a sarjana pendidikan research paper to obtain the …

AN ANALYSIS OF AMERICAN MAN’S AND JIG’S PERSONALITY

IN ERNEST HEMINIGWAY’S SHORT STORY “HILLS LIKE WHITE

ELEPHANTS”

A SARJANA PENDIDIKAN RESEARCH PAPER

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree

in English Language Education

By

Dewi Anisyah

Student Number: 111214162

ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM

DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION

FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRACINING AND EDUCATION

SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY

YOGYAKARTA

2018

PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

A Sarjana Pendidikan Research Paper on

AN ANALYSIS OF AMERICAN MAN'S AND JIG'S PERSONALITYIN ERNEST HEMINIGWAY'S SHORT STORY "IDLLS LIKE WIDTE

ELEPHANTS"

ByDewi Anisyah


Approved by

Advisor

Concilianus Laos Mbato M.A., Ed.D.

ii

Date

April 5,2018


AN ANALYSIS OF AMERICAN MAN'S AND JIG'S PERSONALITYIN ERNEST HEMINIGWAY'S SHORT STORY "HILLS LIKE WHITE

ELEPHANTS"

ByDewi Anisyah


Defended before the Board ofExaminersOn April 12,2018

and Declared Acceptable

Board of Examiners

Chairperson : Yohana Veniranda S.Pd., MHum., MA., Ph.D.~

Secretary : Christina Lhaksmita Anandari S.Pd., Ed.M

Member : Concilianus Laos Mbato M.A., Ed.D.

Member

Member

: Dr. Emanuel Sunarto M.Hum.

: Truly Almendo Pasaribu S.S., MA.

~( •

~

iii


STATEMENT OF WORK'S ORIGINALITY

I honestly declare that this research paper, which I have written, does not contain the

work or parts of the work of other people, except those cited in the quotations and the

references, as a scientific paper should.

Yogyakarta, April 12, 2018

The Writer

iv


LEMBARPERNYATAANPERSUTUJUAN

PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS

Yang beltanda tangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma:

NamaNomor Mahasiswa

: Dewi Anisyah:111214162

Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada PerpustakaanUniversitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul:

AN ANALYSIS OF AMERICAN MAN'S ANDERNEST HEMINIGWAY'S SHORT· STORYELEPHANTS"

JIG'S PERSONALITY IN"HILLS LIKE WHITE

Beserta perangkat yang diperlukan.Dengan demikian saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharmahak untuk menyimpan, mengalihkan dalam bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalambentuk pangkalan data, mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya diIntemet atau media lain untuk ~epentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin darisaya maupun memberikan royalty kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan namasaya sebagai penulis.

Demikian pemyataan ini yang saya buat dengan sebenamya.

Dibuat di YogyakartaPada tanggal : 12 April 2018

Dewi

v


vi

ABSTRACT

Anisyah, Dewi. (2018). An Analysis Of American Man’s And Jig’s Personality In

Ernest Hemingway’s Short Story “Hills Like White Elephants”. Yogyakarta: Sanata

Dharma.

Hills like White Elephants, a short story written by Ernest Hemingway, is

mainly constructed in dialogues between characters with less narration and

description. Speaking of which, analyzing the characteristics of the main characters in

the short story requires deep understanding of the dialogues and the flow of the story.

The objective of the research was to find out the personality of the American Man

and Jig who are the main characters in the short story. The theory of characterization

especially through Lubis’ ways in describing characters and Edmund Freud’s

psychoanalytic theory of personality, especially the devices of protection, were used

as the approach in analyzing the personality of the main characters.

The result of the research showed that the personality of American man was

shown through his reactions to the existing situation and his on-going conversation

with Jig throughout the story, which revealed him as a sarcastic, easily getting

frustrated and very insistent man. Moreover, Jig’s personality was shown through her

reaction to events, discussion of the environment, and her portrayal of thought stream

or of conscious, which revealed her as an ignorant-when she avoids confrontation-,

dependent, silent-when she is not comfortable-, and unconfident girl.

Keywords: theory of characterization, psychoanalytic theory of personality,

personality, characters, short story


vii

ABSTRAK

Anisyah, Dewi. (2018). An Analysis Of American Man’s And Jig’s Personality In

Ernest Hemingway’s Short Story “Hills Like White Elephants”. Yogyakarta: Sanata

Dharma.

Hills like White Elephants, sebuah cerita pendek yang ditulis oleh Ernest

Hemingway, tersusun atas dialog antar tokoh utama dengan narasi dan deskripsi yang

sedikit. Oleh karena itu, menganalisa karakteristik tokoh utama memerlukan

pemahaman mendalam terhadap dialog dan alur cerita.Tujuan penelitian ini adalah

untuk mengetahui kepribadian Pria Amerika dan Jig yang merupakan tokoh utama

dalam cerita pendek tersebut. Teori penokohan, terutama cara-cara Lubis dalam

mendeskripsikan karakter,dan teori psikoanalisis Sigmund Freud tentang kepribadian,

terutama mekanisme pertahanan diri, digunakan sebagai pendekatan dalam

menganalisa kepribadian tokoh utama.

Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa kepribadian Pria Amerika ditunjukan

melalui reaksinya terhadap situasi yang ada dan percakapannya dengan Jig pada

keseluruhan cerita, yang mengungkapkan bahwa dia adalah seorang pria yang

sarkastik, cepat frustasi, dan sangat gigih. Selain itu, kepribadian Jig di tunjukkan

melalui reaksinya terhadap peristiwa yang ada, diskusi tentang lingkungan, dan

gambaran pemikiran dan kesadarannya, yang mengungkapkan bahwa dia adalah

seorang gadis yang cuek – ketika menghindari konfrontasi-, tidak mandiri, pendiam –

ketika dia sedang tidak nyaman-, dan tidak percaya diri.

Kata kunci: teori penokohan, teori psikoanalisis tentang kepribadian, kepribadian,

karakter, cerita pendek


viii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First of all, I would like to praise Almighty God I can finally finish my research

paper. I would like to say my special gratitude to my honorable thesis advisor,

Concilianus Laos Mbato, M.A., Ed.D. who has guided me in the process of making

this thesis. Furthermore I would like to extend my gratitude to all PBI lecturers whose

knowledge and guidance have been provided for me all these years.

