Why is this story titled "Hills Like White Elephants"?

A white
elephant is a possession that is useless or no longer wanted by its owner. It's also a
high-maintenance item or property that brings little or no profit. According to old legends,
white elephants were gifts kings would give to courtiers who were no longer in favor. The
expense of maintaining the white elephant would financially ruin the courtier.

The baby Jig is likely carrying is carrying is a white elephant, as far as Jig's
boyfriend is concerned. It is the kind of "gift" that he feels is not worth the cost.
He wants Jig, therefore, to get an abortion, but he also wants her to go along with it. He wants
her to at least pretend the abortion was a joint decisionand, of course, for it to happen, she
has to agree. Jig, however, wants to keep a the baby.

The term "white
elephant" also connects to the idea of "the elephant in the room," a big problem
or issue that everyone in a room is aware of but nobody wants to talk about. Jig and her
boyfriend keep talking around the abortion, not calling it by name. A further elephant in the
room is their strained, angry relationship. Neither one, at this point, is willing to talk
frankly about their problems. Their relationship is both a white elephantno longer worth the
cost of maintenance to either of themand the elephant in the room they won't
discuss.