A Clean Well-Lighted Place

Eng 3000
Prof. J. O’Brien
Fall 2008
October 2, 2008
Anna M. Rappa
Analysis

A Clean Well-Lighted Place

The short story, A Clean Well-Lighted Place by Ernest Hemingway portrays a young waiter, an older waiter, and an old deaf man who sits alone each night and gets drunk. We know that the younger waiter dislikes the old deaf man for keeping him at the café late into the night. The younger waiter finally tells the deaf old man he is finished drinking because they are closed now. The older waiter is not troubled by the deaf old man because he relates to and recognizes what the deaf old man feels. He is not bothered by being kept late at the café because he always feels that someone may be in need of the café. The café represents a refuge or solace that a person may escape to in order to avoid loneliness and despair and receive a sense of purpose.

The contrasting views between the two waiters depict how a young person may view someone older with disdain and dread as opposed to someone who is already aged that can empathize with the deaf older man. He mentions the nothingness out there except for the clean well-lighted café, which remains a symbol of hope in the midst of nothingness.

The nothingness was familiar to the older waiter who stops at a bar after he leaves the café. He is similar to the deaf old man who dreads going home. When he finally gets home, he falls asleep at daylight and comments to himself; “it is probably only insomnia. Many must have it.” He takes comfort in believing that others are just like him in yearning for a clean well-lighted café.