My special gratitude goes to my beloved parents, Suwarto and Busriyah, for

providing me such a great love in my entire life.

I would also want to thank my special friends since I in PBI 2011 which for

days and months we have spent to finish my final paper, for helping me out of

difficuties, and for struggling together through subjects and assignments and I’m so

blessed having friends too like Theofilli Ellin Rizana and Ellyza Roheta Putri who

always supporting me until finish my thesis.

I would also thank everyone whom I cannot mention one by one. You have

been a great hand for me all this time. May God bless you all.

Dewi Anisyah.


ix

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE .......................................................................................... i

APPROVAL PAGES .............................................................................. ii

STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY ....................................... iv

PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI ........................................ v

ABSTRACT ............................................................................................ vi

ABSTRAK ................................................................................................ vii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................... viii

TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................ ix

CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION ............................................................ 1

A. Background .......................................................................... 1

B. Approach of the Study.......................................................... 3

CHAPTER II.DISCUSSION ................................................................... 6

A. Review of Related Literature ............................................... 6

1. Short Story........................................................................ 6

2.Theory of Characterization................................................ 12

3. Psychoanalytic Theory of Personality .............................. 15

4. Synopsis of the Short Story .............................................. 17

B. Finding ................................................................................. 19

1. Personality of the American Man..................................... 19

2. Personality of Jig .............................................................. 22

3. The Relationship between Jig and the American Man ..... 26


x

CHAPTER III.CONCLUSIONS ............................................................. 28

REFERENCES ........................................................................................ 30

APPENDIX ............................................................................................. 32


1

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

This chapter contains the general idea of the study. There are two sub-

chapters in this part. They are the background and approach of the study. The

background is about the reasons that lead the writer to choose the topic, the focus,

the objectives and the significance of the study. The approach of the study

consists of description of object of the study and the general procedure in

conducting the research about the topic and in writing this research paper.

A. BACKGROUND

Short story is a brief, imaginative narrative, describing one single incident

and single character. It contains a plot, a compressed detail, and a single

impression which has been organized. Poe says in Roberts and Jacob (p. 49),

“Short story is a short, concentrated story which was ideal for producing this kind

of powerful impression.” Furthermore, Roberts and Jacob (p. 49) also say that

short story concentrates on a single character in a single situation at a single

moment. In a literary word, including shorty story, intrinsic element plays an

important role. Rene Welleck and Austin Warren (p. 139) state that intrinsic

elements in literary product include characters, themes, conflicts, and plot.

Character is found in any in literary work like drama, narrative poetry, novel

or short stories. The character is creation of images of imaginary person. Perrine

(1974) states that characters can be described as major and secondary character. A


2

short story has major character and only a few secondary characters. The writer of

a short story builds the story based on the major character. Short story has the

protagonist and often an antagonist. The main character could be the protagonist,

hero, even antihero of the story. The antagonist is the villain or opposing side in

the story. The protagonist is always in conflict with the antagonist of the story.

In order to be able to determine and analyze the characters, a writer uses

characterization. According to Rohrberger and Woods (p. 13), “characterization is

not only related to the selection of personality, but the way it is described to

facilitate the whole understanding of story”. In short story, the writer can use

direct and indirect characterization. Direct characterization refers to the way the

writer depicts the character’s personality using a narrator, another character, or the

main character himself/herself. On the other hand, indirect characterization is

related to the way the writer revealing to the reader what the character’s

personalities are. The personality can be seen through the thoughts, feeling, and

actions of the character. Inside the indirect characterization, the writer can use

dialogue in depicting the character’s personality.

In this research paper, the writer uses a short story written by Ernest

Hemingway entitled Hills Like White Elephants as the object of the study. The

analysis will be focusing on finding the main characters’ personality. This short

story was first published in August 1927, in the literary magazine Transition, then

later in the 1927 it was published in short story collection Men Without Women.

According to writer’s personal opinion, this short story is unique since almost the

whole story plot – from the first until the end of story - is packed in dialogues. It


3

has less narration and description. Therefore, the writer is interested in this story

and decided to choose it as the object of the study.

Moreover, since the short story is packed in the form of dialogues, it is

assumed that it would be hard to analyze the characteristics of the main characters

in the short story because it needs a deep understanding of the dialogues and the

flow of the story. Therefore, the writer decided to focus on analyzing the main

characters and choosing the title An Analysis of American Man’s and Jig’s

Personality in Ernest Hemingway’s Short Story; Hills like White Elephants.

Due to the fact that the shorty story is in dialogue, analyzing the main

characters’ personality would be challenging and encouraging. This research

paper can be very helpful for future researchers also. They can focus on revealing

characters of short story through dialogue and this also can be a reference for

teaching materials especially in reading.

Therefore, there are two research questions in this research paper:

1. What is the personality of the American Man in Ernest

Hemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants?

2. What is the personality of Jig in Ernest Hemingway’s Hills like

White Elephants?

B. APPROACH OF THE STUDY

The writer uses this selected short story Hills Like White Elephant written

by Ernest Hemingway in 1927. It is a story of an American man and a girl,

waiting at a Spanish railway station for the express train that would take them to

Madrid. The story is opened in a brief description of the setting;


4

“The hills across the valley of the Ebro were long and white. On this side

there was no shade and trees and the station was between two lines of

rails in the sun. Close against the side of the station there was the warm

the shadow of the building and a curtain, made of strings of bamboo

beads, hung across the open door into the bar, to keep out flies. …”(p.211)

They drank more than one bottle of beer sitting in the hot shade and

discussing "a simple operation" for the girl as what the American man said will

be. Through long dialogues created by Hemingway, it is known that the man,

while insisting the girl to have the operation, said again and again that he really

did not want her to do it if she really did not want to. However, he clearly was

insisting the girl to do so. The girl was trying to be brave but she was clearly

afraid of committing herself to having the operation. She tried to go out of the

tensed conversation by saying that the hills beyond the train station "look like

white elephants". She hoped that saying such a thing would please the man, but it

did not work. The man kept on talking and talking while the woman asked him to

stop talking. Finally, the express train arrived and they prepared to go in. The girl

told the man that she was fine but actually she was lying. She said what the man

wanted to hear. Nothing was solved between the American man and the girl. The

tension of the conversation remained till the end.

