白象山赏析
《白象似的群山》堪称海明威短篇小说中的经典。它写于1927年,这篇小说通篇不过四千余字,情节一句话就可概括:一个美国男人同一个姑娘在一个西班牙小站等火车的时候,男人没法说服姑娘去做一个小手术,是什么样的手术,作者没有直接交代,但读者经仔细揣摩后能够猜出是一个人工流产术。然而,这篇小说里,海明威从小说的标题到姑娘的名字,场景描写以及对话中所使的词语都运用了大量的象征手法,使得这篇由有限文字所构成的小说暗含无限丰富的内涵,展现出恢弘的艺术气势。 1、标题的象征意义 标题来自小说中女主人公的一句话:“它们(那些山)看上去像白象”。White elephant在英语里的意思近似于汉语的“鸡肋”,但又不完全对应,这是从印度来的一个典故。白象是古印度最高贵的动物,被当作神物供奉。然而饲养、照顾白象需要付出昂贵的代价,因为白象要吃大量的食物。因此,白象成为最珍贵又最不需要,甚至带来麻烦的礼物。在短篇小说中,“白象”正象征了女孩腹中的胎儿。
Jig's reference to white elephants could be in reply to the baby. The American could see the baby as a white elephant and not want to raise it because of the cost, while Jig could see the child as an extraordinary addition to her mundane life of drinking and mindless traveling.
symbol
White Elephants: From the perspective of the American, one of the hills resembling white elephants is the enlargement of the uterus that is becoming, or will soon become, evident as Jig's baby grows. A white elephant is a largely useless object that may be expensive to own and maintain, according to one of its definitions in standard dictionaries. From the perspective of Jig, one of the hills may represent the lifestyle of her and the American.?
Symbols
White Elephants
A white elephant symbolizes something no one wants—in this story, the girl’s unborn child. The girl’s comment in the beginning of the story that the surrounding hills look like white elephants initially seems to be a casual, offhand remark, but it actually serves as a segue for her and the American to discuss their baby and the possibility of having an abortion. The girl later retracts this comment with the observation that the hills don’t really look like white elephants, a subtle hint that perhaps she wants to keep the baby after all—a hint the American misses. In fact, she even says that the hills only seemed to look like white elephants at first glance, and that they’re actually quite lovely. Comparing the hills—and, metaphorically, the baby—to elephants also recalls the expression “the elephant in the room,” a euphemism for something painfully obvious that no one wants to discuss.
According to a legendary Indian custom, white elephant is regarded as a sacred animal. If the King wanted to punish any subje
cts who were out of his favor, he would bestow them a white elephant, for in this way they would soon be ruined by the high cost of maintaining this precious gift. Derived from this custom, nowadays white elephant refers to something that might be rare and precious, but at the same time is useless and burdensome to maintain.
e.g. The fountain in our school is white elephant.
In this short story, white elephant probably stands for the unborn baby, who is precious in nature. However, this present is regarded as unwanted and troublesome encumbrance to the American man. For the girl, she recognizes that she is carrying a potentially valuable life, which might bring meaning to her own life.
hills like white elephants physically resemble the swollen breasts and belly of a pregnant woman, a symbol of life and fertility, which is in sharp contrast to the barrenness and sterility of “brown and dry country”.
2、主人公名字的象征意义 Jig是小说中女主人公的名字,也是小说中唯一有名字的人物,而这个名字并非一个简单的符号。Jig首先是一种起源于英国通常为三拍子的快步舞。但它常用于“the jig is up”中,这是一个英语俚语,意思是“把戏已拆穿;一切都完了,已无成功的希望。”[1] 海明威用Jig来命名小说里的女主人公非常符合她年轻,四处漂泊,游戏人生的形象。同时也象征美国男子和Jig之间的性爱或爱情终因Jig的怀孕而终止;俩人的游戏终因“流产”而宣告结束。
人物命名 在有的故事特别是寓言故事里,人物的取名本身就是一种寓意或象征。??白象似的群山??中男女主人公的名字也是别有用意的。故事从头到尾没有出现男主人公的名或姓,作者先是称他为!theAmerican?(美国男子),后叫他theman?(男人)。这是一个十分宽泛的称呼,而且似乎并非为了词的简短,否则完全可以采用John,Tom之类的名字。此外,故事的主人公一般很少用国籍来称呼,除非特意用以区别于其他国籍的人。可见作者用!theAmerican?指称故事中的主人公是有深意的。这里强调了男主人公是美国人,而且只是20世纪20年代美国芸芸众生中的一个代表。他似乎有一定的经济基础,过着漂流放荡的生活,要女人,但不要孩子。从他身上我们可以看到第一次世界大战以后美国青年的精神面貌。他们茫然困惑,没有责任感,没有人生的奋斗目标,这大概就是所谓的!迷惘的一代?。与男主人公不同,小说女主人公有个名字叫Jig(吉格),这个名字也有一番含义。单词jig在美国俚语中有trick或joke的意思。!Thejigisup?是一个成语,意思是!一切都完了;已无成功希望了?。从吉格与那个美国男人的对话中我们可以听得出她内心的无奈与悲哀,她对他以及他俩的前途已彻底地失望。由此可见,小说中主人公名字的含义已经超出其文字符号本
身,而具有一种修辞效果。
a hot summer, in a Hispanic small railway station. A
couple were there waiting for their train
Time: hot summer
Restless, uncomfortable
Create an intense atmosphere, hints the conflict and
tension between the couple.
