and is now turning to her faith in a time of crisis. Johnston says that the rosary connection .
would also suggest that maybe Jig is a Catholic, or at least shares their feelings toward .
abortion. Johnston also feels that the man is unconcerned with the moral aspect and.
pushes aside Jig's concerns (Johnston 237-237). The train station setting is important in.
showing the different courses this couple's future could take. Hemingway does not let .
the reader know which path Jig follows. The story ends as it begins, in a place of .
transition. We can only presume what happened. This is where Hemingway leaves us .
wondering about either Jig decided to have an abortion or not.
Another very important aspect of the setting is the valley. On one side "there was .
no shade and no trees" (Hemingway 22). This barren side of the valley is representative .
of the empty relationship between Jig and the American. Her looking constantly to the.
other side of the valley shows her disappointment with this lifestyle. The other side of.
the valley has mountains and "fields of grain and trees" (Hemingway 24). The rich, more.
fruitful side of the valley represents the life Jig longs for. She wants a family life. The .
selfish American does not even seem to notice the scenery. He only sees his side, just as .
he only sees his side of the abortion argument. When Jig tells him "we could have .
everything and every day we make it more impossible" (Hemingway 24), she is trying to .
communicate her desire to keep the baby and make a life together. Unfortunately, the .
Yeremuk 3.
man is not interested in that. He tells her "you mustn't feel that way" (Hemingway 24) as .
he urges her to come back into the shade. He wants Jig to come back to his side of the .
issue and have the abortion. He tries to persuade her with lines like "I know you wouldn't .
mind it, Jig" (Hemingway 23). Critic Reid Maynard believes the distance between the .
barren railway station and the fertile mountain area shows a growing gap in what once .
