Getting started:
The short stories "Hills Like White Elephants" and "The Wonderful Old Gentleman" have very little
plot. The stories are told almost entirely through dialogue. Both feature tense situations where the
characters talk as they wait. One story is set at a train station and the other in a parlor. Through
their dialogue, each character takes part in narrating the story. An astute reader will notice that
what is coming out of the characters' mouths conflicts with an objective person's interpretation of
what is happening currently in the story or has happened in the past.
When reflecting upon the reliability of these narrators, consider which of them a reader would find
trustworthy. Can a reader believe what they say? [Hint: In "The Wonderful Old Gentleman," had the
dying man been a kind and wonderful father and grandfather?]
What you'll be writing about:
In at least 500 words or two double-spaced pages, answer the following questions about the
reliability of the five main characters of the two stories. Use specific examples to support your
ideas. Do any of the characters have ulterior motives, such as getting the other characters to doubt
their reality and/or invalidating their concerns or feelings? Do any of the characters engage in self-
serving behavior by trying to force their agendas on others? Are any of the characters engaging in
self-delusion to avoid conflict?