3、场景的象征意义 “埃布罗河谷的那一边,白色的山冈起伏连绵。这一边,白地一片,没有树木,车站在阳光下两条铁路线中间。”[2] 这是小说开头的第一段文字。这是简洁直白的场景描写,然而从字里行间我们可以领悟到它所蕴含的象征意义。“车站在阳光下两条铁路线中间,”这象征着男女主人公永远也达不成共识去解决严重威胁他们之间关系的难题。因为姑娘希望把孩子生下,享受家庭生活的幸福,并以此来维系俩人的稳定关系。男人则想让女孩去做流产术,不希腹中的胎儿成为多余的累赘,从而影响他们继续过去的生活。男女主人公各自迥异的期盼,正如同两条平行的铁路张永远不会交叉在一起。 “姑娘正在眺望远处群山的轮廓。山在阳光下是白色的,而乡野是灰褐色的干巴巴的一片。”[3]“在那一边埃布罗河两岸是农田和树木。远处在河的那一边,便是起伏的山峦。一片云影掠过粮田;透过树木,她看到了大河。”[4]小说中河谷两边的场景描写也极具象征意义。一边是“灰褐色的干巴巴的”一片,这象征着俩人感情的肤浅,同时也预示着一旦随着姑娘腹中胎儿的流产,俩人的前景将是一片暗淡,毫无生机。河谷的另一边,有“粮田”、“树木”、“大河”。所有这一切都透露出茂盛的生命力,同时也象征着姑娘面临的另一个选择——生育。
Setting
Hemingway sets “Hills Like White Elephants” at a train station to highlight the fact that the relationship between the American man and the girl is at a crossroads. Planted in the middle of a desolate valley, the station isn’t a final destination but merely a stopping point between Barcelona and Madrid. Travelers, including the main characters, must therefore decide where to go and, in this case, whether to go with each other and continue their relationship. Moreover, the contrast between the white hills and barren valley possibly highlights the dichotomy between life and death, fertility and sterility, and mirrors the choice the girl faces between having the baby or having the abortion. The girl seems torn between the two landscapes, not only commenting on the beauty of the hills but also physically walking to the end of the platform and gazing out at the brown emptiness around the station.
象 征 在小说??白象似的群山??中,作者采用了象征手法,利用对背景的描写表现主人公的内心活动。故事中的背景描写虽用词简单,但寓意深刻,尤其是埃布罗河以外远处和近处的两种不同景象极富象征意义。河那边远处
的群山!在阳光下是白色的,而乡野则是灰褐色的干巴巴的一片?。近处则与此形成鲜明的对比,那里是农田,大河,树木,以及粮田上空掠过的云朵。前者显得荒凉,死气沉沉,令人望而生悲;后者则是一派生机盎然的景象,令人心旷神怡。这两种 迥然不同的景色象征着吉格心中想象着的两种不同的未来:一种是同意男方的要求,做那个!手术?,然后继续同他四处漂流过着一种没有目标,没有责任,也没有结果的生活,未来就像那灰色而干旱的乡村一样荒凉贫瘠;另一种则是拒绝手术,选择生儿育女,建立家业,前景就像河边近处的景象充满生机和希望。而此时此刻吉格无法下定决心,陷入了两难的境地。作者在这里采用象征手法,以人物所见影射其心理状态。
（一）场景描写
文章开头对场景的描写暗示了种种矛盾，如：“Onthisside
therewasnoshadeandnotrees （211，line2）and”across, onthe
other side, werefieldsof grainandtrees…（213，line28）“一面
是成块的谷物和树木，充满生机而另一面则光秃秃的。仅是
由车站隔开，却有如此迥异的景象。这一鲜明对比看似有些
违背常理，可随着后文故事的展开，这一景象的布置却更有寓
意，为后文两青年争执的展开埋下了伏笔，营造了整篇文章的
氛围。”thestationwasbetweentwolinesofrailsinthesun(211，
line3）“车站位于两列轨道中间，文章中也未提到火车将开往
哪个方向。而火车最终只能选择其中一条轨道，开往一个方
向。这个细节的描述也为文章结尾”lookedupthetracksbut
couldnotseethetrain（214，line37）“两青年仍无法抉择提前给
予了某种诠释。
Railroad Tracks: Railroad tracks run side by side but never meet. Thus, they could symbolize the relationship of Jig and the American.
Green Side of the Station: Obviously, this represents life, the baby, a new beginning.
Dry Side of the Valley: This represents dissipation and death.
Anís del Toro: This represents the excitement the American offers Jig. But it fails to stir her.
4、精心选择的词语所包含的象征意义 小说中始终出现了一些经海明威细心挑选、巧妙安排的词语,这些词语也极富象征意义。如文中反复出现“两个”(two)这个词:“两大杯啤酒和两只毡杯垫”、“列车在这个中转站停靠两分钟”、“两只沉重的旅行包”等。所有这些“两个”(two)都鲜明地象征着男主人公一这位美国男子只在乎眼前的两人世界,不愿有“第三者插足”(孩子的降临)。这样他们俩人可以继续随心所欲,四处漂泊,不负责作,寻欢作乐的生活。
Liquorice and Absinthe : This represents the sweet and bitter of life.
