As someone who has spent a lot of time (and recently money) on their own brain, there is nothing I find more compelling and attractive in another human than I do emotional intelligence. There is just something about a person that can regulate themselves with decorum and an understanding that they are not the only one being subjected to the whims of existence.
The Emotional Intelligence of Men and Women in “Hills Like White Elephants”
The short story, “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway is a prime example of the emotional intelligence differences between men and women. A study conducted by the University of Nevada Las Vegas helped to show the age-old theory that “women score higher than men on emotional intelligence tests” aiding in the argument that men have a more difficult time seeing the way in which life events can be interconnected (Mayer, et al.). “Hills Like White Elephants” helps to exemplify this fact in several ways through its symbolism and dialogue.
Though the topic of discourse between the couple is not stated outright, the reader is to infer that they are discussing what to do about an unwanted pregnancy. The symbolism of being at a train station eludes to a ‘crossroads’ in life, that being the decision to be made by the couple. Hemingway makes note to the light and dark sides of the station a few times, implying that there is a light or dark side to this decision but the mostly civil conversation between the couple lends the reader to recognize that this is not the first time they have discussed their options, and that there are reservations on the woman’s half and thus, a roadblock to overcome.
The next piece of text that supports that men have a lower-level of perception for women’s emotions and the depth of their decision-making facilities is the multiple times that the man calls the abortion “simple” and “not really even a procedure” (230-232). He states this in an attempt to placate the situation, downgrading its heft in a way, trying to convince her to go forward with it, but also backtracks and states “I don’t want to do it if you don’t really want to” (231). This wishy-washy attitude further proves that men have difficulty with decision making and talk incessantly in an attempt to find a solution, where women tend to take an introspective approach and see situations from every angle.
When we examine “Hills Like White Elephants” under the context of men’s vs women’s emotional intelligence, we can see how the two sexes differ in how they handle a major life choice. On one hand, we have opposition and the man trying to force a decision from the woman, while on the other hand, we have a couple with the same goal of being “just like [they] were before” but the lack of ability for the man to consider her point of view and communicate effectively leaves them heavy-hearted at the crossroads (230).
Works Cited
Hemingway, Ernest. “Hills Like White Elephants”. (229-232).
Mayer, J.D., Caruso, D.R., & Salovey, P. (2004). Emotional intelligence: theory, findings, and implications. Psychology Inquiry, 15(3), 197-215).
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