Ernest Hemingway's short story "Hills Like White Elephants" addresses a problem as eternal as time: communication problems in a relationship. It tells its story through conversations between the two main characters, the American and the young girl. Conflict is created through dialogue as these characters face what most readers see as the obstacle of an unexpected pregnancy. Their situation is further complicated by their inability to communicate their divergent opinions to each other. Symbolism and title meaning are other effective ways to communicate conflict. To begin, let's consider the main character's point of view. Single and in the prime of his life, he makes the most of his lifestyle by traveling and discovering new sights. The story takes place during one of these excursions, in a train station in Spain. Among the complications that could arise from starting a family, one is certain for him: travel, sightseeing and his current lifestyle would be a thing of the past. These are some of his motivating thoughts as he pleads his case for terminating the pregnancy. He chooses his words advantageously, almost deceptively, when he tries to convince the girl that abortion is an easy operation: "It's not really an operation at all" (275). Those familiar with the abortion procedure can say that it is an operation, and rarely a simple one. This remark reveals how desperate he is to make the decision for the girl. The man further complicates the discussion by contradicting himself. For every time he reassures the girl that he wants what she wants, he spends at least one line identifying exactly what he wants. This becomes clear in the following conversation: “You have to realize...I don't want you to do this if you don't want to. I'm perfectly willing... in the middle of The Paper......ing, the symbolism and the perennial dilemma of communication problems provide excellent dialogue, giving the story an interesting twist indicative of its style. Works Cited by Baker, Sheridan "Hemingway's Two-Hearted River". by Ernest Hemingway: Critical Essays. Ed. Jackson, J. Benson: Duke UP, 1975. 158. Hemingway, Ernest “To Maxwell Perkins,” November 16, 1933. Ernest Hemingway/Selected Letters, 1917-1961. . Carlos Baker. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1981. 400.---, "Hills Like White Elephants." Lindsey, Dr. Victor. Personal interview, September 25, 1995. Organ, Dennis, “Hemingway's “Hills Like White Elephants?” » Sum. the English language. 1993 ed..