Baggage: This represents the past, which is the same as the future to the American. When he picks up the suitcases and carries them
to the other side of the station, he is indicating that he wants to continue as before.
5、对话所包含的象征意义 《白象似的群山》把故事的画面定格在男女主人公在路边等待开往马德里的快车。由于天气炎热,他俩不停地喝啤酒。一边喝啤酒一边说话,整篇作品由对话构成。海明威也赋予这样精彩的对话极强的象征意义。对话中,姑娘说:“样样东西都是甜丝丝的像甘草。特别是一个盼望了好久的那些东西,简直就像艾酒一样。”毫无疑问,这里“甜丝丝的像甘草”和“盼望了好久的东西”也是象征姑娘孕育在身的胎儿。姑娘原本希望未来的生活甜蜜美满,但眼下,所有这一切将会随着男人主意的改变和胎儿被打掉化为泡影。
简洁的人物对话，双关
“是的，”姑娘说，“样样东西都像甘草，特别是那些一个人盼望了好久的东西，简直就像艾酒一样。”[5] 简洁的对 话，极富表现力，表达了女主人公需要爱，渴望生儿育女，拥 有幸福美满的家庭，享受温馨的家庭生活。 “我们可以到处去逛逛。” “不，我们不能，这个世界不再是我们的。”[5] 不到三十字的简短对话，把男女主人公对待孩子的不同立场和态度生动的呈现给了读者：男人认为孩子是累赘、负担，只有打掉孩子，他们才能享有自由，周游世界，享受生活；而姑娘吉格却对没有孩子，没有家庭的未来的生活充满迷惘，失去信心，感到绝望。
“是我们的。” “不，不是。一旦他们把它拿走，你便永远失去它了。”[5] “这世界”和“它”都是一语双关，表面上指眼前的景物， 实际上是指胎儿以及她憧憬着的有孩子、有家的美好未来。
“Yes,” said the girl. “Everything tastes like licorice. Especially all the things you’ve waited so long for, like absinthe.”
Explanation for Quotation 1 >>
Even though the girl had asked the American man to order the absinthe because she had never tried it before, she immediately puts her glass back on the table after the first taste, surprised by the drink’s sharp bite. She remarks that her drink tastes like licorice and then tries to subtly broach the subject of her pregnancy again, because the American had ignored her earlier comment that the nearby hills look like white elephants. Basically rehashing the adage “be careful what you wish for because it may come true,” the girl recognizes the irony in not liking the taste of the drink she’d asked the man to order for her, just as she presumably dislikes being pregnant when she’d always wished for a baby. The man, however, perhaps senses the underlying message of the girl’s seemingly casual remark and tells her to be quiet, prompting her to once more bring up the subject of white elephants.
“But if I do it, then it will be nice again if I say things are like
white elephants, and you’ll like it?”
世界的speech
What do these speech imply?
The woman knows more about the man than she did before. this experience reveals his true nature [unwillingness to settle down, selfish, the promise once made couldn’t be counted upon]
she is much more mature and realistic.
whatever they do about the baby, they will not go back to where they were
thus，
She asks him to stop the conversation. “there is no need to say more”
This emotion mounts to the highest point when she uses 7 please.
What does this repetition mean?
imply that she has realized the truth that the man loves himself most, their future is uncertain
whatever they do about the baby, they will not go back to where they were
比喻
反复
在短短的对话中,!Hillslooklikewhiteelephants?或!thehillsdon%treallylooklikewhiteelephants?的句子出现了四次。诸如!Ifyoudon%treallywantto(havetheoperation)youdon%thaveto?之类的话也在同一对话中讲了七次。另外吉格在!请求?他住嘴时也一连说了七个!Please?。这许多的重复绝非作者一时的粗心大意或词汇匮乏所致,相反这正是他别出心裁的修辞手法。!Explanation for Quotation 2 >>
By this point, midway through the story, the girl has already retracted her previous comment that the surrounding hills look like white elephants, hinting that she wants to keep the baby instead of having an abortion. The man had been upset at this, feigning indifference but pushing for the abortion because he doesn’t want the child. Still hoping to save their broken relationship, the girl asks her boyfriend whether things between them will return to the way they used to be if she goes through with the abortion. Her indecision and desire to placate the man demonstrate her dependence on him. At the same time, however, the mere fact that she asks the question may imply that she believes that nothing can save their relationship.群山像白象?这一比喻的反复出现说明了手术之事一直烦扰着吉格,使她耿耿于怀,其影响贯穿着对话的始终,形成了他俩争论的主线,同时也突出了故事的主题。那男人多次重复上述两句话,一方面说明他想要劝服吉格堕胎,但又确实理屈词穷;另一方面也暴露了他的虚伪:他多次对吉格说!如果你不愿意,你就不必去做(手术),如果你不想去做,我也不会勉强你?等,仿佛他非常在意她的想法,但同时他又反复地说!这手术十分简单?,甚至还说!那(胎儿)是唯一使我们烦心的东西?,!除你之外,我谁都不要。ppt?敏感的吉格也听出了他的虚伪,故!请?他不要再讲。七个!请?字的连续反复说明吉格的心情已烦躁到了极点。她为未出生的孩子的命运,为自己的处境而难过,也为有如此不负责任而且虚伪的男人而感到无奈、失望与气愤。This emotion mounts to the highest point when she uses 7 please.
ppt
What
bothers her most ?
not the dangerous abortion, the baby, but the future of their relationship
E.g. “Then what will we do afterward?”
