A Clean, Well-Lighted Place Analysis

Dmitri Shostakovich once said, “When a man is in despair, it means that he still believes in something.” Shostakovich is correct in his quotation about despair because people typically do not pine on something without reason. In Hemingway’s short story, “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place,” two men are portrayed as being in despair. These two older gentlemen have reasons for their grief though. Hemingway specifically displays the theme of despair through the two men because of specific events that have happened in both of their lives; as a result, the story is able to evoke emotions and questions from the reader. He is able to show this through his character’s dialogue, the story’s setting, and also through each of the characters point of views.

To begin with, Hemingway communicates his central theme of despair through the character’s dialogue. One of the first examples where despair is communicated is spoken by the older waiter in the café. The waiter states, “You should have killed yourself last week,” (143). This shows that the deaf man is in a constant state of desperation. This statement evokes an emotion with the reader in the fact that the man feels this way. There the feeling that no one should have to feel so desperate that they want to kill themselves. Another statement that proves that the deaf man is very solemn is that he is always alone. The young waiter states, “He’s lonely. I’m not lonely. I have a wife waiting in bed for me” (144). This clearly displays that the deaf man’s solitude has also left him in a state of despair. This excerpt is significant because it signifies that the deaf man has nobody. He has lost everyone; consequently, tragedies such as these leave people feeling saddened and alone. Furthermore, the desp...

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...new too well” (146). The older waiter is so far into his routine that he has nothing; nothing to live for except the same thing every day. Each of these views suggest that both of these men live for nothing. The despair that surrounds them is simply that these two men are seemingly stuck. They live each day in the same manor and ultimately feel despair.

The central theme surrounding despair is clearly shown through the use of dialogue, images, and multiple viewpoints. Through the information that has been gathered the reader can conclude that both of these men are so deep into their own grief that they live each day for nothing. Despair is revealed though living every day the same and not experiencing new things like the deaf man and the older waiter. Instead of sinking so low into regret, sorrow, and routine, experience the world and the hope that it offers.