The story is developed through dialogues. Ernest Hemingway, the short

story writer, only provided one paragraph of detail description for the setting.

Other than that, dialogues appear. In order to be able to analyze the characters and

characterization, the theory of characterization was used to approach the short

story in analyzing the personality of the main characters. The characterization


5

method used is indirect one since the whole short story is constructed in

dialogues.

Moreover, one of modern personality theories suggested by Sigmund Freud,

who is popular with his idea of psychoanalytic theory was also used in the

analysis of main characters. He believed that the most behaviors are caused by

thoughts, ideas and wishes that are in a person’s brain. (Griggs, p. 279). By using

the devices in this theory, which are rationalization, projection, sublimation,

reaction formation, displacement, denial, and regression, the writer would be able

to classify the reaction which indicates the main characters’ personality into those

devices. Having said that, the writer will be able to identify further and deeper

about their depiction of personality.

The writer conducted this research by doing some steps, which are:

1. Reading the whole short story to get deeper understanding

2. Selecting the significant information in the dialogue which may

refers to the personality of the main characters

3. Conducting library research in theory of characterization, and the

psychoanalytic theory of personality to be able to analyze

personality of the main characters in the short story

4. Analyzing the main characters using the approach chosen

5. Dragging correct conclusion

6. Writing the research paper.


6

CHAPTER II

DISCUSSION

This chapter contains the theory and the finding. There are two sub-chapters in

this part. They are the review of related literature and the finding. In the review of

related literature, the writer would depict the synopsis of the short story and the

description of what short story is and its elements.

A. Review of related literature

1. Short Story

Short story is an independent type of text at the end of the eighteenth century,

which is parallel to development of the novel. Short story has never actually achieved

the status held by length fiction. According to Klarer:

“A crucial feature commonly identified with the short story is its

impression of unity since it can be read-in contrast to the novel-in one

sitting without interruption. Due to restriction of length, the plot of the

short story has to be highly selective, entailing an idiosyncratic

temporal dimension that usually focuses on one central moment of

action.” (p. 14)

Short story deals with important elements that build the story itself. All of

these elements create a sensible story. The elements are theme, plot, setting, character

and point of view (Nurgiyantoro, 2002, p. 10)

Short story as a part of literary works is interesting to be analyzed. Although it

has a quite short plot, a fewnumbers of characters and a few places and time as


7

setting, the story can be fully developed. There are many short stories that have been

analyzed. Typically, the analysis is related to intrinsic elements of the story.

a. Classification of Short Story

A short story can be classified based on its number of words. According to

Kurtus (2007), fiction, including short story, is classified into:

1) Short-short story

A short-short story consists of 500 and 1500 words in length. It tells a

complete story. It contains characters, setting, conflict and resolution. Usuallythe

short-short story has surprise endings.A subject of the short story is micro fiction,

which only consists of around 300 words. Every word depicted is essential to the

story. There is no room for detailed description.

2) Short story

A short story focuses on one setting, less complex than novels and has one

single accident. Typically, a short story ranges from 2000 to 7500 words in length.

They have a small number of characters. A shortstory may also have a surprise

ending. According to Klarer (1998) “The short story, concise form of prose fiction,

has received less attention from literary scholars than the novel. As with the novel,

the roots of the short story lie in antiquity and the middle ages”.


8

b. Intrinsic Elements of Short Story

Intrinsic elements of short story are veryessential.These elements will put the

reader into the story. The elements of short story are theme, plot, setting, character

and characterization, style and point of view. According to Klarer (1998, p. 15), the

most important elements are plot(describing what happens), character(describing who

are the people in the story), narrative perspective(regarding who sees what), and

setting(telling where and when the events take place)

1) Plot

Klarer (1998, p. 15) suggests that plot is the logical interaction of the various

thematic elements of a text which leads to a change of the original situation as

presented at the outset of the narrative. Meanwhile, according to E.M. Forster (1927),

plot organizers a narrative of events according to the “sense of causality.”

Plot is a sequence of events to convey the story and according to Klarer

(1998, p. 15), an ideal tradition plot line consists of the following four sequential

levels; exposition - compilation - climax - resolution.

Further, as explained by Klarer (1998, p. 15), the exposition or presentation of

the initial situation is disturbed by a compilation or conflict which produces suspense

and eventually leads to a climax, crisis, or turning point. The climax is followed by a

resolution of a compilation.


9

2) Character

Klarer (1998, p. 17) defines that typed character in literature is dominated by

one specific character referred to as a flat character, and term round character usually

depicts a character in more complex and differentiated ways. In short story, character

that commonly appears is flat character as it only presents the essential time of the

major character.

A character is divided into 7 aspects

1. Physical description

2. Portrayal of though

3. Reaction to events

4. Direction author analysis

5. Discussion of environment

6. Reaction of other about the character

7. Conversation of other about the character (Lubis, 1960)

In novel or short story character is the number on its narration but the

character is limited. Whereas, Jones (1968) as cited in Nurgiyantoro (2002, p. 165)

states:” character is illustration of someone it appear on its narrations”.

It is explained, furthermore, in Dunn & Morris (1965) that in short story the

focus is usually on one character; other characters only play role to emphasize the

major character’s personality. This statement differentiates the position between the


10

major characters and the supporting characters. There is also statement by

Galsworthy (1925) that the main concern of most authors is character. Galsworthy

said, “Action and dialogue will take care of themselves” (p.108). It means that

characters especially the major characters are created carefully by the author to

present most of the idea in a short story and make it important.

The type of character based on its role in developing of plot is divided into

main character and supporting character (Nurgiyantoro, 2002, p. 178). The character

that has the significant role in the story is called as main character. The main

character takes role in most parts of the plot or events occurred in the story. While

the character who does not have the significant role because its presence in the story

is only to complete and support the main character is named supporting character.

Author uses it to clarify characterization of main character by showing natures of the

supporting character that contrast with the main character.

The type of character based on the function of its role in the story can be

categorized into the protagonist and the antagonist (Nurgiyantoro, 2002, p. 178).

