Sorrow and Loneliness in A Clean, Well-Lighted Place Essay

A Quiet, Cup Full of Sorrows and Loneliness

A Clean, Well-Lighted Place, by Ernest Hemingway is a story of a forlorn elderly man who drinks his life away. One night while he was having a few drinks at a quiet caf, two waiters started trying to make sense of his life. The old man was a regular, and by this time the waiters had managed to learn some things about him. As the story starts to evolve, the author uses a good sense of dialogue between the two waiters to really look into their personalities. By doing so, Hemingway builds the characters, and uses irony to establish the story.

The main character is the old man, who is illustrated by the waiters as a little drunk, and while he was a good client they knew that if he became too drunk he would leave without paying (Hemingway 143). Hemingway acknowledges the old man from the conversation of the two waiters; the deaf old man once had a wife and possibly a family, but now is alone and in the care of his niece, who saved him from a suicide attempt. The older of the two waiters seems to know quite a lot, for he understands the old man. He too appreciates the quality of good light but it is also necessary that the place be clean and pleasant. Certainly, you do not want music (146). The younger waiter is just a typical young man, he is impatient and only cares about getting home to his wife as early as possible. Having to stay late and serve the old man drinks irritates the young waiter, and he doesnt care that it shows. He doesnt understand like the older waiter nor seem to care why the old man likes to stay so long.

Hemingway demonstrates the element of irony by showing the lonely lifestyle the old man leads, and by interpreting that the older waiters life will soon lead up to that. This is clear in the older waiters statement I am of those who like to stay late at the caf. With all those who do not want to go to bed. With all those who need a light for the night (145). It is obvious that the waiter doesnt want to go home because he too is lonely just like the old man, and enjoys the mood of a well-lighted place. The atmosphere comforts him and hides him from the dark and desolate life he leads.

As the elements of fiction come together, its easy to see why Hemingway used them the way he did. They explain how people such as the young waiter, are always on the outside looking in and not really noticing that the people closest to them are the ones suffering. Furthermore, its nice to know that the older waiter understands the old man. It would be easy to think that neither of the waiters would comprehend what its like to be alone, but one knows by experience, and by noticing the old man is able to see the future that lies ahead of him. The elements tie in how Hemingway portrays the age differences of the waiters and shows the different maturity levels. The view on alcohol is also seen uniquely through the characters. The younger waiter sees it as just something one does, while the older waiter and the old man see it as a hypnotic, that numbs the pain and loneliness they feel. The alcohol gives them a pleasure that they both understand, and maybe with time the younger waiter will understand as well.