Hills Like White Elephants

Jig is referred to as a “girl” throughout the story, even though she is obviously a contemporary of the man. She is pregnant and conflicted about whether to have the operation. To the extent that she (and decisions about her body) are the focus of the story, Jig is the protagonist. She is unsure about terminating her pregnancy and, during the course of the story, considers the possibility of keeping it and what that might mean to both their relationship and their lives. She is more insightful about both the nature of their lifestyle and the future of their relationship than the man is, and she understands the weight of the decision in a way that he cannot seem to grasp.

Although she initially suggests she wants to make her decision based on whether it would appease her partner, she seems fully aware of what they might be missing out on, and she seems much wiser than the man, knowing that things will not return to normal once the pregnancy is terminated, saying only, “We’ll wait and see” (75). Jig moves through several emotional states throughout the story, from cold sarcasm to indecision, to hopefulness, to distress, to deflection.