“ And you really want to ?” “You will be happy?” “ If I do it you won’t ever worry?”
Why?
The orignial nature of their relationship:
it is all about fun ("'look[ing] at things and try[ing] new drinks'" and does not seem to be moving forward toward any kind of commitment; his desire that she have an abortion suggests that he is not considering marriage to and having a family with her.
She just doubts:
Will he truly love me? He doesn’t care about my safety, care about the baby. Will I count on him?
The American
Throughout the story, the American behaves according to Hemingway’s rigid conception of masculinity. Hemingway portrays the American as a rugged man’s man—knowledgeable, worldly, and always in control of himself and the situation at hand. Even when vexed or confused, he maintains his cool and feigns indifference, such as when he tells the girl he doesn’t care whether she has the operation. He initially avoids discussion of their problems, but when pressured, he tackles them head on by oversimplifying the operation and relentlessly pushing her to have it. Thinking himself to be the more reasonable of the two, he patronizes the girl and fails to provide the sympathy and understanding she needs during the crisis. Uncompromising, he seems to identify more with the other passengers “waiting reasonably” at the station than with his own girlfriend at the end of the story, which suggests that the two will go their separate ways.
Compared to the American, Hemingway’s overly masculine character, the girl is less assertive and persuasive. Throughout the story, the girl appears helpless, confused, and indecisive. She changes her mind about the attractiveness of the surrounding hills, for example; claims to selflessly care only for the American; and seems uncertain about whether she wants to have the operation. In fact, the girl can’t even order drinks from the bartender on her own without having to rely on the man’s ability to speak Spanish. Ironically, the girl seems to understand that her relationship with the American has effectively ended, despite her professed desire to make him happy. She knows that even if she has the operation, their relationship won’t return to how it used to be. In many ways, the girl’s realization of this fact gives her power over the American, who never really understands why they still can’t have “the whole world” like they once did.
（二）人物描写（女孩）
The American man is trying to convince the girl to terminate the pregnancy, so that he can terminate their relationship guilt-free while the girl is trying to figure out which is more likely to get him to stay, get an abortion or keep the baby. The character's personalities are very distinctive in this story: the American man is strong and smart, he takes cont
rol by ordering drinks and taking the initiative to begin the conversation. The girl is quiet, almost subservient on every issue except the pregnancy. And this is also a conflict in the article, on which the end is based. Jig's reference to white elephants could be in reply to the baby. The American could see the baby as a white elephant and not want to raise it because of the cost, while Jig could see the child as an extraordinary addition to her mundane life of drinking and mindless traveling.
文章中对女孩的描写，她眼中的景物和她的话语张显了
她内心的反叛和不满。孩子对每个孕育、热爱它的母亲来说
都是件幸事，而此时她却犹豫不决。她的确把孕育看作生命
中美丽的时刻，”shesawtheriver （Ebro）throughthetrees
(213，
line31)在她眼中，“Ebro”饱含母性，“thecoloringof their skin
throughthetrees （212，line27）”绿色预示着新生命的诞生，“ri-ver throughthetrees （213，line31）”渗过绿叶的河流是生命的
摇篮。短短时间她的话语中“couldwetryit?（211，lastline）”,
“I wastrying（212，line19）”，“I wantedtotrynewdrink(212，
line22)”, “lookatthingsandtrynewdrinks?（212，line22）”就用
了四个“try”，暗示了她很想拥有这个孩子开始新的体验，接受美的事物，正如她对男友所说“everythingtastesofliquorice.
Especiallyallthethingsyou'vewaitedsolongfor, likeabsinthe
（212，line13）”。在她心中万物都是甜美的，像甘草一样；而得
到渴望已久的东西更如同饮艾酒一般，苦涩之后余香淡淡却
胜似蜜。这里“you”不只是她男友也是她内心的真正自我，她
希望能共度黎明前的黑暗，像品尝艾酒一样苦尽甘来。透过
树隙女孩凝视白象似群山的色彩，“itislovely（212，line32）”，
“it”不仅仅指代山的颜色、天气，更是她未出生的孩子。女孩
不止一次提到“wecouldhaveall this
(213，line32)…wecould
haveeverything(213，line32)…andoncetheytakeit away, you
nevergetitback(213，line40)…”，这些也暗示她内心深处希望
留下这个孩子，她认为他们能共同处理好这一切，养育孩子成
立家庭。
然而她心中也充满了矛盾，群山在她眼里有时似白象。
“群山”的形状如孕妇凸起的腹部，而依据印度、泰国、缅甸典
故白象被视为神圣不可侵犯的动物，因饲养耗费巨大，一般人
根本承担不起。用在这里暗示在女孩心中孩子尽管是神圣
的、美好的，但却可望不可及。这一想法在对话中也有所体现。
“I'llloveit. I loveit nowbutI just can't thinkabout it. You
knowhowI get whenI worry”
“If Idoit youwon't ever worry?”
