Ernest Hemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants—the story that could be called “Let’s Talk Around the Elephant in the Room (But, Shhh, Don’t Mention It Directly)”. It’s one of those short stories where everything hinges on what isn’t said, and if you’ve ever had a conversation that danced around a huge, life-altering decision without anyone actually coming out and addressing it head-on, then you’ll find this story painfully relatable.
Set in a dusty train station in Spain, the story focuses on a couple having an incredibly tense conversation about—you guessed it—something huge and life-altering, though Hemingway never actually spells it out. The “white elephant” in the room is the topic of abortion, and though the word is never spoken, the story carries an undercurrent of anxiety, tension, and emotional turmoil. It’s classic Hemingway: stripped-down, direct on the surface, but loaded with everything the characters can’t quite bring themselves to say.
The Art of Saying Nothing (But Saying Everything)
In Hills Like White Elephants, the characters dance around the topic at hand like pros in a passive-aggressive tango. The man is trying to persuade the woman to have an abortion, but instead of addressing it head-on, he tiptoes around it, framing it as “a simple operation” that will make their lives easier. The woman, meanwhile, is clearly struggling with the decision but can’t bring herself to directly say how she feels. It’s all “It’s not really that bad” and “I don’t care about me,” but beneath the surface, the tension is thick enough to cut with a knife.
Let’s be honest—haven’t we all been in situations where we’re avoiding saying the one thing that needs to be said? Maybe it’s a conversation with your partner that dances around a tough decision, or that awkward chat with your boss where you’re both pretending that everything’s fine when, deep down, you know there’s an elephant-sized problem sitting between you.
This story is a masterclass in the art of subtext. Hemingway doesn’t lay it all out for you; instead, he lets the characters’ strained dialogue and silences do the heavy lifting. And isn’t that so much like life? So much of what we deal with is hidden beneath the surface, unspoken but deeply felt. Kind of like how I felt the first time I read The Raven again after losing my friend Padraic—there’s grief that can’t be expressed in words, but you feel it in every pause, every unspoken thought.
The Struggle to Communicate
One of the things that makes Hills Like White Elephants so powerful is its depiction of two people who are clearly struggling to communicate with one another. The man wants something very specific—to convince the woman to go through with the abortion. But instead of being direct, he tries to downplay the seriousness of the situation, thinking that will make it easier for her to agree.
The woman, on the other hand, is filled with doubt and uncertainty. She’s not sure what she wants, but she knows that the decision will change everything. You can feel the weight of her internal struggle, even though she never fully articulates it.
Hemingway’s genius here is that he captures the way people talk around things, especially when they’re scared, confused, or unsure of how to express their emotions. We’ve all been there—those moments when we’re trying to keep things light, even though we know something serious is at stake. It’s the emotional equivalent of sticking your head in the sand and hoping the problem will magically resolve itself. (Spoiler: it won’t.)
The White Elephant in the Room
Let’s talk about those “white elephants” for a second—the ones the woman mentions when she’s looking out at the hills. The phrase “white elephant” is usually used to describe something unwanted or burdensome, and in this story, that’s exactly what the pregnancy has become. The hills themselves, with their bulging shapes and stark white color, seem to echo the presence of this unspoken, looming decision.
In modern life, we’ve all got our own white elephants. They’re the tough conversations we avoid, the big decisions we’re too scared to face head-on. Sometimes it’s that nagging feeling that your relationship isn’t working, but you don’t want to say it out loud. Sometimes it’s the realization that your career is draining the life out of you, but changing paths feels terrifying. Whatever it is, it’s there, just like those hills in Hemingway’s story—beautiful, unmovable, and impossible to ignore forever.
And here’s the thing about white elephants: the longer you avoid them, the bigger and more burdensome they become. Hemingway’s characters are caught in a moment where they’re trying to pretend the elephant isn’t there, but it’s clear that no matter what happens, they’ll have to deal with it eventually.
The Power Dynamics
There’s also an undercurrent of power dynamics in Hills Like White Elephants. The man clearly holds more power in the relationship—he’s the one pushing for the decision, framing it as “no big deal,” and trying to maintain control over the situation. The woman, meanwhile, is stuck in a place of uncertainty. She’s grappling with the decision, but she’s also trying to hold on to the relationship, even though she knows deep down that whatever choice she makes, things will never be the same.
It’s a familiar dynamic in relationships where one person wants something that the other isn’t fully on board with, but there’s an imbalance in how much influence each person has. And again, it comes down to communication—or, in this case, the lack of it. Neither of them is being fully honest, and that dishonesty is driving a wedge between them, even as they pretend everything is fine.
Takeaway: You Can’t Ignore the Elephant Forever
So what’s the takeaway from Hills Like White Elephants? It’s this: avoiding tough conversations and dancing around difficult decisions doesn’t make them go away. Whether it’s a relationship issue, a career dilemma, or any other white elephant hanging around in your life, the longer you avoid it, the more it festers. Hemingway’s characters may not be able to confront their issues directly, but we can learn from their mistakes. Sometimes, the only way forward is to face the elephant head-on, no matter how uncomfortable it might be.
Three Actionable Takeaways
- Face the Elephant in the Room: Take a moment to identify any tough conversations or decisions you’ve been avoiding. Whether it’s a relationship issue, a career choice, or something else, make a plan to address it directly instead of dancing around it.
- Communicate Honestly: When you’re faced with a difficult situation, don’t be afraid to be honest about how you feel. Trying to downplay or avoid the issue only creates more tension and confusion in the long run.
- Don’t Let Fear of Discomfort Keep You Stuck: Big decisions are uncomfortable, but staying stuck in limbo is even worse. Take small steps toward confronting the white elephants in your life, and remember that clarity and resolution are worth the discomfort.