A Clean Well Lighted Place

Nothingness is a condition man is faced with when his life has no meaning, when there is no reason to exist. It is the hollowness or emptiness man experiences when he feels that his life has no significant meaning. If there is nothing to believe in, then life is nothing. The older waiter in the story recognizes the existence of nothing: "Some lived in it and never felt it but he knew it all was nada y pues nada y pues nada y pues nada" (202

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The artificial light and good order of the café represent the truth, or reason for existence, that the existential man has created for himself. So, we start to see where the Gentleman is leaning towards. The old waiter is the inner side of the Gentleman that the Gentleman doesn’t want, but accepts the position he is in. So, because the Gentleman gives these two prayer speeches we can understand his pain and suffering.

The Gentleman’s personal heaven is shown through the young waiter. As existentialists, men are forced to make all decisions in their lives for themselves, with nothing to believe in except for the positive result of their choices. The mere presence of the man shakes the weak foundation of his existence. What he does know is that there is something missing in his life, something to feel good about. The soldier does not believe in a higher power, nor does he recognize the existence of nothingness. The young waiter represents the Gentleman in his youth by having confidence and inexperience. Faced with the ultimate nothingness, the old man tries to kill himself: " ‘Last week he tried to commit suicide’, one waiter said" (199). The old waiter would rather go to the bodegas, which is hell, than go home. Light, cleanliness and order play important roles in the story. The young waiter thinks that if the Gentleman has plenty!

of money he shouldn’t have any problems.

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Approximate Word count = 2660
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page double spaced)

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