English 102 - a Crossroads at the Railroad

...

Although the story doesn’t directly say, one can infer that the operation they are talking about is an abortion. Statements like, “We’ll be fine afterward. Just like we were before,” definitely don’t point to Jig having some kind of regular medical operation. This is something that directly affects the two of them and their relationship, not merely her health. The dialogue about the subject continues with the man continuing to support the operation. Finally Jig chimes in with, “Then I’ll do it, because I don’t care about me” (Hemingway 566). In this statement, Jig reveals that in order for her to go through with it she would have to have no regard for herself. She doesn’t believe the man when he tries to encourage her by telling her how simple that it is, and that they’ll be happy afterwards. No matter how she responds thought the man continues to push the issue, even after Jig tries to change the subject. When he brings it up one too many times Jig almost reaches her boiling point saying, “I’ll scream” (Hemingway 567). The conversation is getting very heated between them and Jigs agitation is very apparent. They obviously don’t agree on the subject, but the man feels the need to press the issue.

The fact that Jig is pregnant and that the man is pushing for an abortion, leads me to believe they’re not married. It sounds like they are either a young couple on some sort of trip, or a married man traveling and having an affair with his mistress. When the American brings up the operation it doesn’t seem to bother him nearly as much as the girl saying, “it’s really an awfully simple operation, Jig” (Hemingway 565). Furthermore, he continues to make repeated comments about it while Jig continues to stare at the ground saying nothing. It’s obvious that this is something that he is pushing for and she is not.

We can also tell that Jig doesn’t truly feel loved when she says, “Things will be like they were, and you’ll love me?” This definitely doesn’t sound like dialogue between a husband and wife. The man and Jig have reached a breaking point in their relationship. They have great difficulty communicating, especially about the most important thing in their relationship which they are divided on. The theme of this story is emphasized by the way the author puts so much attention on the back and forth dialogue and the setting. It’s almost as though he’s trying to keep us from focusing on the sequence of events that led up to this or that will happen hereafter.

Upon reading this story it looks like there is not a happy ending in sight. The couple has great difficulty communicating in their relationship. This is highlighted by close attention to the flow of dialogue that continues throughout the whole story, something that the author is definitely trying to point out to us. Furthermore it’s clear that Jig and the man are divided on the biggest issue at hand, the abortion. The man is pushing for Jig to go through with it, but judging by all of Jigs comments and mannerisms it’s clear that she does not feel the same way. Ultimately this relationship has reached a crossroads, and the railroad station may be the very place where they go their separate ways.

Works Cited

Hemingway, Ernest. “Hills Like White Elephants.” Literature The Human Experience.

Shorter 11th edition (2012): 564-568