Ernest Hemingway And A Clean-Well Lighted Place

The word “opium” is utilized several times in this short story. An opium is an addictive, narcotic drug that relieves pain or brings ecstasy. In a figurative sense, it is a way to avoid reality. For some, alcohol allows for just that. For others, it could be music, sexual intercourse, gambling, and many more. In “The Gambler, the Nun, and the Radio,” the thin Mexican says, “Religion is the opium of the poor” (Hemingway 478). But, this statement is not necessarily true, which Mr. Frazer soon realizes. Several opiums, or escapes from reality, exists, as this story shows.

Within the analysis of the Old Man is an image of the “old man who sat in the shadow the leaves of the tree made against the electric light” (Hemingway) that is continuously told to the readers. This sentence depicts the depth of the loneliness that the Old Man experiences and suffers from the isolation, separation that he has from his family and the rest of the world. In the short story it is written that he “liked to sit late because he was deaf and how at night it was quiet and he felt the difference.” (Hemingway). Yet he is not deaf in the sense that he cannot physically hear he is merely deaf to what is occurring in the world that surrounds him. This is something that the Old Waiter can connect with, since he too is lonely and feels the vast emptiness that defines true isolation. The reader can conclude that there is clearly a theme of isolation within the story from these two characters who believe, in their current way of thinking, that they are truly alone in the world. But in contrast to this the young waiter, who is the third and last character within “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place”, has “youth, confidence, and a job” (Hemingway), whereas the Old Waiter only has his work, and the Old Man only has his

Although Hemingway and Carver are both important writers of the twentieth century, they have different outlooks on the value of faith and on human existence due to their distinct historical backgrounds (Pettinger; “Raymond Carver Biography”). Ernest Hemingway served as an ambulance driver in World War I and his military experience unfortunately deteriorated his mental health and resulted in depression and paranoia (Pettinger). His struggle with depression transcends in the fatalistic view of the old waiter, the main character of his short story “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place.” On the other hand, even though Carver had to deal with bankruptcies, a divorce, and alcoholism, “Cathedral” was published after this short-story author had settled down with his new wife and after he had quit drinking (“Raymond Carver Biography”). While Hemingway makes use of a narrative shift into the old waiter’s head to identify the nothingness of life, Carver uses the epiphany of his protagonist and a foil character to convey the message that people’s lives will become better if they take a leap of faith.

Elderly people may be thought of as content, rich, or happy to see such a long life. This is true in some instances, but money does not bring happiness to one’s life. The joy of family friends and love is what brings true smiles to someone’s face. In “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place” by Ernest Hemingway the older gentleman is depressed about life and likes to drink his sorrows away, although he is wealthy it does not make him happy. Throughout this story the narrator depicts characterization the most in many instances, through the older man and the waiters. By the man’s actions, and also the younger waiters choice of words. The theme is evident that if you are rich you will not always be happy with life, looking past the wealth it is the small things in life everyone may take for granted.

In Max Beckmann’s avant-garde painting “The Night,” Beckmann emphasizes the chaos, anarchy, and turmoil caused by war in order to show the deluded war supporting public the destructive realities of war Beckmann organizes his subjects in no apparent and chaotic order in order to emphasize the random, catastrophic nature of war. The suffering citizens in Beckmann’s painting are placed in arbitrary places with their tormentors seeming to have no purpose but to cause mayhem. By, having no sense of organization, Beckmann demonstrates the randomness of the consequences brought by the war. War has the power to destroy everything from towns to a man’s belief in the good of mankind. Especially when that person has no desire to have any part in that

Ernest Hemingway once said, “I love sleep. My life has tendency to fall apart when I’m awake, you know?”. Ernest Hemingway’s “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place” takes place in a clean, nicely lit cafe during the unblemished night. Every customer had left except for an elderly man inebriated by many brandies. The young and thoughtless waiter, without knowing how the old man felt, showed no pity for him and decided to make him leave due to his own selfish desires. He achieved this deed by deciding to not serve the deaf man anymore Brandy. However, the old waiter who know more about the elderly man told him how unfair on having everything including youth. At the denouement, the narrator showed that the young waiter would keep thinking that it was insomnia that prevents him from sleeping. The ephemeral story made numerous evidences that contrast to what Hemingway endeavors the readers which can show what tone and style he used to describe his story.

The meaning of the “nada” paragraph in Ernest Hemingway's “A clean, Well-Lighted Place” is to reveal Hemingway’s idea that there is nothing to life. The way he illustrates Lord’s prayer by substituting a number of words with “nada”, meaning nothing serves as an argument towards Hemingway's disbelieve of fulfilment in religion. The story goes on from there, leading to the older water to order “nada” (Hemingway 170) when a barman takes his order. Shortly after, the older waiter returns home. This instance points to Hemingway’s opinion on our short lived lives. We come in, do nothing, and get out. Additionally, the “nada” passage solidifies the older waiter's own battle with loneliness. Hemingway concludes the story with a nearly painful and

In the story “A Clean, Well- Lighted Place” by Earnest Hemingway begins with the main character and his co-worker in a café. The two are analyzing, and discussing a deaf, drunk Oldman, who is their last customer of the day. As the deaf old man insists on having more whiskey, the main character informs the young waiter as to why and how the old man tried to commit suicide. They began to converse about the Oldman’s depressed life. The younger waiter is in a rush to go home to his wife, while the older waiter is patient and he stands up for the Oldman, being able to relate to him. Hemingway’s sentence structure and writing style represents the comparison and contrast between setting, people, and objects, along with emphasizing how it is to have and be nothing.

