There are many people today who think accomplishing a single task or goal will bring them everlasting happiness. We often hear people say: “if i lose weight, then i’ll be happy.” or “if a buy that big house or that new car, i’ll be happy.” But do such people truly gain the happiness they are looking for? By no means. Sooner than later, they find out that they have myriads of problems and issues they have to deal with. They realize that in this imperfect system of things we all dwell in no one can gain never ending happiness.
This same attitude can be clearly seen in the characters Aylmer and the American in the story Like White Elephants. Aylmer who is obsessed with perfection wrongly assumes that making Georgiana’s face perfect will lead to to everlasting happiness. He wrongly assumes that this will make her certainly perfect. In his quest for perfection, sadness and grief is what is gained. It seems he hasn’t contemplated the issue very well. Will making Georgiana’s face up to his standards really make her perfect? Perfection means flawless, without sin or error. What if Georgiana had lived and Aylmers discovers attitudes he didn’t like will he still think she’s perfect? Does Aylmer see himself as a perfect man? To err is human, only God is perfect. Aylmer by his attitude thinks he is God.
The American on the otherhand thinks getting rid of Jigs pregnancy will make life everlastingly happy. But is that true? does he really believe that? or he is just trying to evade his reponsibilities by killing the baby? just like people drink or use drugs in order to free themselves from their responsibilities and wrongfully assume that they are happy.