“I won't worryaboutthatbecauseit'sperfectlysimple”
“ThenI'lldoit. BecauseIdon'tcareaboutme”(213，line17-line21)
第二句话有两种意思，一是如果我接受手术，
你不会就此
担心吗；二是如果我接受，你将永远不会再担心吗。随后他的
回答“我不会担心因为手术很简单”打破了她的梦更伤了她的
心，紧接着她的答语“那我就去做，我对自己也无所谓”表明了
这一切。
Physically it is quite dangerous for it was in the 1920s’, when medical condition for an abortion was not what it is today.
Besides, this operation is practiced illegally in Spain, a rigid, pious, roman Catholic country that equals abortion to murder.
The emotional stress is also two-fold: the guilty of murdering her own child, and the preoccupation about the consequence of this “murdering”.
she still feels worried and painful.
(very young, afraid of the first abortion, need to get more comfort from the man)
== at the very beginning, she uses some indirect ways to express her feeling
disapproval, worry
What does the man react?
However, it proves that the man is impatient and irresponsible, he pays little attention to her feeling.
considers the coming baby as a burden, try his utmost to persuade her
ads: abortion is safe, painless, no trouble. Things will be ok.
(examples)
“It’s really an awfully simple operation, Jig. It’s not really an operation at all.”
“I’ll go with you and I’ll stay with you all the time. They just let the air in and then it’s all perfectly natural.”
“We’ll be fine afterward. Just like we were before.”
“That’s the only thing that bothers us. It’s the only thing that’s made us unhappy”
The orignial nature of their relationship:
it is all about fun ("'look[ing] at things and try[ing] new drinks'" and does not seem to be moving forward toward any kind of commitment; his desire that she have an abortion suggests that he is not considering marriage to and having a family with her.
She just doubts:
Will he truly love me? He doesn’t care about my safety, care about the baby. Will I count on him?
The man keeps claiming that things would be all right if she accepts the abortion.
He also repeats:
I don’t want you to do anything that you don’t want to do….
I wouldn’t have you do it if you didn’t want to. But I know it’s perfectly simple”
== ironic; it is he who keeps persuading the girl to accept the operation, but here he just pretends to claim that he would respect the girl’s choice.
Does the girl believe his promise?
No.
E.g.
“and we could have all this, and we could have everything and every day we make it more impossible”
It isn’t ours anymore. We cannot have the whole world. And once they take it away, you never get it back. We’ll wait and see.
（三）人物描写（男孩）
作为女孩的男友，他对怀孕的观点却相反。他坚决的反
对意见从下面话语中充分体现出来。“It'sreallynot anything
(212，line36)”，“it”指的是手术和孩子。“that's theonlything
that bothersus.
(212，last line
)
”，“but I don't want anybodybut
you. I don't want anybodyelse
(214，line14)”，“I don't careany-thingabout it
(214，line25)”他觉得Jig 怀的孩子什么也不是，
跟他没丝毫关系且给他平添了许多烦恼。他一点都不渴望孩
子的到来，也根本不把它放在心上。但他固执地认为他能控
制这一切，正如开头所说“justbecauseyousayIwouldn'thave
doesn'tproveanything(211，line23)”然而最后他才意识到这一
切是自己无法掌控的，如下：
“Hepickedupthetwoheavybagsandcarriedthemaround
thestationtotheothertracks.…Shewassittingthereandsmiled
athim.'Doyoufeelbetter?'heasked(214，line36-line42)
.”
他拎着袋子来到轨道边，张望远方，却没火车的踪影。他
所期望的并没有到来，相反他不得不继续等下去，等待一切最
终确定。酒吧里大家都在悠闲中等待只有他紧张急躁地等待
着还不确定的一切。他迫切想知道结果，但又担心结果违其
所愿。他回到女孩身边，询问是否好些了，希望她能尽早决定，而他自己也能早日回归正常生活。然而他没有权利也没
有能力控制这一境况，Jig才是能够并需要做决定的人。
而正是基于这点，他才会时不时饱含关心地问候几句：“if
youdon't want toyoudon't have to(213，line7)”,“I wouldn't
haveyoudoitifyoudidn'twantto(213，line7)”, “butIdon'twant
youtodo it if youdon't reallywant to(213，line10)”,“I don't
wantyoutodoitifyoufeelthatway(213，line27)”,言语中他似
乎对她的任何决定都不反对。但是如此多的“if”反而更表明
了这些关心的虚伪。“如果你不想做手术，我并不硬要你去
做。如果这对你很重要的话,我心甘情愿承受到底”他把一切
归因于女孩，似乎要把决定权交出去,然而话语中却暗含压力。
大地间的“shadow(211，
line4)
, shade
(214，line1)”也映射社会无不在压抑约束人们的
行为。“Far away, beyond theriver, weremountains
(213，
line29)”正是这些高山拦住河水的涌动，正如社会约束人们的
自由一样，而这种制约往往又是无形的，如“TheAmericanand
thegirl withhimsat at atableintheshade, outsidethebuilding
(211，line5)”他们二人不加选择地坐在阴影处正说明人们潜
意识里墨守社会无形的规则，接受社会的伦理道德标准。
同时也可以看出，二人也已意识到社会的压力。他们坐在珠帘外，其他乘客在屋
内，选择这个地方也是避免他人听到，也正说明他们知道这种
行为社会不允许。男青年曾惊叫“comeonbackintheshade,
youmustn'tfeelthatway(214，line1)”。他想把女孩拉回现实，
而不是任她沉浸在梦想之中。女孩总用酒把自己带进短暂的
梦想，“Let'sdrinkbeer
(211，line12)”, “couldwetryit?
