A Clean Well-Lighted Place
A Clean, Well-Lighted Place," written by Ernest Hemingway, is about an old waiter and a young waiter working in a cafe. Also there is a deaf old man who is getting drunk in the bar. The younger waiter is aggravated that the old man will not leave the cafe so. The young waiter wants to get home before 3:00a.m. The old waiter would leave the cafe open for the old man because he reminds him of himself, who is lonely. The old waiter says, "I am of those who like to stay late at the cafe. With all those who do not want to go to bed. With all those who need a light for the night" (447). The story takes place in Spain around the time of World War II. The day before the old man tried to kill himself because he was in "despair" (445). The old waiter wanted to know what the old man was in despair about because he to was in despair the young waiter told him "nothing"(445) The old waiter then asked "How do you know it was nothing" and the young waiter said, "he has plenty of money"(445). The old waiter feels that just because you have money doesn't mean that your life is complete money doesn't buy everything. He feels that you can't buy love or just because you have money doesn't mean that you can't be in despair or depressed.
I never get to bed before three o'clock"(446). The old waiter doesn't understand why the young waiter wouldn't serve the old man another brandy. The old waiter is jealous of the young waiter. As the old waiter was closing he was saying the Lord's Prayer but was using the word "nada", which means nothing. He feels that he relieves the suffering of loneliness by keeping the clean and well-lighted cafe open. (447) The old man pays for his drinks and leaves the cafe. Being at the well-lighted and pleasant cafe gives him hope and the feeling that he is not alone. After he drank his cup he went home and was in bed and when the sunlight came he went to sleep. He says the prayer like this maybe because he was angry that he was alone, angry because the cafe was closing, or angry because he was in despair. The young waiter tells the old waiter, "I want to go home to bed" (467). When the waiter finally makes it home there is no one there, he lies in his bed and when the daylight comes he falls to sleep. The cafe helps the old waiter pass time and being the waiter is his life. he young waiter wants to go home to his wife and he is mad because he never gets to go home early, "I wish he would go home.
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