wanted, but this time Jig wanted to continue her life without him because she knows it will not be the same as their previous lifestyle, and that having a family with the American would just be a dream. In contrast to “Good People”, by David foster, Sheri and Lame will continue their relationship and raise their baby, knowing that’s the right thing to do.
