Benjamin Steele

English 113

Dr. Gorman

2/9/2016

Question 2

Symbolism is a tool writers can use to imply ideas or qualities by the use of symbols. Stories filled with symbols can turn readers into investigators; keeping an eye out for anything and everything that can have an implied meaning. Raymond Carver, Ernest Hemingway, and John Steinbeck are masters at using symbolism to communicate to their readers. To no surprise these writers also use symbolism in the title of their stories. Three examples of this would be Raymond Carver’s story “Cathedral”, Ernest Hemingway’s story “Hills Like White Elephants”, and John Steinbeck’s story “The Chrysanthemums”. The question is; what is the symbolic meaning behind each of to these story …show more content…
The story is a conversation between the American and his girlfriend Jig while waiting at a train station. Even though it is not stated explicitly, you can infer that Jig is pregnant and that her boyfriend the American is against her having the baby. The reason you have to infer this is because neither the American nor Jig flat out say abortion. Instead the American says “operation” (2). Jig obviously wants to talk about the operation but it seems like the American wants to avoid the conversation. As Jig is looking out over the hills she says “they look like white elephants” (1). The “Hills Like White Elephants” symbolizes what the couple does not want to talk about, which is the abortion of their unborn child. This goes along with the saying “elephant in the room” referring to truth being ignored just like the American avoiding talking about the …show more content…
These stories allow for individual interpretation of symbols engaging readers in critical thinking as they try and determine the hidden meanings to the symbols being used. Weather it’s the “Cathedral” symbolizing don’t judge based off appearance; “Hills Like White Elephants” symbolizing an un wanted gift; and “The Chrysanthemums” symbolizing gender inequality; these interpretations may vary from reader to reader which is what makes symbolism so