When the conflict arises in the story, the protagonist is the good guy or the hero,

while the antagonist is bad guy or the villain.

Character is an important element in a story. It is a messenger of author in

conveying a message of the story. Abrams (p. 23-24) states:

“Characters are the persons presented in a dramatic or narrative

work, who are interpreted by the reader as being endowed with

moral, dispositional, and emotional qualities that are expressed in


11

what they say-the dialogue-and by what they do-the action. The

grounds in the characters’ temperament, desires, and moral nature

for their speech and actions are called motivation. A character may

remain essentially “stable,” or unchanged in outlook and

disposition. …. Whether a character remains stable or changes, the

reader of a traditional and realistic work expects “consistency”-the

character should not suddenly break off and act in a way not

plausibly grounded in his or her temperament”

A writer may use a character for some purposes. A character may do

‘uncharacteristic’ things in order to fulfil the plot. For the author a character may be

related with actions or objects for a purpose connected with the theme of the novel; a

character may say things so that the reader can be told something. Characterization is

image created to show the readers that the characters seem real.The character itself is

built in a combination of mind, impression, and acts.

3) Point of View

Klarer (1998) states, that “narrative perspective or point of view characterizes

the ways in which a text presents persons, events, and settings. The action of a text is

either mediated through an exterior unspecified narrator (omniscient point of view)

though a person involved in the action (first person narration), or presented without

additional commentary (figural narrative situation)”.

4) Setting

In short story, setting is the place, time, and circumstance which play role as

scene where the story takes place. Setting can be distinguished into setting of place,

time and culture (Nurgiyantoro, p. 102). The setting of place physically is a place


12

where events in a story occurred. Presentation of this setting of place is supported

also by describing of things located in narration.

The setting of time describes whether the story occurs in present, past or

uncertain times. The setting of culture describes society conditions, social group and

their attitude, custom, life style and language used in events of the story.

According to Merriam-Webster, setting is the time and place of the action of a

literary, dramatic, or cinematic work (Merriam Webster online, 2009). Moreover, it is

defined that setting depicts the location, historical period, and social surrounding in

which the action of a text develops (Klarer, p. 25). The same definition is stated by

Kurtus(2007), that setting is the location and time which create the mood and

atmosphere of the story.

2. Theory of Characterization

Characterization is the process of an author creating character in a story.

Perrine (1984) states that characterization as the presentation of the character nature,

image creation or illustration of one who becomes the characters in the story as the

characters are consistent in their behavior, clearly motivated in whatever they do, and

are life-like.According to Rohrberger and Woods in Alex Wolloch’s “The one vs. the

many” (1971), “characterization is not merely related to the selection of personality,

but the way it is described to facilitate the whole understanding of story” (p. 13).


13

There is an idea about how the reader can understand the identification of

characters. If the reader identifies the main character early in the story, he will

understand more accurately the relationship among the characters.

According to Kenney (1966, p. 34) the method of characterization is classified

into five methods, which are:

1) Discursive Method

In this method, the author tells the reader about their approval and

disapproval of character. This method is critiqued due to its intrinsically

inferior way to the other methods. What is best about this method is its

directness.

2) Dramatic Method

In this method, the author will allow the characters to reveal themselves

through their own actions and words. Therefore, the reader must be alert to

find the characteristics, while the author should be really skillful in depicting

the indirect personality exposure. The showing can also be done through

their gesture, physical appearance, costume, habitual phrases, speech

mannerism and vocation.

3) Characters on other characters method

In this method, one character in a story talks about another character. But

this kind of information is not reliable because the tendency of telling is also

influenced by feeling and situation.


14

4) The contextual method

This method reveals the characters by the verbal context surrounds the

characters. Therefore, the reader should conclude, that if the character is

constantly described the character, the author is trying to tell something.

5) Mixing Method

This method applies all the methods based on effectiveness. Moreover, it is

rarely found that an author only focuses on one particular method in revealing

the characters. Therefore, this is the most effective way.

Furthermore, according to Lubis in Tarigan (pp. 133-134) the author must be

able to describe the personality of the character as clear as possible. There are several

ways that are used by the author in describing the character:

1) Physical Description (Bentuklahirdaripelakon)

2) Portrayal of thought stream or of conscious thought (jalanpikiranpelakon)

3) Reaction to events(reaksipelakonterhadapkejadian-kejadian)

4) Direct author analysis (pengaranglangsungmenganalisapelakon)

5) Discussion of the environment (pengarangmelukiskankeadaansekitarpelakon)

6) Reactionof other character (pengarang melukiskan bagaimana pandangan

pelakonlain dalamsuatuceritaterhadappelakonutama)

7) Conversation of the characters

(pelakonlainnyadalamsuatuceritamemperbincangkankeadaanpelakonutama)


15

3. Psychoanalytic Theory of Personality

Sigmund Freud, the founder of modern personality theories develops the idea

of psychoanalytic theory. He believed that the most behaviors are caused by thoughts,

ideas and wishes that are in a person’s brain (Griggs, p. 279).

In psychoanalytic theory, Freud suggested some devices which can be used in

in noticing the personality of characters and the relation between characters(Griggs,

pp. 282-283). Those devices are

a. Rationalization

This rationalization happens when consciouness creates a well-sounding

reason to explain things that one hates or is not fond of. It can be seen from a

situation where one fails in a test but putting blame on others or judging

teacher’s unfairness in giving certain assignment if one is not able to complete

such assignment.

Here, the rationalization protects people against their anxiety.When

certain situations turn unexpectedly, we start convincing ourselves that the

thing is better that way. However, apart from being “rational”, this devices

suggests opposite way. It is “rationalizing”. We are not being objective in this

case. We are making up a “good-sounding” reason instead of the objective

one, for calming down the anxiety.

b. Projection

In projection case, some thoughts, feelings, and actions considered wrong

in our perception, will be projected onto others instead of on ourselves. As the


16

example: If we realize that certain things we do is wrong, we will claim that

others have done the same. If there is a feeling that we have but considered to

be wrong, we will judge others on having the same feeling as well. What we

say about others might be what actually true about us. That is a projection.

c. Sublimation

The sublimation happens when our negative or unwanted emotions,

thoughts, and feelings are redirected into a more positive way which is more

socially accepted. For instance, the feeling of anger towards something, can

be shown in how we might turn to wash our motorscycle vigorously. The

most obvious example is how painters, musicians, or poetssublimate their

emotions in the form of paintings, musical lyrcis and poetry. Sublimations

helps people to redirect the unpleasant feelings into more acceptable actions.

d. Reaction formation

People have their own energy to do whatever they want. Sometimes, it

turns to be something so threatening that there should be away to neutralize

the “threatening” part. As an example, if a person has desire of drinking

alcohol, the person will conversely think that drinking alcohol is a sin, the

person will do everything he can, to grow hatred towards drinking alcohol.