(211，last
line
)”, “shouldwe haveanother drink?
(212，line28
)”怀孕期间
她仍喝了很多酒，甚至尝试了Anisdel Toro(212，line4)，那种
用于涂抹珠帘的有害液体。从这儿看她已无视自己腹中的生
命，无力再对社会做出任何反抗。男青年反复不断地说“你必
须要明白，如果你不想我是不会让你去做的…”也透露出他想
让女孩明白是社会而不是他的压力阻止这个孩子出生。正是
社会的影响，他坚决反对生下孩子的想法看似残酷却更现实；
正是社会的存在，她的梦想看似美好却终究无法实现
theme
Confronting the Future
Inability to Communicate Effectively
Selfishness
Too Much of a Good Thing
Evasion of Responsibility
海明威式结尾 《白象似的群山》的结尾方式很独特，被称为海明威式结尾或零度结尾。在这篇小说中，海明威就像一名摄影师，碰巧路过这个西班牙火车站，偷拍下美国男子和姑娘的对话，然后两个人上火车走了，故事也就结束了。我们不知道男人和姑娘以后会怎样:是不是做了手术?手术后俩人是分手了，还是依旧像从前那样过着快乐幸福的生活?海明威可能并不知道，读者就更无从知晓。
what would happen to them later? Will they break up with each other or maintain the relaitonship?这种结尾像结束又不像结束，悬念重重，把读者茫然地悬在半空。给读者留下了无限的想象空间和解读空间。 《白象似的群山》虽不足两千字，且看似情节简单，但通过对该篇小说写作风格的具体分析，我们能感受到文章蕴含的深刻含义，感受到作者“冰川原则”“八分之一”和“八分之七”的完美结合。作为一种独特的写作方式，海明威“冰山原则”的影响是永恒的。
Finally, the ambiguity in the text gives readers much more room to taste and guess the consequence of the story. Just imagine, if Hemingway introduces all the background information to us, what effect will the story make? Undoubtedly, the story will became worthless, useless and even meaningless. For example: from "I said we could have everything" to "But they haven't taken it away"(Hemingway, 3). It's hard to explain what the "it" and "everything" mean. What we readers can do is to guess the implications of the two characters'. As one saying says: there are a thousand Hamlets in a thousand people's eyes. What readers think differs from each other. So the ambiguity is perfectly employed. The ambiguity here leaves us sufficiently endless room to think and also adds readability to the story.
The dignity of an iceberg is due to only one-eighth of it being above water.
作者用简短的对话突然结尾，这和小说家欧亨利的结尾完全不同，突然的结束让读者感觉像结束，又不像结束，留给读者巨大的思考空间。
The author USES short dialogue suddenly ending, this and novelist the end of Europe Henry completely differe
nt, sudden end let readers feel like the end, again not like the end, leave reader huge thinking space.
The symbolism of the hills and the big white elephant can be thought of as the image of the swollen breasts and abdomen of a pregnant woman, and to the prenatal dream of the mother of the future Buddha in which a white elephant (in this case, a symbol of prestigious leadership) enters her womb.
Apart from the eponymous hills, other parts of the setting provide symbolism wh
Hills Like White Elephants" is a short story by Ernest Hemingway. It was first published in the 1927 collection Men Without Women.Plot summaryThe story takes place at a train station in the Ebro River valley of Spain. The time setting is not given, but is almost certainly contemporary to the composition (1920s). This particular day is oppressively hot and dry, and the scenery in the valley is barren and ugly for the most part. The two main characters are a man (referred to only as "the American") and his female companion, whom he calls Jig.While waiting for the train to Madrid, the American and Jig drink beer and a liquor called Anis del Toro, which Jig compares to licorice, showing how young she really is. Their conversation is mundane at first, but quickly drifts to the subject of an operation which the American is attempting to convince Jig to undergo. Though it is never made explicit in the text, it is made clear (through phrases of dialogue such as "It's just to let the air in" and "But I don't want anybody but you," among numerous context clues) that Jig is pregnant and that the procedure in question is an abortion.After posing arguments to which the American is largely unresponsive, Jig eventually assents to the operation, giving the final justification: "I don't care about me." She attempts to drop the subject, but the American persists as if still unsure of Jig's intentions and mental state. As the train approaches, it is important to note that he carries their bags to the opposing platform and has a drink alone before rejoining Jig. She smiles at him, assures him that she is "fine", and the story ends. Themes and recurring elements"Hills Like White Elephants" is thematically rich, given its short length and sparse narrative. On the surface, it deals with concepts such as the conflict between personal responsibility and hedonism; rhetorical and psychological manipulation; coming of age; and the dynamics of the romantic relationship and its metamorphosis into the family. At a more abstract and general level, it can be interpreted as a statement about the Zeitgeist of the Roaring Twenties and the lifestyles and attitudes of the post-World War I "Lost Generation" of American expatriates in Europe.Jig's reference to white elephants could be in reply to the baby. The American could see the baby as a white elephant and not want to raise it because of the cost, while Jig could see the child as an extraordinary addition to her mundane life of drinking and min
dless traveling. Symbolism and settingKeep in mind while reading this that the symbolism in this story can be interpreted in many different ways, one is not more right than the other if you can support it. The title of the story,” Hills Like White Elephants," is an allegory of the innocence of what seemed to be but is not (Jig's love towards an American man) from Jig's perspective in regards to her affair with a man who simply sees the pleasure in being with her in the flesh. Innocence is revealed when Jig orders a drink that she has never had before, and does not know the taste of. This is an allegory which develops into mixed feelings as the story unfolds. That she perceives the hills as being like white elephants can be exemplified as her taste of her drink being described as licorice, for lack in her experience in better expressing its flavor more accurately. In here quote, she states that "everything tastes like licorice, especially all the things he’s waited so long for, like Absinthe." This clearly reflects that, in her innocence, she is confused of the fact that after her deliberate assurance in her decision for her love for this man, and her decision to impregnate herself with the child of this American, she is confused. She does go on to express his immorality towards her as she expresses that everything to her tastes like licorice.This reflects her intoxication which goes beyond the physical, as he abused her physically, and also emotionally. The American answers, "Oh cut it out", which is a pun intended as a nod toward abortion, and