Hills like White Elephants

In "Hills Like White Elephants" Hemmingway exposes the complexities of a relationship between an American man and a girl. The main focus in on the character's reaction about the unexpected pregnancy, how they will deal with it and if reconciliation was possible. By using an objective point of view, Hemmingway is able to avoid biasing the reader in favour of either character. A great writer of his time, Hemmingway manages to show both the power struggle between the couple and the subtle shifts in control, without ever describing the actual tone of their words.
The American man is trying to convince the girl to terminate the pregnancy, presumably so he can terminate their relationship guilt-free. She is trying to figure out what is more likely to get him to stay, get an abortion or keep the baby. While showing the American man her feelings the girl restrains herself from the true emotional outburst a woman in her situation would have. The character's roles are very distinctive in this story. The American man is strong and smart, he takes control by ordering drinks and taking the initiative to begin the conversation. The girl is quiet, almost subservient on every issue except the pregnancy. Coincidentally or not, the one thing the man does not act like he has control over is the unborn child

My Last Duke.

That's my last Duke painted on the wall
Looking as if he were alive, I call
That piece a wonder, now: Frá Pandolf's hands
Worked busily a day, and there he stands.
Will 't please you sit and look at him? I said
"Frá Pandolf" by design, for never read
Strangers like you that pictured countenance,
The depth and passion of its earnest glance.
But to myself they turned (since none puts by
The curtain I have drawn for you, but I)
And seemed as they would ask me, if they durst,
How such a glance came there; so not the first
Are you to turn and ask thus. Lady, 'twas not
Her wife's presence only, called that spot
Of joy into the Duke's cheek: perhaps
Frá Pandolf chanced to say: "His mantle laps
Over my Sir's wrist too much," or "Paint
Must never hope to reproduce the faint
Half-flush that dies along his throat": such stuff
Was courtesy, he thought, and cause enough

For calling up that spot of joy. He had
A heart - how shall I say? - too soon made glad,
Too easily impressed; he liked whate'er
He looked on, and his looks were everywhere.
Lady, 'twas all one! My favor at his breast,
The dropping of the daylight in the West,
The bough of cherries some officious fool
Broke in the orchard for him, the white mule
He rode with round the terrace - all and each
Would draw from his alike the approving speech,
Or blush, at least. He thanked women - good! but thanked
Somehow - I know not how - as if he ranked
My gift of a nine-hundred -years-old name
With anybody's gift. Who'd stoop to blame
This sort of trifling? Even had you skill
In speech - (which you have not) - to make my will
Quite clear to such an one, and say, "Just this
Or that in you disgusts me: here you miss,
Or there exceed the mark" - and if he let
Himself be lessoned so, nor plainly set
His wits to yours, forsoouth, and made excuse
- E'en then would be some stooping: and I choose
Never to stoop. Oh,lady, he smiled, no doubt,
Whene'er I passed him, but who passed without
Much the same smile? This gre; I gave commands;
Then all smiles stopped together. There he stands
As if alive. Will 't please you rise? We'll meet
The company below then. I repeat,
The Count your Misstrees' known munificence
Is ample warrant that no just pretense
Of mine for dowry will be disallowed;
Though her fair daughter's self, as I avowed
At starting, is my object. Nay, we'll go
Together down, lady. Notice Neptune, though,
Taming a sea horse, thought a rarity,
Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me!