Does anyone have ideas about the concept of “blindness” in Hemmingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants”?0

Question by LucyWillow0607: Does anyone have ideas about the concept of “blindness” in Hemmingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants”?
My English assignment was to read the story “Hills Like White Elephants”, and I absolutely loved it. But then, my prof told us to write a two page essay on the “blindness” in the story, and I can’t really think of any solid theories to discuss on that concept. Does any have any ideas? I really need help!! Thank you!

Best answer:

Answer by Echolalia
You could say that the man (what was his name? it may not have been given) is blind.
The women (forgot her name too) points out all these things going on in the scenery, but he doesn’t see it. The best example is the hills that she sees as white elephants, which he really points out that he doesn’t see.
THe hill that look like white elephants could represent the baby that she is having (it seems she is pregnant and they, especially the man, are getting an abortion).
A white elephant is a gift that it beautiful, and sacred, and precious. However, since the gift is so sacred and special, it is something you can’t get rid of, no matter how bothersome it is. Jig (is that her?) may feel that way about the baby and sees it reflected in the scenery. The man does not see this, he is blind to her potential love for the baby. He is blind to how precious and sacred the baby, and its life, is.
He also seems blind to how upset she seems to be about the situation, thinking she is more nervous about the operation than anything, saying it will just be “letting air in” and nothing else.
Jig herself is also blind. She hopes that they will be happy again after she gets the abortion, even though they are having problems and everything in the story points to the fact that they will never be the same after this. If she keeps the baby everything will change (as the man sees it; he may leave her). If she gets the abortion there seems to be indication, from her behavior and from the foreboding imagery of the scenery, that things will never be the same again between them and she will suffer either way.

BY the foreboding imagery of the scenery (you may not need to mention it) I mean that the area around the station where they are sitting seems to reflect their situation. THere are the white hills (the baby), fertile fields (her), yet there is also dry, arid land. Jig also notices a dark cloud, I believe, which could be foreshadowing either something good (rain=fertility; the baby) or bad (dark clouds are seen as ominous, and she says it looks threatening or something, so it could indicate the abortion).

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