June 3, Hills Like White Elephants

1. Looking back on the story, list the evidence that tells what kind of operation Jig is confronting. How risky is it physically and emotionally? He tells her, he doesn't want anyone but her, meaning that without the operation there would be a child. He keeps trying to convince her that he loves her and that she doesn't have to do it if she feels bad about it. He couldn't say that ifthe procedure wasn't optional. The fact that an optional surgical procedure would have so much impact on the nature of their relationship alludes to an abortion.   
2. Are you surprised that this story was written by a man? Why or why not? How might it be different if written by a woman? I'm not surprised at all. A man is as capable as a woman at recognizing complicated, conflicting and nuanced psycho-emotional situations. I honestly don't see it as how different would the story be if written by a woman, but how different the story would be if we looked at it from person to person. I think that everyone would have subtly different outlook on the situation. i also don't think that there's a wholesale feminine and masculine response to anything.
3. Hemingway once suggested that his purpose in such a story is to tell the reader as little as possible directly yet to reveal characters' motives and their conflict. How does this principle operate in this story? Where would you like to have more information (besides "he said" and "she said")? It applies throughout the story, and is shown through the very simple interactions of the couple. it is in a way shown who is in charge, and how is power is used to manipulate his partner. She is shown to be neglegent of her own needs, because it seems that she feels she needs this man's love and approval more than her own.   
4. What is the importance of the setting to the plot of the story?  The setting is important because it shows that they are actually on their way to do this deed. It is impending. There is the feeling that the decision is already made, yet the dialogue gives the impression that the decision could change. For it to change, the setting would then become an even stronger charachter. It would take on a different meaning. It would be denied, resisted, discarded, in a way. Or, its pressure and anxiety  would be immediately transformed into a slap to the cheek that clears ones head.