The search for pleasure has always been a desire inherent in human nature. The Roaring Twenties saw the uprising of a society that exalted this desire through the creation of a culture solely dedicated to consumption. Ernest Hemingway analyzes the behavioral patterns of such a culture in his short story "Hills Like White Elephants", where the concept of hedonism - considered a selfish action whose sole purpose is to provide pleasure - and its consequences on the the individual are explored. Through the characters' dialogue in which they avoid substantive conversation and implicitly express their disappointment in life, Hemingway explores the emptiness generated by pleasure-seeking actions. Moreover, it also explores this behavior through the male character's selfish reaction to the central problem of the story, embodied in his attempt to preserve the status quo of his life through manipulation and deception. Finally, through the description of the setting, seen as the juxtaposition of two divergent settings and the metaphorical comparison between the landscape and the central object of the story, Hemingway further develops his analysis of hedonism and its consequences on the individual. Thus, Ernest Hemingway, in his short story "Hills Like White Elephants", explores how hedonistic and selfish actions generate a superficial and superficial life through the dialogue of the characters, the man's reaction to the central question and the setting in which the plot takes place. Through the characters' dialogues, Hemingway explores the emptiness generated by actions in search of pleasure. Throughout the beginning of the story, Hemingway describes the trivial matters that the two characters discuss. The debate on the woman's life-changing issue...... middle of paper ...... how to tell stories in a non-superficial way when pleasure is her only concern. Pre-Socratic Greek philosophers believed that the secret to a fulfilling life lay in the balance of the Apollonian and Dionysian elements of life. The same statement is true, to some extent, in our contemporary society where a non-excessive balance or perspective between pleasure and responsibility must be found to live both pleasantly and emotionally fulfilled. Works Cited • Hemingway, Ernest. “Hills like white elephants.” Perrine's literature: structure, sound and meaning. Ed. Thomas R. Arp and Greg Johnson. Boston: Thomson Wadsworth, 2006. 268-272. • Stukas, Jake. “Literary Analysis: Hills Like White Elephants, by Ernest Hemingway.” Helium.com. Internet. November 21. 2009. .