1. Symbolism--White Elephants o a white elephant symbolizes something no one wants, a burdensome or costly possession, an object considered to be without use or value-in this story the girl's unborn child The girl later retracts this comment with the observation that the hills don t really look like white WHITE ELEPHANT elephants, she even says that the hills only seemed to look like white elephants at first glance$ 1. Symbolism—White Elephants A white elephant symbolizes something no one wants; A burdensome or costly possession, an object considered to be without use or value—in this story, the girl’s unborn child. The girl later retracts this comment with the observation that the hills don’t really look like white elephants, she even says that the hills only seemed to look like white elephants at first glance