What is/are suggested by the names the two characters are given in "Hills Like White Elephants"? Writer first introduces the male "The American" and...

The man in the
story is referred to as "the man" or "the American" his companion is
referred to as "the girl". The idea that the man is a "man" while his
companion is a "girl" suggests that she is young and innocent. Since they are
discussing such a heavy topic, this suggestion may make the reader think that she does not have
the authority to have an opinion about it. It is likely that this is the way "the man"
views her.

The fact that she does not refer to him in any terms other than
"you" while he refers to her using a name, suggests a disconnect between the two of
them. Their relationship is unclear and confused to both them and the reader... the way they
address each other indicates this confusion, as well as the phrase "The American and the
girl with him" at the beginning of the story. Since it does not say "his
girlfriend" "his wife" etc, we do not know if they have made any type of
commitment to each other.