Readaction Paper # 1 - Hills Like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway

Hemingways Hills Like White Elephants is not a piece to be taken lightly. Behind the seemingly
simple words and short sentences lie a plethora of thoughts and symbolisms. There is literally more to the
text than meets the eye.
The short story affected me in a way different from the other readings. It somehow made me think
deeper, altered my view towards most short stories, and gave me another angle in which I can view literature.
The text, in a sense, made me a more effective reader.
Through the story, I was able to realize that not all stories are skin-deep. The first time I read it, the
plot seems to me like an ordinary argument between lovers about an operation which I presumed to be
insignificant. I have never been so wrong. It turned out that all the elements in the story contributed in
weaving a fine piece. All the symbolisms, allusions, everything that was said in the text, and even everything
that WAS NOT said efficiently set it apart from other short stories.
Moreover, it reiterated to me the need to have a grasp of the historical and cultural background of
the author and the text itself. One could never understand why Hemingway did not reveal the operation
unless he checks the era when the text was written. The setting of the story will also be blurred if one does
not know the authors experiences. It is therefore important that we take a peek into the authors biography
and history in order for us to interact better with the text. This I realized after reading Hills Like White
Elephants for the third time, when I have already acquainted myself with Hemingway.
Aside from making me a better reader, the text also deepened my comprehension about the link
between literature and society. How a generation behaves and thinks has an impact to the text written in that
particular time.
Consider the operation for example. Hemingway did not explicitly state what the operation is,
despite the fact that context clues point out abortion, because it is unethical and illegal to talk about abortion
and family planning during the time he crafted the story. The social norm clearly has an evident effect to the
text.
The diminutive treatment and cold approach of the American towards Jig also reflects how the
society thinks of the women then. Back in 1920s, gender equality has already been introduced but not many
people are supporting this. Hemingways characterization of Jig mirrors societys perspective of women at
that time.
Another thing worth noting is that the couple could have had the baby without getting married, if
they do not want commitment. Back then, however, pregnancy or parenthood before marriage used to be a
big deal. And since the world views unwed parents with disdain before, the choice of having the baby or not
becomes a gigantic conflict in the story. If Hemingway happened to write this story in our generation, being
pregnant out of wedlock would not be much of a trouble, since our society sees single parents as strong,
empowered individuals. But that is not the case during his time. They were a lot more conservative back then.
Hills Like White Elephants still has a lot of crevices to explore. What I have read and understood
can be just the tip of an iceberg. On the surface, the text could look like a tiny mound of soil. But after
reading it closer, all its symbolisms, social relevance, and implications would reveal something bigger, maybe
something as big as a hill.
Readaction Paper # 2 The Lottery Shirley Jackson

First impression deceives.
Reading the first few paragraphs of Jacksons The Lottery gave me a hint that the story would have
a happy ending. The way the narrator describes the setting made me think that the text is brimming with life.
I can feel the fragrance of blossoming flowers and the warmth of the summer sun kissing my skin. The kids
piling up stones and pebbles reminded me of the country life, placid and serene. Everything seemed happy.
Everything seemed right until I came across the last three pages.
The way Mrs. Hutchinson protests about her husband picking the paper confused me. Why would
anyone rant about winning a lottery? Only then I was able to infer that the prize of the lottery may not be a
rewarding one. And as I went through the rest of the text, I was able to prove my assumptions right. The
ending is sick, even horrifying. Truly, being stoned to death is not an ideal prize for a game of chance.
Despite its morbid denouement, I can still commend the text for its neat interweaving of various
elements. The story is like a dress crafted by a highly-skilled tailor. You cannot see the seams between the
pieces of fabric. The same is true for The Lottery. A bunch of symbols were sewn together finely that one
cannot notice the separation between them. The correlation between the names and things in the story is so
subtle, yet the line connecting them is still there.
More than the effective facility of symbolisms and allusions, I like how the text made indirect
references to various religions, culture, and anthropological customs. The story touched the concept of
Trinity based on Christianism and Hinduism, some practices of the Islam (especially the stoning), and even
the way of life during primitive times. The usage of these references strengthened the storys idea that human
beings have that barbaric nature inside them, whether they are civilized or not. Humans are humans, no
matter how advanced their technologies are.
I also like how the story is grimly written. The first time I read the story gave me goose bumps
literally. I cannot imagine stoning someone to death, let alone being stoned to death. The authors intentional
withdrawal of the specific name of the village where the lottery happens gave the story a universalizing effect.
It could be happening anywhere around the world. It could be happening right now. The thought that this
could be occurring near you is enough to chill your bone. It is also frightening to see children participating in
such a savage tradition. They collect and throw stones without knowing what they are doing. What if little
Davy gets picked? There is nothing worse than imagining a young and innocent child being a victim of an
obsolete tradition. I have always been a fan of mystery/thriller/horror books and films, and how I felt after
reading The Lottery reminded me of how I felt after watching Insidious 2. Both of them can cause
hypertension. It is just that the former is only a short story while the latter is a film.
The characterizing of the characters in the story is also worth noting. Mrs. Delacroix is an irony all
though out the story. Her name, which means of the cross, is not seen in her behavior. She even smiles and
talks to Mrs. Hutchinson, as if she was a good friend, but when the stoning time comes, she picks a stone so
heavy that she has to use both of her hands to lift it. The same thing goes for Mrs. Hutchinson, whose name
means love for close relatives. It seems like she is not being true to her name since she even wanted to
sacrifice her children in order to be saved from being stoned. It is also she who hurries excitedly to go to the
lottery but protests when she gets chosen as the winner. Talk about hypocrisy! There are characters too
whose role is parallel to the names they are given. Mr. Graves accompanies Mr. Summers as they bring the
black box and the three-legged stool, which implies that death accompanies their tradition. Whenever a
lottery is happening, there surely would be death. Add Old Man Warner to the picture. He certainly is old,
and he is really a warner. He warns the village of the possible outcomes if they discard the lottery. Because
he is old, most of the villagers would most likely believe him.
Now, what about first impressions? My first impression when I read The Lottery is like how you
thought that this paper will focus more about the deception of first impressions. It is in the text that I realized
that there are some stories which you cannot predict. Who would have thought that the winner will be killed?
The Lottery is special because of its unpredictability. That is why we should never let our first impression
deceive us. That lesson is imparted to me by the text.