Hills Like White Elephants Choices Quotes

How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Paragraph)

Quote #1

"What should we drink?" (2)

This casual question is the first sentence of the conversation between the man and Jig. They are able to make the choice easily, with a minimum of drama. Yet, as we soon learn, they have much bigger choices to make.

Quote #2

"Then what will we do afterwards?"

"We'll be fine afterwards. Just like we were before." (47-48)

Jig isn’t necessarily asking the man what they "will" do, like she says, but what he thinks they will do. She seems to be testing him with every breath, and growing more distraught each time he fails.

Quote #3

"I think it's the best thing to do. But I don't want you to do it if you don't really want to." (57)

This sounds like a very reasonable set of statements. He’s telling her how he feels (though not why) while (reluctantly?) acknowledging her right to choose.