What Do the Two Rails Symbolize in Hills Like White Elephants?

The two lines of rails in "Hills Like White Elephants" can be interpreted in several ways, adding to the story's complexity and ambiguity.

Possible Interpretations

Two paths: The rails may symbolize the two possible paths the couple's lives could take—one with the child and one without—centered on the decision about abortion.

Diverging perspectives: The man wants the abortion; the woman is hesitant. The rails could represent their opposing viewpoints and communication breakdown.

Inevitability of choice: No matter which way the train travels, it moves forward, symbolizing the inevitable nature of their decision.

Feeling trapped: The confined rails mirror the couple's trapped feelings in their situation with limited options.

Journey to an uncertain future: The train journey is a metaphor for their life together, heading toward an unknown destination.

Hemingway's writing is intentionally ambiguous, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions.

• *Hadden inheemse volkeren paarden voor de komst van Europeanen?
• *Wat betekent 'sterk als een paard'?