Question

"Hills Like White Elephants" contains an interesting point of view. Discuss the narrator in the story. 1. What type of narrator do we find in "Hills Like White Elephants"?2. Why do you think Hemingway chose this point of view?3. What part does dialogue play in the story?4. What does it reveal about each of the characters?

Answer 1

Answer: 1. Non-participating or objective narrator. This objective point of view provides dialogue, information about the setting, and physical actions, but no information on what characters think or feel.

Explanation:

2. Hemingway describes the dialogue between the two characters without providing any information about their internal world, nor details on what the operation they talk about really is. It leaves an open door for interpretation from the reader.

3. The underlying meaning of the discussion Jig and the American have is that he wants her to get an abortion, but the dialogue only provides hints about it for the reader to fill the gaps.

4. The American wants her to get an abortion no matter what, but she´s worried he will end their relationship after she does.