Dark vs Light in A Clean Welllighted Place
Dark Against Light in "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" The main character in "A Clean, Well- Lighted Place,"written by Ernest Hemingway, is the old man. The old man, whoremains nameless throughout the short story, comes to the cafefor the light it provides him against the dark night. He stayslate into the night, and sits "In the shadow the leaves of thetree made against the electric light." The old man is deaf andfinds comfort in the "difference" he feels inside the quiet cafe. The old man struggles with old age and the feeling of nothingnesswhich is representative of the darkness outside of the cafe. The well-lit cafe represents order and cleanliness. Outsidein the dark, a young soldier and a girl hurry along the streets. Apparently, the couple intend to go off alone. They symbolizethe excitement that can go on in the night between two people. The old man is around eighty years old, and does not have a wife. He doesn't experience this type of relationship in the dark. Rather, he finds company in the clean, well-lighted cafe. Although the only other two people in the cafe at the late hourare the two waiters, the old man finds it content.
" He is"reluctant to close up because there may be someone who needs thecafe. He likethe soldier and girl, can find excitement in the dark. The light thatthey find in the night brings them a strong sense of relief fromwhat they are missing in the dark. He is too preoccupied with closing thecafe to get home. Andalthough at night they find themselves alone, it also brings apeacefulness and consolation from the busy day. Theorder of the light keeps the two others up, and away from theloneliness. The olderwaiter understands that even though the old man has plenty ofmoney he is alone in the world. " The young waiter says to the older waiter that the old mancan "Buy a bottle and drink at home. '" He has no reason to hide from the dark. " The young waiterknows that the old man tried to commit suicide last week, butfeels no remorse for him. The light, thepleasantness, and cleanliness of a late night cafe is the onlysense of being for the two men. He knows that "Lightwas all it needed and a certain cleanness and order. hough he is "A good clientthey knew that if he became too drunk he would leave withoutpaying.
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Acceptance Essays
