Hemingway uses a plethora of symbols to convey the idea that the young girl, Jig is ambivalent to having an abortion and that her older American boyfriend does not want to have the baby. Even the title, "Hills Like White Elephants" is a symbol that Jig does not want to have the baby. The "Hills" can refer to the shape of a pregnant women's belly. A white elephant is an unwanted gift, which is now the modern day meaning of a white elephant. She is comparing the hills to her own situation-pregnancy. "They're lovely hills. They really don't look like white elephants. I just meant the coloring of their skin through the trees.” Just as the hills have their distinct beauty to her, she views pregnancy in the same fashion. The man views pregnancy as the opposite. The man wants Jig to have an abortion because he says it will free them from responsibility and keep them the way they are, he does not want to share her, and it will eventually break them up. The fact that the young woman sees an image of white elephants in the hills is significant because she too is carrying something that is precious but still not wanted-a baby.
