Hemingway and Fitzgerald’s stories have something very important in common. Both of these stories challenge the conventional “norm” of families and heterosexual relationships. The two stories are telling the stories of the modern conflicts people faced when family structures and dynamics began to evolve passed the norm.

[Babylon Revisited]

The story told by Fitzgerald is one in which a father, now single after the death of his wife, is fighting for his little girl back. It becomes clear that the father has had a drinking problem in the past, and it alludes to the fact that he did not have the most functional relationship with his wife. The story starts off very sympathetic to the man, but the reader is forced to question his character when we see the amount of distrust shot at him by his sister-in-law. However, we see his genuine intent in his thoughts, “he extended himself, reached out for new tolerance; he must be both parents to her and not shut any of her out of communication” (1909). Although we see the genuine love for his child, the man does continue to drink and does have a very troubled past with alcohol giving Marion’s argument evidence to back up her cold demeanor. It would be hard to send a little girl, especially a niece, back into the hands of an alcoholic even if he was the best man in the entire world. Alcoholism is serious and can lead to abuse and assault and Marion, “she had built up all her fear of life into one wall and faced it toward him” (1913). Marions character is portrayed as cold and unfair, but as a mother and guardian figure, I think her caution is valid. Yet, the point that this is this man’s child and he is getting older and won’t have a lot of time with her is also a valid argument. There could have been a way to work out part-time custody but neither of them seems to be willing to compromise. This concept of a father fighting for custody of his daughter is definitely a step outside of the typical family dynamic. Marion seems more comfortable keeping the girl because in society, it was commonly understood that a parent couldn’t take care of a child alone. Especially a father for a daughter, how would he provide female advice that she may need as she grows? Yet, despite these questions, that is his child and he does  have a right to try and be her father if he wishes to, especially since the girl loves him so much and wants to live with him. We see the man’s short temper which is worrisome, yet, he seems to be angry only because he sincerely just wants his child back and when she is around him he transforms into a loving father.

[Hills Like White Elephants]

In Hemingway’s story, “Hills Like White Elephants”, the “boy” is clearly doing his best to support his romantic partner, the “girl”, however, he seems to completely fail at comforting her. It becomes known to the reader that the girl is not white and she has been impregnated by a boy who is. When the girl begins to explain that the hills look like white elephants and the boy says he’s never seen one, she replies, “No, you wouldn’t have” (1964). The connotation behind her words is subtle but she seems to feel that this boy’s cultural and worldly understanding is limited compared to her own.

Throughout the story, neither of the characters are being direct with one another, the conversation is passive and ambiguous. The topic that dominates the story is not even named as “abortion”, it is referred to by the boy as a “simple procedure”.

I am not entirely sure if this was on purpose or not, but Hemingway is making a satire of the white male character’s inability to understand what his ethnic and female romantic partner is going through. The boy has well-enough intentions but he can not seem to hide his preference that she go through with the procedure no matter how hard he tries to be neutral. The woman only begins to let out the bitter emotions she is feeling inside when the boy shuts her down with, “Well, let’s try and have a fine time” (1965). Although it doesn’t seem to be his intention, he is not letting the girl process her own emotions or feelings, although she is much more affected by this decision than he will be.

By encouraging her to ignore her own emotions and thoughts, he pushes her to analyze what would make him happy instead of pushing her to analyze what she wants. The girl states repeatedly, “I don’t care about me” (1966) and this doesn’t seem to trigger any alarms for the boy. For some reason he is not concerned that she cares only for him and not for herself, and in addition we see him talking down to her. The boy says, “You’ve got to realize-” (1966) before he is cut off by the woman asking him to be quiet. It is extremely ironic that this boy is telling the girl what she needs to realize when he seems to be significantly more ignorant on the effects of having an abortion. Again, the boy does not seem to be consciously manipulating the girl and he genuinely seems to care a lot for her, but somehow he is still the thing keeping her locked away from her true self.

So this brings us to question what the story means. The couple seems to be unable to communicate effectively even though they do care for eachother. Perhaps Hemingway is making a comment on the traditional concept of heterosexual relationships and families. The girl listens to everything the boy says because quite literally he is white and a man and has more power in society. The girl seems to know what’s best for herself deep inside but it is clouded by her inability to see past the boy’s opinions. Perhaps the story is showing that the girl could have been happier having a child by herself independent from this boy that doesn’t seem to understand her, but that would’ve been completely unacceptable socially and no one would have wanted to marry her, therefore she is trapped by societal social “norms”.