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Literature · Analytical

Asking Critical Questions Before Life-Changing Decisions in 'Hills Like White Elephants'

How Hemingway's story models the importance of deliberation in high-stakes choices

482 words2 min readShort essays (under 500 words)76Published Apr 2026

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In relation to the paper I will develop, the following in text citation is to be used: "I know. But if I do it, then it will be nice again if I say things are like white elephants, and you will like it?"(231).

On the documentation page, this is how it will be displayed.

Hemingway, Ernest. "Hills Like White Elephants." Mindtap literature. 2nd ed. N.P.:Cengage,1927.

From the quote I tend to believe that there is a close association between the above quote and the topic which I have considered for research and analysis. The question which should be asked is that, should abortion be legalized? It is because it is critical situation which has taken a central debate in different sovereigns across world economies. When faced with a difficult situation, there is need for asking critical questions to assist in having different point of view to the issue at hand. It is because they invoke the thoughts of the interested parties and ensure that they get the merits and demerits of the actions they are intending to undertake before they actually implement them.

For instance, in this case, when Jig is promised by her boyfriend that abortion will make them happy again by taking them back to where they were at the commencement of their relationship, she became reluctant while she never saw any sense in such promises. She thus viewed the baby as a white elephant in the room. She eventually asks him if at all she was sure that he would have like the move and love her again. However, in literal sense, this was a hoax. It seemed that the boyfriend was not for the marriage and was trying to avoid the responsibility by opting for an abortion. He even cites for her cases of those who have committed such crimes and it proved to be very simple. Conversely, he fails to disclose whether they were happy after the procedure or not.

It thus means that before we take an action especially concerning medical procedures, decision about life, business, nutrition, and social life, then it is very vital to guarantee that the right questions are asked and critical analysis is done to guarantee sober decision making before actual implementations. For instance, Jig would have decided not to travel to Madrid in the first place since she knew that abortion was not a legal procedure and against the catholic doctrines which was dominant in Spain in 1927. We realize that even if they were still on their way to Madrid, she had not made her mind to do it. After asking these questions, they tend to change their mind and move back to Barcelona. They came to realize that abortion is not an appropriate solution to the entire problem which they were facing.

Response to Peer #1

In relation to this post, the author has precisely selected the right quote from the story. The in text citation quote is well presented but it has some hitches. For example, the punctuation of the quote is not right since there is no closing inverted comma. Besides, the author has failed to recognize that the quote has been picked from an already existing literature. It is because he or she have failed to in-text cite the author of the statement he has quoted. These can thus posit damage to its posts given that it can be considered plagiarism. Plagiarism is an exam offense which can cause a student its course or makes them undergo a severe academic punishment. Therefore, the author of the post should always mind revising his or her work before actual posting is done.

However, in relation to the analysis, the author has provided a clear link between the quote and the topic of study. Besides, he has also asked a critical question which intrigues the thoughts of the readers. It is because one can wonder why these people are cancelling their trip to Madrid especially when they were almost there. Does it mean the girl was coerced! or does it mean there was no consensus? The fact remains that there was no consensus since the boyfriend was for abortion while the girl was still meditating whether to do it or not. These posit a lot of dilemma especially when they were in the bar. Moreover, explanation provided also gives a clear indication that eventually abortion was not done given that moving to the opposite side of the station shows that they were going to board a train back to Barcelona where abortion could not take place.

Response to Peer #2

The post is very good and up to standards, there is appropriate punctuations of the quote and the author have recognized the source of the sentences he or she has quoted. It thus shows that when we go to the journal referenced, in page 283, we can retrieve the quote. However, the author of the post has not vividly explained the relationship between the topic which they have chosen and the quote. Besides, he or she has not disclosed the topic and how the quote has motivated them to choose such topics. These make us to remain along the weighing balance not knowing the direction to take. Besides, the author likes the story but does not display the imaginations which she or he might have been holding and how the story will help him in settling it.

Read with the editor
Quality 7.7/105 structural beats2 notes
Writing qualityThe core idea–that critical questions prevent hasty decisions–is sound but underdeveloped. Would benefit from clearer articulation upfront.

Argument structure

  1. Setup
    Introduces the key quotation and its context.
  2. Frame
    Poses abortion legalization as central question.
  3. Evidence
    Examines Jig's reluctance and boyfriend's pressure.
  4. Turn
    Generalizes to all high-stakes decision-making.
  5. Close
    Returns to story–couple changes course.

Editor's notes

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Editor's analysis

What this essay does well, and where it could be stronger.

Rhetorical strengths

Connects Hemingway's indirect dialogue to real-world decision-making stakes
Notes the boyfriend's strategic omissions–cases cited but outcomes hidden
Recognizes the geographic symbolism of the station and directional change

Improvement opportunities

The opening moves through citation mechanics before reaching the argument–consider reversing that order
The phrase 'white elephant in the room' mixes the story's metaphor with an idiom; clarify the distinction
Peer response sections suggest this was a multi-part assignment; main essay would benefit from standalone development

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