American Literature

    Ernest Hemingways story entitled A Clean, Well- Lighted Place is an emotional tale that the author successfully delivers in a brief narration of events that include only a number of characters and have limited changes in setting. Although the events of the story may appear shallow and unexciting, Hemingways use of symbols to increase the interest of the story and his infusion of thought through his characters prove to be unique and significant in this tale. More than narrating events, the characters of this story impart realizations that make the story momentous and important. The tone of the story is filled with loneliness and the author creatively adds a hint of hope to provide a deeper message. Despite being short, Hemingways tale is able to convey the valuable differentiation of the light from the dark, the young from the old, and the life that is meaningful over the life that serves no definite purpose.

    The significance of old age is a central theme in the story as the older and younger waiters spend a lot of their time discussing the situation of the drunken old man. The story begins with the narration of two waiters in a caf where a deaf old man is the only remaining customer for the night. The younger waiter is growing impatient of the customer, whom they describe as a rich but depressed man because he has stayed up so late and prohibits them from closing. The younger waiter says that he has a bed and wife waiting for him so he takes the initiative to send out the drunken customer already. He even insults old man although he could not really hear it because he is deaf. The older waiter is not in favor of this, and even argues a bit with the younger waiter saying that they could have let the old man stay for another hour and they would not have much to lose anyway (Hemingway).

The disagreement between the older waiter and the younger waiters opinion on the old mans situation clearly defines how the two waiters differ in beliefs and way of life. It is clear in the story that the older waiter is starting to lose hope about his age already as he points out to the younger waiter that he never had confidence and is not young anymore (Hemingway). In the tale, the author carefully distinguishes the aged from the youth in order to highlight how much people overlook the important things when they are young.

The title itself describes how the most vital setting of the story, which is the caf, is a clean and well-lighted place. The author distinguishes the venue from the darkness of the night outside. For the older waiter, as man who has grown old, the distinction of light and dark becomes more profound and significant. Darkness symbolizes the looming depression brought by old age while light in the caf suggests hope for people. Life becomes harder as man ages, and yet his reasons to continue existing are also heightened. The younger waiter clearly does not understand this yet as he mocks their old customer saying how the aged man should have killed himself last week (Hemingway). The character of the older waiter dwells on the purpose of life towards the near end of the story, yet even early on, he had been hinting that he recognized the despair in the old man and he should be appreciated more now that he continues to exist even after attempting for suicide.

Hemingway emphasizes on the importance of the lighted caf to those people, especially old men and women who are seeking for a comfortable and peaceful place. The older waiter in the tale specifically describes himself as one with all those who need a light for the night (Hemingway). In this part of the conversation, the author touches on ones purpose in life. Hemingway stresses on how people set their whole lives in finding what could give meaning to their existence.

The caf symbolizes a refuge, a place of hope, a lighted venue that could provide a clean and pleasant place for those who are looking for something more as their lives reach their nearing end (Hemingway). The older waiter is telling the younger waiter that he could have stayed longer for those people who are looking for a good place to stay during the rough and depressing night. In this part of the story, the author recognizes how much of the population fears the dark, which could be an allusion to the loneliness brought by old age. The words of the older waiter to describe the purpose of the caf simply imply the need that older people have for a reason that would give dignity and light for all their years of existence. This underlines the significance of the cafs physical situation, which is well-lit, clean, and presentable.

The pace of the story is slow because the author prolongs the short scenes where the essential message embedded in the story lies. The characters are not aware of it, but they are actually dwelling on what their lives mean through their conversations and the thoughts they have imparted to each other. In the story, the authors fear of the dark, as well as all allusions to it, is the central object as Hemingway conquers the dark by providing the symbolism of light and hope. Hemingways brief fiction clearly describes the importance of finding meaning in life as one significantly grows old.