“Hills Like White Elephants”: Review

Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants” is a story about a dying love. Or, possibly about a love that has died. What makes this story great is the realization it gives the reader upon close reading (if done multiple times). This realization is that communication between men and women (and probably between all humans regardless of sex) happens on more than one level. Words only exist on the surface. The deeper, real meaning is hidden beneath the simple words. That’s why it is possible to claim that one character does not necessarily love another even when he says he does. Take, for example, the following exchange:

"It tastes like licorice," the girl said and put the glass down.

     "That's the way with everything."

     "Yes," said the girl. "Everything tastes of licorice. Especially all the things you've waited so long for, like absinthe."

     "Oh, cut it out."

These people are discussing drinks, seemingly. But they are really discussing life, especially their lives. So much is said here without resorting to real accusations. In fact, the accusation put in the metaphorical form, they way the main heroine does here, hurts the man even more. Why? Precisely because of its ambiguity, but also because a complaint expressed this way sounds much more global, more sinister, more hurtful. The man says that “everything” tastes like licorice. This is a very global statement. It sounds not only like a disappointment in some specific event, but disappointment with life itself. And, in addition, the woman is to blame because, otherwise, why say something like that in such a tone? The woman answers the attack by putting the blame on the man, the blame for unfulfilled expectations. Thus, we see two people speaking not in riddles, but in metaphorical language in order to hurt each other without direct confrontation. Probably without realizing the seriousness of what they are doing, they are actually engaging in rather aggressive behavior. This love story is over.