Hemingway's A Clean Well-Lighted Place

The old man in the café comes in often for drink. He tries to pass the night in the clean well-lighted place, where he "liked to sit late because he was deaf and now at night it was quiet and he felt the difference" (Hemingway 173). The young waiter does not realize the importance of the café to the old man. The young waiter states that the old man has tried to commit suicide before. He cannot seem to figure why because "he had plenty of money" (Hemingway 173).

The old waiter also uses his wisdom when he offers the young waiter advice. The old waiter suggests that the young waiter forget about his lack of confidence and youth and move on with his priorities (Hemingway 4). The old waiter demonstrates his wisdom once more on his journey home after working at his clean cafe. He notices that the bar where he has sat down for a small drink is very bright, but dirty. He then contemplates laying in bed and getting a restful sleep during the daytime.

The older man yet asks for another drink but the young waiter in hurry denies the old man because he just wants to close the cafe and go home to his wife. The old man pays and leaves the cafe drunk but with respect and orderly. After the old man has left the t... ... middle of paper ... ..." (9 Hemingway). Old age because the short story demonstrates that the old man attempt for suicide shows his willingness to escape his loneliness, which comes with age. Hemingway implies that no matter how much money you have you will most likely end up a lonely person.

In “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place”, written by Ernest Hemingway, the plot focuses on two waiters watching an old, deaf man and discussing whether or not the old, deaf man should leave. The two waiters have differing views about the old man mainly because of the perspective of each of the waiters. One of the waiters is younger and want the old man to leave so they can close up the café. He wants to get home at a reasonable hour and says, “I'm sleepy now. I never get into bed before three o'clock.” On the other hand, the older waiter sympathizes with the m... ... middle of paper ... ...the older waiter.

For example, when the younger waiter boasts about his youth and confidence, the older waiter jealously replies, “I have never had confidence and I am not young”(Hemingway 161). The older waiter goes on further to illustrate that all he has is work. The older waiter later displays his loneliness through his compassion for the old man and others like himself. For instance, when the younger waiter remarks that he wishes to go home for the night, the older waiter says, “I am reluctant to close up because there may be some one who needs the cafe” (Hemingway 161). Through the author's comparison of the old man and the older waiter, he reveals the waiter's loneliness and desire for youth.

The Old man is deaf, and had recently tried to commit suicide although he is a pleasant customer; the two waiters must watch him to ensure that he doesn't get too drunk, because he will leave without paying. As the two waiters in the cafe play close attention to the Old man the Younger waiter is clearly upset because the Old man will most likely be staying all night, and he is anxious to go home and see his wife. The Younger waiter wonders why it is that the Old man tried to kill himself and says to the deaf Old man that he should have killed himself last week, but the Old man simply asks for more brandy. After going back to the table where the two waiters had been sitting together, he asks the Older waiter why the Old man tried to kill himself. However, the Older waiter was not certain and replied by stating that it was because of despair and that he tried to hang himself and was found and cut down by his niece.

Hopefulness Ernest Hemingway’s “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place” is about life’s transitions. The story is about an old man, an old waiter and a young waiter. The old man is deaf, has money and a family, attempted to commit suicide, and goes to the café to drink every night. The old waiter is sympathetic towards the old man and does not have anybody waiting for him at home. The young waiter is confident and married, is self-centered and is not compassionate towards older people.

Description, Visual and Auditory Clues, and Imagery in A Clean, Well-Lighted Place "Each night I am reluctant to close up because there may be some one who needs the café (251)." The waiter who speaks these words, in a Clean Well-Lighted Place by Ernest Hemingway, realizes that his café is more than just a place to eat and drink. The main character of this story is an elderly, deaf man who spends every evening at the same café until it closes. Setting is used to help the reader understand the old man's loneliness and the comfort he receives from the café. Hemingway uses direct description, visual and auditory clues, and sense imagery to establish the setting and to develop this understanding.

He definitely feels for the man at the table because he knows what it is like to be old and lonely. The waiter says, "I am of those who like to stay late at the café, with all those who do not want to go to bed. With all those who need a light for the night." The waiter knows that the café/bar is a very nice place for people at night, especially the old, because it is clean and well lit. He says, "Each night I am reluctant to close up because there may be someone who needs the café.

Hemingway clearly depicts three major characters which include an old man, a young waiter, and a middle-aged waiter. The old man who is drinking in the Spanish café experiences his own inner conflicts; this is shown in dialogue between the two waiters: “’Last week he tried to commit suicide,’ one waiter said. ’Why?’ ‘He was in despair.’ ‘What about?’ ‘Nothing.’ ‘How do you know it was nothing?’ ‘He has plenty of money’” (Hemingway 186). This quote shows the inner despair of the old man but also the conflict between ages. Ernest Hemingway chooses the characters at different stages of life to create this conflict among generation:” Hemingway has expressed with genius the terrors of the modern man at the danger of losing control of his world .