In literature, the presence of alcohol can play a fundamental role in guiding the themes and perspectives within a given narrative. The characters in Ernest Hemingway's story "Hills Like White Elephants," for example, were heavily intoxicated throughout the work. Because of this, the characters' decisions and reactions to each other are not true to what they actually think and feel, and the outcome of the story is very different from what it might have been if the two characters had been sober. Hemingway uses the presence of alcohol in many of his stories; this one is no exception, as the alcohol acts as a lubricant between the two characters' conversations as well as a point of comparison in the relationship between the two characters. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned"?Get the original essayErnest Hemingway was a very complex and sometimes troubled man: "his personal and public writings reveal evidence suggesting the presence of the following conditions in course of his life. life: bipolar disorder, alcohol dependence, head trauma, and probable borderline and narcissistic personality traits” (Martin 352). Many of the traumas from Hemingway's life seeped into his many works, particularly in that the characters in his stories always seem to have a drink in their hand. Martin comments that "Hemingway's writing can be seen as an adaptive defensive strategy for dealing with painful moods and suicidal impulses" (Martin 359) and that "[he] may have told certain stories in order to soothe the pains that life began in him. » (Martin 359). Hemingway was married and divorced several times during his life and alcohol played a role in divorces on several occasions, such as when his wife Martha found empty liquor bottles under his hospital bed after having a drunk driving accident and suffered a concussion. , which for her “sounded the death knell of her third marriage” (Martin 355). His relationship problems and alcoholism problem were not hidden in his story "Hills Like White Elephants" which features a heavily intoxicated couple, contemplating abortion and quite possibly on the verge of ending the relationship , although he never states it clearly. in history. Although Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants" has major themes about abortion and the couple's relationship, it has major underlying themes about drinking which greatly affected the story in its entirety. The very first sentence spoken in the story concerns alcohol and says, “'What should we drink,' asked the girl” (Hemingway 635). The conversation between the woman, Jib, and the American only begins when they are both having a beer sitting in front of each of them. The couple appear stiff and uncomfortable with each other, only exchanging words about the alcohol they are about to order and the weather. It's only when the beer is placed in front of the two that the conversation begins to flow, seeming to make alcohol the barrier the couple must put between them, both physically and mentally, to feel comfortable. Wormwood plays a very important symbolic role in the story, even though it is only mentioned once in the story. One story line in particular stands out more than the others in establishing the connection between alcohol and the characters. Along these lines, Jib has just tasted a drink called Anis del Toro which contains anise, which tastes like licorice. She states that “it tastes likelicorice” (Hemingway 636), to which the man in turn retorts: “It’s like that with everything” (Hemingway 636). To which Jib responds: “Everything tastes like licorice.” Especially all the things you’ve been waiting for so long, like absinthe” (Hemingway 636). Although this may seem like an insignificant comment, it seems to the woman that she has made a connection between absinthe and "everything" in the couple's relationship (Lanier 286). The absinthe has a very bitter taste representing the bitterness both characters have for each other, so prevalent in the relationship and the bitterness towards each other over the decision they must take regarding abortion (75 weeks). The color of licorice, which is what absinthe tastes like, can also be a great symbol of its darkness in relation to the white hills mentioned by Jib and the symbolic contrast between sadness and joy, joy being new life or a baby, and the sadness of deciding whether to abandon it or not (75 weeks). The "living green color" (Weeks 75) of the absinthe drink itself and the dull, brown, dry contrast of the countryside, symbolizing fertility and infertility and the two opposing sides of the argument for life or death (Weeks 75). Absinthe has been used since 1790 when a French refugee, Dr. Ordinaire, discovered it and was labeled as a narcotic. It is made from the leaves of the wormwood plant, which is the most dangerous ingredient in wormwood and "is capable of producing a potent psychoactive alkaloid that is toxic and extremely harmful to the usual user" (Lanier 282). Europeans were the largest consumers of absinthe, but once exported to the United States, it became popular very quickly. It was just as quickly banned in the United States due to its harmful effects. A violation of the ban came to fruition in 1926, the year before Hemingway wrote “Hills Like White Elephants” (Lanier 283). The drink became illegal and remains illegal in most countries, with the exception of a few, notably Spain where "Hills Like White Elephants" is set. Hemingway, aware of the drink and being a heavy drinker himself, placed the drink in the story knowing the "mental and physical deterioration [the drink] caused" (Lanier 283), using it to relax the spirit of the character. and making it so that their conversation cannot be entirely trusted by the reader, while also using it as a symbol of the couple's deterioration. One reviewer, Doris Lanier, comments that it is "innocent in appearance, seductive and intoxicating, absinthe promises joy, excitement, intoxicating delight, its tantalizing color and taste hides the destructive power that lies within its green opulence." (Lanier 286). . Absinthe was also known for its aphrodisiac powers, which is what Lanier is referring to when he describes it as "seductive." The importance of the story set in Spain is also remarkable. The story was written in 1927, when Prohibition was raging in the United States, many young people were fleeing the United States to chase the party scene, many settling in Spain and other places around the world. Europe where drinking was everyday. Lanier comments that the couple appears to have a "'shallow,' 'rootless,' and 'transient' lifestyle" (Lanier 281) and that their life, represented by their labeled suitcases, is "rootless," "searching for pleasure” and ‘without responsibilities’” (Lanier 281). Absinthe can also be seen as a symbol of not only the couple's relationship, but also their lives. They begin by coming to Spain where they hope to live a free, happy, and exciting life, "seemingly innocent and intoxicating" (Lanier 286), but ending in pain and deterioration.Hemingway also uses alcohol in the story as a way for the man to dismiss Jib's comments and feelings, making the conversation even more tense. Jib comments: "That's all we do, isn't it: look at things and try new drinks?" (Hemingway 636) to which the man responds with a simple “I suppose” (Hemingway 636). Jib is clearly upset when she says this and tries to comment on the "shallowness of their life together" (weeks 76), but the man just accepts and moves on, brushing aside her feelings as if she doesn't never said them in the first place. . It starts again when Jib comments on the hills while once again trying to clarify what she meant. He ignores her statement and simply asks, "Should we have another drink?" ” (Hemingway 636) once again using alcohol as a barrier between him and Jib, creating a way to avoid responding to him. At this point, the couple is delighted to have each drunk a large beer and an Anis del Toro. This allowed the woman to speak freely and gain a certain boldness to express her opinions without hesitation. If the couple had been sober, the conversation between the two might not have gone this far. The American from “Hills Like White Elephants” is determined to convince his girlfriend to have an abortion. The man is frustrated and will say almost anything to convince. Jig to have an operation: "It's really a terribly simple operation... It's not really an operation at all... I know you wouldn't mind, Jig... It's really nothing... It's just for let the air in... It doesn't matter. You shouldn’t be afraid, I’ve known a lot of people who have done it.” He oversimplifies the medical procedure and relentlessly pushes the Girl to do it even though he is not sure that everything will go as planned. We know that abortion in the United States was legalized in 1973, long after the publication of Hemingway's story; this demonstrates that although these types of operations were very common, the procedures were not only illegal but also extremely dangerous. During the 1920s, women often turned on each other. to dangerous and illegal methods to terminate their pregnancies. In this case, the American assumes that nothing serious will happen to his mistress. Just because other people did it and nothing happened to them doesn't mean Jig would have been 100% safe. The most unanswered question in the story is whether or not the couple reaches an agreement on the abortion. The story ends with Jib begging the man to stop talking about it saying "Would you please please please please please 'Please please stop talking?' (Hemingway 638), showing how fed up she is with the conversation and also showing how drunk she is. The story ends with the man bringing the luggage onto the tracks and asking Jib, “Do you feel better” (Hemingway 638), to which she responds “I feel good.” There is nothing wrong with me. I feel good” (Hemingway 638). A clear solution to their argument does not appear to be forthcoming, however, the argument may nonetheless prove invalid due to the large quantities of alcohol Jib consumed, possibly killing the fetus anyway, even though the characters would not have experienced the harmful effects. effects of alcohol back in the day.Keep in mind: This is just a sample.Get a custom paper from our expert writers now.Get a custom essayAlcohol is so prevalent in history that even though the characters seem to talk to each other coherently for the majority of the story, their words cannot be trusted and.