It is important that we
understand and do not underestimate the pressure that Jig is facing and is placed under by her
lover. Part of the greatness of this short story is the fact that so much of what is going on is
narrated through dialogue. The narrator stays removed and distant, preferring to narrate just
the conversation that he hears with very little other input, leaving the reader to discern what
precisely is going on and what kind of characters we are dealing with.
If we
read carefully, however, we can see that this short story is all about abortion. Jig is pregnant
with her lover's baby. He wants her to get an abortion. If she doesn't, she will lose him. Note
the reference made to the "awfully simple operation" as the American tries to
manipulate and persuade her into having this operation. We are not given a definite answer as to
what Jig has decided at the end of the tale, or if she has actually come to any conclusions.
However, her negative speech towards the end of the tale with the repetition of phrases like
"No we can't," suggest that she is deeply unhappy with both of the possibilities in
front of her. In spite of all the promises of the American, she remains unconvinced that things
will occur as the American promises. Her fear, frustration and complete indecision is perhaps
summarised when she threatens to scream if her lover will not stop talking about it. Given the
psychological pressure and disturbance she is under, we recognise her last words to be a
complete lie, designed to disguise how she is feeling from a lover who is clearly selfishly
imposing his own will:
"I feel fine," she said.
"There's nothing wrong with me. I feel fine."
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