That is reaction formation.

e. Displacement

This kind of protection shows how a person unconscious wishes could

appear in the dreams but not exactly like the wishes. The wishes appear in


17

disguise. A girlfriend who is angry at her boyfriend might dream that she

smasher her boyfriend’s favorite stuff. The action of smashing the stuff is the

displacement of the anger. Apart of just a dream, the displacement could be

something real.

f. Denial

This defense mechanism explains that when a person feels the horrible

emotions, feelings and thoughts, he or she will just simply deny producing

more anxiety. The term ‘denial’ best refers to people who obviously deal with

high anxiety or depression. They simply deny that they have those kinds of

problems.

g. Regression

When people are under the state of trauma or stress due to horrible

experiences, they might return to the earlier forms of the way they behave and

think. This is called regression.

4. Synopsis of the short story

“Hills like White Elephants” opens with a long description of the story’s

setting in a train station surrounded by hills, fields, and trees in a valley in Spain. A

man known simply as the American and his girlfriend, sit at a table outside the

station, waiting for a train to Madrid.

It is hot, and the man ordered beers. The girl suddenly said that the nearby

hills looked like white elephants, to which the American responded that he had never

seen one. The American mocked the girl saying that she was only having fun and


18

then commented on her earlier comment by saying the hills did not actually look like

white elephants to her anymore.

They ordered more drinks, and the American man mentioned about an

operation. The man wanted the girl, whom he called “Jig,” to have an operation. He

actually really mentioned about what kind of operation he meant. He argued that the

operation would be simple, for example, even the procedure really wasn’t an

operation at all. The girl said nothing for a while, but then she asked what could

possibly happen after having the operation. The man answered that things would be

fine, just like they were before, and it would fix their problems.

The man always claimed that he had known a lot of people who had been

through the operation and found happiness after the operation. The girl agreed with

him, though she looked dispassionate. The American kept saying that that he would

not force her to have the operation but at the same time, he also thought that it was

the best action to take. She told him that she would have the operation as long as the

man would still love her and they would be able to live happily together afterward

referring to what the American mentioned.

The man emphasized that he cared so much for the girl a lot, but she said she

did not care about what happened to her. The American weakly said about not taking

the operation if that was really the way she wanted to. When it comes to the end, the

girl walked to the end of the station, looked at the scenery, and wondered whether

they really could be happy if she had the operation. They argued for a while until the

girl got tired and asked the American to stop talking.


19

After finishing their drinks, the American took their bags to the

platform and then walked back to the bar. He asked the girl whether she felt better.

She said she felt fine and that there was nothing wrong with her.

B. Finding

Characterization is an essential component in writing good literature.

Modern fiction, in particular, has taken great advantage of this literary device. A good

use of characterization always leads the readers or audience to relate better to the

events taking place in the story. Dialogues play a very important role in developing a

character because they give us an opportunity to examine the motivations and actions

of the characters more deeply.

Hemingway’s use of dialogue in “Hills Like White Elephants” establishes the

relationship between the man and the “girl” while revealing their incompatibility

through the man’s scornful and humiliating statements and the girl’s desire to please

and impress the man. The dialogue further reveals the differences between the values

of the girl, Jig, and the man. This particularly shows the dramatic method by Kenney,

which shows that an author reveals characters in his or her story through their words

and actions.

1. Personality of the American Man

Most of the American man’s personality is shown through his reaction to events

and discussion of the environment as stated by to Lubis in Tarigan (pp. 133-134).


20

a. The American man is a sarcastic person.

From the second exchange of dialogue between the man and Jig, Hemingway

introduces the man’s scornful tone toward Jig, as he crudely points out a flaw in one

of her remarks.

“‘They look like white elephants,’ she said. ‘I’ve never seen one,’ the man

drank his beer. ‘No, you wouldn’t have.’ ‘I might have,’ the man said.

‘Just because you say I wouldn’t have doesn’t prove anything’

(Hemingway, 211).

Within the first few paragraphs, Hemingway begins to reveal disagreement in

their relationship, which Mary Dell Fletcher identifies, stating, “Their talk is empty,

meaningless (17). The man seems to be sarcastic, compared to the pleasant and

innocent Jig.

This shows that the man indicates a reaction formation. Firstly, the man said that

he had never seen one (the hills which looked like white elephants indicated by Jig)

but suddenly he turned his conversation that “I might have, …just because you say I

wouldn’t have doesn’t prove anything” after that woman insisted he might not be able

to see that. The writer believed that the man was being rational but the way he

responded the first time has shown some tension, so to neutralize that, he indicated

the reaction formation, which turned to be sarcastic.

b. The American man easily got frustrated.

The man’s growing frustration and Jig’s apparent youth and desire to please

him became more evident as the dialogue progresses.

“’Yes,’ said the girl. ‘Everything tastes of liquorice. Especially all the

things you’ve waited so long for, like absinthe.’


21

‘Oh, cut it out.’

‘You started it,’ the girl said. ‘I was being amused. I was having a fine

time.’

‘Well, let’s try and have a fine time.’

‘All right. I was trying. I said the mountains looked like white elephants.

Wasn’t that bright?’

‘That was bright.’

‘I wanted to try this new drink. That’s all we do, isn’t it – look at things and

try new drinks?’

‘I guess so.’”(211)

Jig’s playful comments had begun to annoy the man – he appears more

stressed with her remarks. When he asked her to stop teasing, Jig tried to calm him by

saying again that she was just joking. She was “having a fine time.” The man’s

response, ‘Well, let’s try and have a fine time,’” indicated that the man did not enjoy

the situation at all but trying hard to go to Jig’s way of having “a fine time”. This is

another reaction formation.

c. The American man is very insistent.

