Perhaps one of the most important elements of conflict
which has not been suggested by the answer above is the way in which the title suggests
a larger conflict. It seems that there is a conflict between the imagination and the
ability to see in metaphors and the inability to use the imagination, as expressed in
Jig's ability to see the hills that surround them as if they were "white elephants."
This of course is linked to the question of the
abortion.
Jig's reference to her metaphor results in a
squabble between the two lovers, which ends in Jig deliberately choosing to dismantle
her vision in an attempt to regain his love and affection. Note what Jig
says:
"They
don't really look like white elephants. I just mean the colouring of their skin through
the trees."
Thus we can see
in this comment the way that her abortion is foreshadowed. Just as the imagination is
conquered by a dull, practical view of the world, so her body will have the abortion
that her lover wants her to have.
No comments:
Post a Comment