A Clean Well-Lighted Place by Ernest Hemingway

This short story gives the idea that it is set in a spanish speaking place like Spain because of the language and the type of currency used. It is late at night and the only people in the café are the two waiters and an elderly man. The antagonist would be the dark. The dark is what makes the old man want to stay at the café so late so he does not feel lonely at home which makes the younger waiter angry because he has to stay and tend to the old man. The protagonist is the older man who is a static character because he does not change in any way, his presence is what makes the story. The younger waiter is a developing character in that he seems to give off a sense of arrogance but he is just in a hurry to get home and does feel for the old man later on. The older waiter is also the protagonist because the story ends with his life being told. He is static throughout the story, he feels compassion for the old man because they are both the same in not wanting to be alone in the dark. The point of view is third person omniscient in how all three characters give insight of how they feel. The café can be compared to the old man in how it is clean, well kept and empty. The old man is a drunk who seems to be put together and has a good life but lonely. Dissatisfaction would be the theme. The older man and waiter are somewhat depressed and lonely and nothing seems to satisfy that depression, "nada" is what they have to look forward to.


I think this story is very sad. It makes me hope that I will not end up so alone that I cannot stand to be in my own home. It kind of reminds me of how you are afraid of the dark when you are a little kid and just a small light makes it all good. The old man needs that lighted café at night because he does not want to be alone in the dark at home. This is the only comfort he has and the younger waiter takes that away from him, even if it is just an hour. An hour can go a long way. The older waiter feels for him because he is on that same road. He too tries to avoid going home alone at night to nothing. The younger waiter is not a bad guy he just wants to get home at a decent hour rather than at three like every other night. It makes you want to enjoy all you have now because you may not have it in the long run and you could become lonely. What makes you feel for both men is the fact that everyone else thinks they are worthless and are just drunks who are out to get more drunk. In fact they are trying to get away what they fear the most and what is going to happen every day, the dark.