Jig became more irritated at the man’s inability to stop discussing the operation,

and she finally asked to stop the conversation. The man continued, “You’ve got to

realize,’ he said, ‘that I don’t want you to do it if you don’t want to. I’m perfectly

willing to go through with it if it means anything to you.’ ‘Doesn’t it mean anything

to you? We could get along,’” Jig asks (Hemingway 214). At this point, Jig

acknowledges a flaw in their relationship. By informing the man that they “could get

along,” Jig implied that they currently do not get along, but that it was possible that

they could get along. The man replies:


22

“Of course it does. But I don’t want anybody but you. I don’t want anyone

else. And I know it’s perfectly simple.’

‘Yes, you know it’s perfectly simple.’

‘It’s all right for you to say that, but I do know it.’

‘Would you do something for me now?’

‘I’d do anything for you.’

‘Would you please pleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease stop talking?”

(Hemingway 214)

The last sentence from Jig showed that how annoyed Jig was for the man kept

talking about the same thing again and again. It indicated that he was so insistent

about Jig got the operation.

In the way of being such an insistent man by asking Jig to do that “perfectly

simple” thing actually shows how the man projects the situation. He must have

realized that the incoming deeds that he suggested Jig does might be something

which upset Jig the most, so he indicated a projection. Before the conversation quoted

above, American man said to Jig “I know we will. You don’t have to be afraid. I’ve

known lots of people that have done it.” The man was projecting the situation onto

others claiming that others have done the same.

2. Personality of Jig

Most of Jig’s personality is shown through her reaction to events, discussion

of the environment, and her portrayal of thought stream or of conscious thought as

stated by to Lubis in Tarigan (pp. 133-134).

a. Jig tends to be ignorant person when she avoids confrontation.

“They look like white elephants,’ she said. ‘I’ve never seen one,’ the man

drank his beer. ‘No, you wouldn’t have.’ ‘I might have,’ the man said.

‘Just because you say I wouldn’t have doesn’t prove anything’


23

(Hemingway, 211). “The girl looked at the bead curtain. ‘They’ve painted

something on it,’ she said. ‘What does it say?’ ‘Anis del Toro. It’s a drink.’

‘Could we try it?’” (Hemingway 211).

Jig did not respond to the man’s comment; she ignored it by focusing on a

new topic: the painted curtain. Jig avoided any confrontation by changing the topic

showing that she accepted or cometo learn and accept that the man underestimated

her.

The way Jig suddenly switched the conversation actually showed sublimation as

suggested by Sigmund Freud in psychoanalytic theory of personality. She realized

that the man being sarcastic and she had been overwhelmed with the situation she had

so she sublimated the emotion into an artistic opinion she might think she is good at.

The unpleasant feeling she has is turned into a more acceptable way of showing it.

b. Jig is very dependent on the man.

‘They’ve painted something on it,’ she said. ‘What does it say?’ ‘Anis del Toro.

It’s a drink.’ ‘Could we try it?’” (Hemingway 211).

This situation showed how Jig relied on the man. Not only was Jig unable to

read or speak the language in Ebro (the location of the train station), but Jig felt the

need to ask the man if “we could try it?” By using “we” instead of “I” to ask the

question. Here Hemingway wants to show usthat Jig was (and probably financial) in

total dependence to the man. To please the man, Jig was not thinking for herself.

Again, to please him, Jig called attention to her earlier remark, “They look

like white elephants,’ asking, “Wasn’t that bright?’” (211) Jig’s question reveals her


24

insecurity about her own intelligence and her need to demonstrate her intelligence to

the man. She seeks his approval on whether or not the simile was clever.

Jig being dependent to the American man is a displacement of her anxiety.

Edmund Freud suggested that displacement is how a certain feeling is displaced into

certain object or another person (Griggs, pp. 282-283). Jig feels the anxiety to the

man, so instead of displacing the emotion to something else, she shows it to the man,

by being someone who was so persistent before turning into being so dependent.

c. Jig tends to be silent when she is not comfortable.

As the dialogue continues, the man began to discuss the possibility of the

“operation”, and it was clear that he wished for Jig to have one.

“It’s really an awfully simple operation, Jig,” the man said. ‘It’s not

really an operation at all.’

The girl looked at the ground the table legs rested on.

“I know you wouldn’t mind it, Jig. It’s really not anything. It’s just to let the

air in.” The girl did not say anything.

‘I’ll go with you and I’ll stay with you all the time. They just let the air in and

then it’s all perfectly natural.” (Hemingway 212)

Jig’s saidnothing while the man spoke. Contrasted to the rest of the story, this

is the first dialogue in which Jig does not immediately respond. Jig wished to avoid

the topic as soon as it’s brought up, immediately looking “at the ground the table legs

rested on,” instead of talking with the man (212). The man continued to speak, and

Jig once again “[did] not say anything” (212). The man did not recognize or maybe

did not care about Jig’s clear disinterest in the topic. After the man promised to stay

with her throughout the procedure, Jig finally spoke out. “‘Then what will we do


25

afterwards?’ ‘We’ll be fine afterwards. Just like we were before.’ ‘What makes you

think so?’ ‘That’s the only thing that bothers us. It’s the only thing that’s made us

unhappy’” (Hemingway 212).

In this situation, Jig shows regression, a condition where she is under the state of

stress and depression due to the American man’s insistence and her upcoming so

called “operation”, and she turned her behavior to the earlier form of the way she

behaved. Instead of commenting on something that “the American man would not

have seen” she chose to be silent. That is how she shows her regression.

d. Jig is unconfident about her situation

In order to be able to cover her lack of confidence, Jig tends to please the man

which then becomes more evident as the dialogue continues. “‘Then I’ll do it.

