Hills Like White Elephants Conflict

One of the
most basic conflicts present in the Hemingway short story is how two people balance the demands
of their own needs with the realities of their relationship.  I think that Hemingway draws out a
situation that is gender driven in that the man and the woman hold a difference of opinion about
both the pregnancy and their own relationship.  Yet, there is a larger conflict present in terms
of how a relationship can make demands on personal freedom.  Both characters struggle with the
reality of the shared relationship, but also with the basic idea of how their own individual
freedom is exacted by the constraints of their relationship.  Jig constantly finds her own voice
is subjugated by the realities of their "happiness."  The idea of what will be best
for their relationship must drive what happens to both of them.  The American keeps on saying to
Jig that whatever "she" wants is fine.  Yet, in the end, the reality is that while
their own freedom and independence is present, both understand their relationship is there and
demands their attention.  The interesting thing is that Jig seems resigned to the fact that the
relationship will swallow her own freedom and she accepts this at the end, while studying the
hills ahead of her.