Hills Like White Elephants

     Hills Like White Elephants is a great short story by Ernest Hemingway. It follows the the journey of two individuals, "the American" and his female companion who he refers to as Jig. All through the story, the American is trying to convince Jig to have an operation. The operation was never specified but it is obvious that it is an abortion. He keeps on reassuring her that everything will be fine afterwards since that's all she seems to care about. He tells Jig that the "operation" isn't really even an operation and that it will be a 1,2,3 process (like he's had one before). Jig isn't too sure about what she wants to do but she is sure that she just wants him, the American.

      After the American drills the idea of the operation into Jigs head she finally gives in although she is unsure. When Jig agrees to have the operation, the American wants to make sure that she knows it is what she wants to do and had nothing to do with him. All of a sudden he has a change of heart. I think he just doesn't want to look like the bad guy or look like he's forcing her to go through with it. This scenario is so much like today's society. A guy will get a girl pregnant and knowing that the girl isn't in the right state of mind to make such a huge decision, he will push and push for her to have an abortion but in a way where it doesn't look as though he is the one behind everything. He will make it seem as though he's just looking out for the both of them when in all actuality he is just looking out for himself just like "the American" is doing. Reverse Psychology? I think the symbolism of "white elephants" in this short story can mean one of two things or maybe even both; the white elephants symbolizes something that no one wants which in this case will be Jigs unborn child or it is an illusion of a pregnant woman. And the hills signify their journey. A hill is always to to climb. Hard to go up but easier to go down.

What do you guys think?

Story of an Hour- Chopin

Kate Chopin's "Story of an Hour" is a piece which dealt with a woman (Mrs. Mallard) that was not happy in her marriage. She wanted to be free..."Free! Body and soul free!" But because of the time period which this story took place in, divorce was not an option for her. Learning of her husbands death gave her a chance to finally be free, although with the news she went through all sorts of emotions which wasn't so great being that she had a heart condition. Of course she felt pain but the smell of freedom being so close was the most important to her. The phrase "til' death do us part" was the only way for Mrs. Mallard and in a way that's what she got. In the end, she was just that... free!
There are so many people today who aren't happy in their marriages and although divorce is an option, for some it isn't. Some people choose to stay and weather the storm because of religious beliefs, some because of children, some because of "love", and some because they feel it is just the right thing to do while others leave and take the opportunity to be free the first chance they get.