goes on saying, "Well, let's try and have a fine time."The title of the story refers to an aspect of its setting which is symbolically important in many ways. Jig draws a simple simile by describing the hills across the desolate valley as looking like white elephants. The implication is that, just as Jig thinks the hills in the distance look like white elephants, the American views the couple's unborn child as an approaching obstacle, a hindrance to the status quo or status quo ante. To avoid this impending responsibility, he attempts to manipulate Jig into having an abortion by presenting the operation as a simple procedure that is in her best interests, a panacea for all that is ailing her and troubling their relationship.Furthermore, this symbolism combined with Jig's question "That's all we do, isn't it--look at things and try new drinks" and her statement that even exciting new things she has waited a long time to try, like absinthe (sometimes valued as an aphrodisiac), merely end up "tasting like licorice," implies that the couple's perpetually ambling, hedonistic lifestyle has become something of a metaphorical white elephant to her. It appears that she seeks more stability and permanence in life; "It isn't ours anymore," she states of the carefree lifestyle she and the American have been pursuing from one hotel to the next.The symbolism of the hills and the big white elephant can be thought of
as the image of the swollen breasts and abdomen of a pregnant woman, and to the prenatal dream of the mother of the future Buddha in which a white elephant (in this case, a symbol of prestigious leadership) enters her womb.The reference to the white elephants may also bear a connection to the baby as 'a valuable possession of which its owner cannot dispose and whose cost (particularly cost of upkeep) is out of proportion to its usefulness' white elephant.Apart from the eponymous hills, other parts of the setting provide symbolism which expresses the tension and conflict surrounding the couple. The train tracks form a dividing line between the barren expanse of land stretching toward the hills on one side and the green, fertile farmland on the other, symbolizing the choice faced by each of the main characters and their differing interpretations of the dilemma of pregnancy. Jig focuses on the landscape during the conversation, rarely making eye contact with the American. At the end of the story, the American takes the initiative to pick up the couple's luggage and port it to the "other tracks" on the opposite side of the station, symbolizing his sense of primacy in making the decision to give up their child and betraying his insistence to Jig that the decision is entirely in her hands. This is, however, often viewed as a sign that the couple has changed their mind and decided to go back to where they came from. The argument is that they would have been going in to the city, but then when he moves the bags "to the other tracks" that he has changed their destination after the discussion they had. Also one direction of the tracks leads to the desolate "brown and dry" region while the others moves towards the river, mountains and green valleys.Jig's name is symbolically significant, as is the fact that her real name is never given, that "Jig" is only her lover's pet name for her. In addition to being a dated slang term for sexual intercourse, the word jig can mean a sprightly Celtic dance or any of several different kinds of tools (whiskey measurer, fishing lure, woodworking tool, etc.); this implies that the American views Jig as more of a loving object or tool---a "fine time," to use the character's own words---than a person with feelings and values to be respected.2In "Hills Like White Elephants", Hemingway exposes the complexities of a relationship between an American man and a girl. The main focus in on the character's reaction about the unexpected pregnancy, how they will deal with it and if reconciliation was possible. By using an objective point of view, Hemingway is able to avoid biasing the reader in favor of either character. A great writer of his time, Hemingway manages to show both the power struggle between the couple and the subtle shifts in control, without ever describing the actual tone of their words. The American man is trying to convince the girl to terminate the pregnancy, presumably so he can terminate their relationship guilt-f
ree. She is trying to figure out what is more likely to get him to stay, get an abortion or keep the baby. While showing the American man her feelings the girl (Jig), restrains herself from the true emotional outburst a woman in her situation would have. The character's roles are very distinctive in this story. The American man is strong and smart, he takes control by ordering drinks and taking the initiative to begin the conversation. The girl is quiet, almost subservient on every issue except the pregnancy. Coincidentally or not, the one thing the man does not act like he has control over is the unborn child. He tries to influence her by telling her the same lies that men use today; it will make everything better between us, it's a simple operation, I'll be there for you, etc... She responds to his reasoning mostly by being unnaturally calm, trying to figure out what is most likely to please him. Perhaps her calm is due to her own calculating nature, or, more likely, due to Hemingway's inability to understand what a woman in her situation would truly feel. Whatever the reason, the calm fa?ade only cracks twice, once when she gets a slightly sarcastic tone, responding with, "So have I, and afterward they were all so happy." and the second time when he ignores her plea to quit talking about it and she threatens to scream.3"Hills Like White Elephants" is a short story by Ernest Hemingway. It was first published in the 1927 collection Men Without Women. "Hills Like White Elephants" is commonly studied in literature courses because, while brief and accessible, it contains ingenious symbolism, efficient and powerful dialogue, and it deals with universal themes applied to a controversial topic (abortion) which is explored without ever being explicitly stated. These elements combine to make the story an apt introduction to Hemingway's minimalist narrative style, as expressed in his Iceberg Theory. It also illustrates the extent to which setting can contribute to meaning in fiction.