Because I don’t care about me.’ ‘What do you mean?’ ‘I don’t care about me.’ ‘Well,

I care about you.’ ‘Oh, yes. But I don’t care about me. And I’ll do it and then

everything will be fine’” (Hemingway 212). Once Jig got to realize that the man

definitely wanted her to do the operation, Jig spoke out that she did not care about

herself. Jig was not convinced that the operation would solve the problems in the

relationship, which was why she continued to repeat the phrase “I don’t care about

me” and said it aloud, “‘And I’ll do it and then everything will be fine” (212). Jig was

trying to convince herself that she believed these things, which further revealed the

fragile nature of their relationship. Jig was trying to convince herself that she was

unimportant – that her thoughts, feelings, and desires, did not matter in order to

sustain this relationship. The man was trying to assure her that he valued her, and


26

didnot want her to do anything she was not comfortable with, but Jig walked away

from the conversation.

Here, a clear denial is indicated by Jig saying “And I’ll do it and then

everything will be fine”. She knew that everything was not going to be fine with her,

but she still said she was fine. She was not confident of all situations but she made

denials on her responses to the man.

3. The relationship between Jig and the American man.

Jig and the man showed some disconnections in their relationship. Instead of

discussing further about the procedure of the operation, Jig asked they would do

after it was over. The man’s responses revealed one of the largest disconnects of the

conversation – he did not realize that was quite hesitant about the operation. The

inability of the man and Jig to communicate clearly about “the only thing that’s

made [them] unhappy” is an example of the incompatibility of Jig and the man.

Furthermore, the man imposed his perception on the relationship as the correct

perception when discussing the operation with Jig, silencing her voice in the matter.

As the conversation continues, Jig’s silence turned into frustration while the

man kept talking about the operation.

“And you think then we’ll be all right and be happy.’

‘I know we will. You don’t have to be afraid. I’ve known lots of people

that have done it.’

‘So have I,’ said the girl. ‘And afterwards they were all so happy.’

‘Well,’ the man said, ‘if you don’t want to you don’t have to. I wouldn’t

have you do it if you

didn’t want to. But I know it’s perfectly simple.” (Hemingway 212)


27

Jig’s question, “‘I know. But if I do it, then it will be nice again if I say things

are like white elephants, and you’ll like it?’ (Hemingway 212), asked for the man to

answer reassuringly. It can be inferred that Jig wanted the man to enjoy her witty

remarks. The man reassured her, saying, “‘I’ll love it. I love it now but I just can’t

think about it. You know how I get when I worry.’” Then, Jig asked, “If I do it you

won’t ever worry?” (212). Jig challenged the man’s logic. The man replied, “‘I won’t

worry because it’s perfectly simple’” (Hemingway 212). This is another example of a

disconnection in the conversation and the relationship. Jig’s comment remarks on the

relationship as a whole while the man responds with a comment only relevant to the

topic of the operation.

Robert Lamb also comments on this exchange of dialogue, saying, “Not only

does he avoid answering her questions, the juxtaposition of “I love you” and “I love

it” speaks volumes about [the man’s] true feelings” (470). Lamb’s analysis brings to

light the contradictory nature of the man’s words, in this passage; the man’s words

are ironic toward the end of the story as well.

The story was closed with the man asking Jig, “‘Do you feel better?’” in

which she replies, “‘I feel fine,’ she said. ‘There’s nothing wrong with me. I feel

fine’” (Hemingway 214). The last line shows unresolved conflict. Hemingway uses

the dialogue of “Hills Like White Elephants” to reveal the relationship of the man and

Jig, highlighting their incompatibility through an inability to effectively communicate

with each other, and their different values by examining how their ideal situations (in

which they “have everything” are completely different (Hemingway 213).


28

CHAPTER III

CONCLUSIONS

The conclusions of the analysis of Hemingway’s Hills like White Elephants

are that Hemingway uses the dialogue of “Hills Like White Elephants” to reveal the

relationship of the man and Jig, highlighting their incompatibility through an inability

to effectively communicate with each other, and their different values by examining

how their ideal situations.

The main characters’ personalities are depicted by analyzing the theory of

characterization especially through Lubis’ ways in describing characters and Sigmund

Freud’s psychoanalytic theory of personality, especially the devices of protection

whichFreud suggested characters tend to do and show in their conversations.

The American man’s personality is shown by his reaction to the situation and

his discussion with Jig. American man is a sarcastic person shown in his reaction

formation towards Jig’s opinions. The man also easily gets frustrated which then

indicates another reaction formation towards Jig and their situation. Lastly, the man

is shown to be very insistent, which indicates his projection.

Moreover, most of Jig’s personality is shown through her reaction to events,

discussion of the environment, and her portrayal of thought stream or of conscious.

Her tendency to be ignorant to avoid confrontation shows how she sublimated her

emotion into making some comments of certain objects; her being dependent to the

American man shows her displacement from someone who was so persistent before


29

turning into being so dependent; her being silent when she was not comfortable

shows regression, a condition where she is under the state of stress and depression

due to the American man’s insistence and her upcoming so called “operation”, and

she turned her behavior to the earlier form of the way she behaved; and Jig’s being

unconfident about her situation was a clear denial.

Throughout the story, Hemingway shows the inability of the man and Jig to

communicate clearly which is then the proof of the incompatibility of Jig and the

man.

Hemingway uses the dialogue of “Hills Like White Elephants” to reveal the

relationship of the man and Jig, highlighting their incompatibility through an inability

to effectively communicate with each other, and their different values by examining

how their ideal situations (in which they “have everything” are completely different.


30

REFERENCES

Abrams, M.H., &Harpham, G.G. (1999).A glossary of literary terms. Boston, Mass:

ThonsonWadswordth.

Fletcher, Mary Dell.“Hemingway’s HILLS LIKE WHITE

ELEPHANTS.” Explicator 38.4 (1980): 16. Academic Search Premier. Web.

3 Dec. 2012.

Forster, E.M. (1956). Aspects of the Novel. United Kingdom: Edward Arnold

Publishers Ltd.

Freud, Sigmund.(1943). A General Introduction to Psychoanalysis. New York:

Doubleday.

Galsworthy, John (1925). The Inn of Tranquality: Studies and Essays. Heinemann

Griggs, Richard A.(2008).Psychology: A Concise Introduction. Worth Publishers.

Hemingway, Ernest.(1987). “Hills Like White Elephants.” The Complete Short

Stories of Ernest Hemingway. New York: Collier. 211–14. Primary Source.

