This short story portrays the hopelessness and loneliness of a man whose only joy is simple things. The main topics in this instance are the meaninglessness of life and one’s awareness of it. This story also concerns the desire to escape the darkness surrounding humans with at least some small joys. Moreover, the night appears literally and figuratively here, representing a lack of happiness and an unwillingness to continue living. The three characters in this story demonstrate different perspectives on life, expressing a perception of existence from other points of view.
The old man in this story is the person whose only pleasure is light and cleanliness. This character is internally desolated and unhappy, which is also evident in the fact that he attempted suicide recently. He shows no vitality, being in a pleasant place for as long as possible and not quarreling with the waiter when he is asked to leave. The older waiter treats the old man with compassion and has similar features. For instance, he substitutes many words for nada in his prayers (Hemingway 3). In this way, he demonstrates his perception of life, which he does not see much sense in it, similar to that of an old man.
In contrast, the young waiter misunderstands the value of cleanliness and light and expresses no tolerance for what seems strange to him. This character represents youth, in which one is confident in the presence of many things that are important to him. Unlike the other characters, this person is not escaping the night and is not even aware of its existence in life yet. Thus, the younger waiter finds sense in spending time with his wife and does not understand the older characters. Considering the waiter’s youth and lack of life comprehension, this young person is the opposite of an old man.
The story demonstrates how, over time, one begins to realize how little value there is in life. In addition, as the link between youth and old age, the senior waiter shows the need to treat others with understanding, as everyone, at some point, will understand the essence of life. All three characters, in this case, demonstrate the different stages of a person’s life. In the beginning, life is significant, but the longer one lives, the more darkness comes, and one can only find an escape from this in a clean and well-lighted place.
Work Cited
Hemingway, Ernest. “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place.”Yale Splash.