As one of the most famous American writers, Hemingway is of great importance. Through Hills Like White Elephants, a new writing style comes into our minds. Without complexity and elaboration, his works still make perfectly sense. The use of brevity, informality and ambiguity add authenticity and readability to his story.
Firstly, the brevity here has two parts, one is short and easy sentences the other is dialogues. The use of short and easy sentences vivify the scene then and there.The American's "Four reales"(Hemingway,2) and the woman's "With water"(Hemingway,2) all show the colloquial circumstance. They are short but accurate, simple but real. In our daily life we usually use short and easy sentences rather than long and complex sentences to communicate. Because short and easy sentences are of convenience and accuracy. So to the story, it imitates the daily life to make the story real through short and easy sentences.
There are a large amount of dialogu
es in the story which composed most part of the story. For example, the girl talks about "the mountains look like white elephants" three times, but the American's attitude is disagreement and no-respondence. It demonstrates that they have different opinions towards things or even life. From this we can get to know that there's a gap between the two people in what they are thinking. The use of dialogues vividly show the characters' psychology, which also fetch up the scarcity of description of action and expressions. So Hemingway doesn't need to give readers additional description of action and expression. It makes the story much more brief. The brief dialogues fully convince us that the story happens in our daily life.
Secondly, we can acknowledge that the overall expression of the story is informal. Informality not only aides to show the two characters' social status, but also regulates the background information and makes the story authentic. For example, the American's "Dos cervezas"(Hemingway,1) and "Anis del Toro"(Hemingway,1) show that the foreign language is employed by the American. In Chinese daily life, we usually use different dialects, sometimes, different languages. Because using our own dialects has become a habit. In the story the American use Spanish to the servant. Of course, it's very informal, for most of readers don't understand the two Spanish phrases. We can get to know that the story happens in such an informal daily environment which related to Spanish and which makes the story just like a real one happens at anytime in any place around anyone of us.
In a word, the application of brevity, informality and ambiguity perfectly add the authenticity and readability to the story.
Themes
Talking versus Communicating
Although “Hills Like White Elephants” is primarily a conversation between the American man and his girlfriend, neither of the speakers truly communicates with the other, highlighting the rift between the two. Both talk, but neither listens or understands the other’s point of view. Frustrated and placating, the American man will say almost anything to convince his girlfriend to have the operation, which, although never mentioned by name, is understood to be an abortion. He tells her he loves her, for example, and that everything between them will go back to the way it used to be. The girl, meanwhile, waffles indecisively, at one point conceding that she’ll have the abortion just to shut him up. When the man still persists, she finally begs him to “please, please, please, please, please, please” stop talking, realizing the futility of their conversation. In fact, the girl’s nickname, “Jig,” subtly indicates that the two characters merely dance around each other and the issue at hand without ever saying anything meaningful. The girl’s inability to speak Spanish with the bartender, moreover, not only illustrates her dependence on the American but also the difficulty she has expressing
herself to others.
Both the American man and the girl drink alcohol throughout their conversation to avoid each other and the problems with their relationship. They start drinking large beers the moment they arrive at the station as if hoping to fill their free time with anything but discussion. Then, as soon as they begin talking about the hills that look like white elephants, the girl asks to order more drinks to put off the inevitable conversation about the baby. Although they drink primarily to avoid thinking about the pregnancy, readers sense that deeper problems exist in their relationship, of which the baby is merely one. In fact, the girl herself implies this when she remarks that she and the American man never do anything together except try new drinks, as if constantly looking for new ways to avoid each other. By the end of their conversation, both drink alone—the girl at the table and the man at the bar—suggesting that the two will end their relationship and go their separate ways.
Hemingway labored to hide profound meanings between the textual lines, and thus his language is highly symbolic and suggestive.
Narrated in the dramatic third-person point of view, the story reveals very few information about the two protagonists, only recording a brief conversation between them in a small junction station during their journey. Fortunately, Hemingway intentionally leaves a few details to the sensibilities of the readers, allowing them to explore the couple’s words and behaviors laboriously in an attempt to find the meanings submerged beneath the textual lines, and infer the topic of the conversation, their backgrounds and differing attitudes towards the topic.