In the story titled, “In Another Country”, Hemingway speaks with an Italian major at a hospital. He uses the character named “Nick” to portray his own self. One example of this is “My knee did not bend and the leg dropped straight from the knee to the ankle without a calf, and the machine was to bend the knee and make it move as riding a tricycle. But it did not bend yet, and instead the machine lurched when it came to the bending part.” (Hemingway, Ernest. "In Another Country.") Hemingway uses this to depict his own real life leg injury that he went through when fighting in war. Another example in this story is when Hemingway has his character talk to the Italian Major. He conveys his own message through him speaking with the man. “"Why must not a man marry?" "He cannot marry. He cannot marry," he said angrily. "If he is to lose everything, he should not place himself in a

Hemingway’s use of vivid style, such as juxtaposing shifts and explanatory dialogue, help reveal how people may be going through hard times ,but they deserve somewhere they do not have to think about those problems. Throughout “A Clean, well-lighted place,” shifts are used to illustrate how the characters feel and think of each other. One shift occurs when the story goes from seeing how the younger waiter feels about the old man “You should have killed yourself last week” to when the older waiter understands and relates to the old man “A clean, well-lighted place was a very different thing…. After all, he said to himself, it’s probably only insomnia” (Hemingway 9). The older waiter's feelings prove how he also goes to the cafe to escape his

In Ernest Hemingway’s “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place” the use of plot, symbolism, characters, and theme creates an intricate and complex story line. The elements of plot keep the readers engaged by guiding the reader though the story. Hemingway emphasizes on despair, loneliness, and isolation as major themes in his short story to help the reader understand the main idea. The themes represent the challenge of finding meaning in life. He also challenges the reader’s understanding of compassion though the character’s actions and thoughts. Throughout the story the reader can recognize Hemingway’s idea that as an induvial grows older their outlook on life changes significantly.

In the short story, A Clean Well-Lighted Place, author, Ernest Hemingway, suggests that life has no meaning. Hemingway’s bleak view of the meaningless of life is portrayed through the middle-aged waiter and the old man, the positive view that most readers could relate to is portrayed through the young waiter. However, the irony comes from the setting of the short story. Hemingway’s mood throughout the story is depressing and negative, which is the complete opposite of the cafe. The café is a clean, well-lighted place. Within this cafe readers discover a different outlook on life said by Hemingway. These characters experience the feeling of nothingness. The young waiter is under the impression that he is living a fulfilled life, however, he

      Hemingway's second portrayal of symbolism that a reader may distinguish is the café itself.  The café represents a sanctuary of the evilness of the world.  The namesake of the short story is a clue for the reader to see that the café would represent some form of an asylum not only from the elements of nature, but also safety from evil.  An example of the usefulness of this sanctuary is how the deaf old man uses the café as a safe-haven to be to himself after the incident where he almost succeeded in committing suicide and enjoys the comfort the café gives.  The old waiter represents in the café the kindness and caring that the café should provide; whereas the younger waiter is more of a materialistic character.  He clearly displays shallowness and selfishness.  Arthur Waldhorn writes that the older waiter helps keep the light on a little longer at the café for those, who like himself, 'do not want to go to bed.' (P 28)  The younger waiter is a protagonist in attitude of the older waiter.  The philosophy of Nihilism is brought into this theme when the older man recites the Lord's Prayer but substitutes the word "nada" for every noun in it.  Nihilism is brought onto a larger scale because it is very evident that there is nothing to believe in, even as a

Through the dialogue of “A clear, Well-Lighted Place”, Ernest Hemingway deploys a similarity between the old drunk customer and the older waiter. Their difference also sets apart the character of the older waiter to that of the younger. Once the old man to leave, the younger waiter states to the older, “You talk like an old man yourself. He can buy a bottle and drink at home” (Hemingway 169), to which the older waiter replies “It's not the same” (Hemingway 169). This develops an understanding that the older waiter, like the old drunk customer is lonely. Through their shared loneliness, the older waiter is able to connect with the old drunk customer, thus setting him apart from the younger waiter. Because the younger waiter is married and wants

In “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place,” the central theme that Hemingway suggested is that this older deaf man’s life is viewed as nothing. Nothing to live for and nothing more to do but sit in a café and enjoy a drink. He goes to this clean café to drink away his despair that he is unable to deal with. Even though he has the café to go to and drink he still leaves with feeling over nothingness and despair. As the older man is drinking at the café one late night, he ends up having two waiters. One of the waiters is an older man which seems to understand why the old man drinks away his despair. The young waiter on the other hand does not. As we read further into the short story, we learn a little more about the older deaf man and what he has dealt