Kenney, William. (1966). How to Analyze Fiction. New York: Monarch Press.

Klarer, Mario. (2004). An Introduction to Literary Studies.(2nd Edition).”

London:Routledge, Psychology Press.

Kurtus, Ron. (2007). Tricks for Good Grades. Strategies to Succeed in School.Sfc

Publishing Co.

Lamb, Robert Paul.(1996). “Hemingway And The Creation Of Twentieth-Century

Dialogue.” Twentieth Century Literature, 42, 453-480. Humanities Full Text

(H.W. Wilson). Web. 11 Nov. 2012.


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Merriam-Webster Dictionary. 2015

Dunn, Maggie & Ann Morris. (1965). The Composite Novel. New York: Twayne

Publishers.

Nurgiyantoro, Burhan.(2002).TeoriPengkajianFiksi. Yogyakarta: GadjahMada

University Press.

Perrine, Lawrence. (1974). Literature: Structure, Sound and Sense. New York:

Harcourt College Publishers.

Perrine, Lawrence. (1984). Literature: Structure, Sound and Sense (5th Edition).

London: Harcourt Bruce Jovanovic.

Roberts, Edgar V. & Henry E. Jacobs. (2000).Literature: Introduction to Reading and

Writing.(6th Edition).Prentice Hall PTR.

Rohrberger, Mary & Samuel H. Woods. (1971). Reading and Writing about

Literature. Random House.

Tarigan, Henry Guntur. (1993). BerbicaraSebagaiSuatuKeterampilanBerbahasa.

Bandung:AngkasaBadudu.

Wellek, Rene & Austin Warren.(1949).Theory of Literature.University of Michigan.

Harcourt, Brace.


32

BIOGRAPHY OF ERNEST HEMINGWAY

Ernest Miller Hemingway was born in

Chicago suburb of Oak Park, Illinois, on July

21, 1899, as the eldest of six children. His

father, Clarence Edmond, was a physician,

while his mother, Grace Hall, kept an

attractive house at Oak park Avenue. Since

he was a very little kid, he had been

introduced to arts by his mom who took me to museums in Chicago and enrolled him

into piano lesson.

Hemingway graduated from Oak Park High School in 1917. Ever since he was in

high school he had contributed to school newspaper and publications. His first job

was as a reporter for the Kansas City Star. However, as he was being so into World

War I, he enlisted as an ambulance driver for Red Cross early in 1918 and he was

sent to Italy.

As he wounded by mortar fire, he returned to the United States and become a

Reporter for the Toronto Star and Star Weekly, which then sent him back to Europe

as a foreign correspondent in 1921. He first married to Hadley Richardson.

Hemingway started writing short stories in 1923, which he published Three

Stories and Ten Poems in Paris, followed by In Our Time, a collection of short


33

stories, published in 1925 in the United States. By then, he switched from being a

reporter to dedicate himself fully to writing. His first novel was The Torrents of

Spring and his most well-known one was The Sun Also Rises, with Charles Scribner’s

Sons in New York which remained his publisher.

Hemingway’s works are considered having influenced by his personal life.

For example his Men Without Women which appeared in 1927 was published after his

divorce with Hadley and married to Pauline Pfeiffer. After the new marriage, he and

Pauline returned to United States and settled in Florida.

Hemingway had written lots of incredible stories including The Old Man and

The Sea which then led him to win a Novel Prize in Literature in 1954.

Here are some notable short stories written by Ernest Hemingway:

1. A Clean, Well-Lighted Place (1933)

2. The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber (1936)

3. Hills Like White Elephants (1925)

4. The Snows of Kilimanjaro (1938)

5. Indian Camp (1925)

6. Cat in the Rain (1925)

7. The Killers (1927)

8. Soldier’s Home (1925)

9. Old Man at the Bridge (1938)

10. The End of Something (1925)


34

Hemingway bought his final residence in Idaho and moved there in 1959. It

was the same year in which he began treatments for depression and various physical

ills at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. His declining health and his inability to write

had led him to end his life on July 2, 1961.


35

“HILLS LIKE WHITE ELEPHANTS”

The Background Story and Moral Value

The story of hills like white elephants is basically inspired from the life of

Ernest Hemingway himself. Hemingway had difficult life as he went through

personal problems especially with his marriage life. The publication of Hills like

White Elephants on 1925 was after the divorce of Hemingway with his first wife,

Hadley, and his separation with Pauline. It was explained at first, when Hemingway

was married to Hadley, Pauline was a friend of Hadley. By the time Hadley found out

that Hemingway had an affair with Pauline, Hemingway was to the one who

requested a divorce. Hadley agreed to the divorce under one condition that

Hemingway and Pauline had to separate for 100 days. If they were still in love after

those 100 days, Hadley would grant the divorce (Baker 1974).

During the separation with Pauline, Hemingway began his collection of

stories titled “Men without Women”. One of the stories was “Hills Like White

Elephants”. At the beginning of the story, the couple who was dealing with

something serious was having beer together. This one clue shows the very character

of Hemingway himself who was an alcoholic (Benedictus). Looking at the

atmosphere of the story which was full with depression and confusion between the

couple, it shows how depressed Hemingway at that time. He even vowed to kill

himself if his love affair was not settled (Baker 176). This whole story basically

comes from how Hemingway sees his own life. Confusion. He fell in love with


36

Pauline but he wanted to continue his marriage with Hadley. He loved them both and

wanted to keep them both at the same time which was impossible. Just like the

American Man and Jig. The story was full of the inability to be in the same

understanding on how to deal with Jig’s condition. On one hand, the American man

wanted to make Jig happy by letting her decide what’s best for her, but on the other

hand, he wanted Jig to do what he wanted so they both could be happy as he thought

they would be.

The most important thing about moral value that we can take from the short

story is related to humanity. The couple seems to have trouble to understand

humanity in the problem Jig is facing. There are many sources who mention that Hills

like White Elephants highlight the inability of the couple to solve Jig’s pregnancy, in

which they lead to having abortion. That is what American kept suggesting about to

Jig but Jig who was sometimes unclear about her own decision could not be certain

foe what she would do for her relationship and for her own self. That is why the issue

of humanity is highlighted in this short story.


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