“A Clean, Well-Lighted Place” is a short story by Ernest Hemingway
in which two waiters must wait for their last customer to leave before they can close up. A young waiter is impatient to get home to his wife.
What is the plot of A Clean, Well-Lighted Place?
Plot Summary (2)
An old waiter struggles to find a sense of meaning and dignity in his life amidst a world that is seemingly “full of nothing”
. The film begins with two waiters conversing with each other while they wait for the last customer of the night to leave.
What is the central idea of A Clean, Well-Lighted Place?
The first theme of the story is
loneliness
. Both the older waiter and the old man appreciate the cafe because it provide a “clean, well-lighted place” to drink and hang out, providing an illusion of company, unlike their own homes, where they feel their loneliness more acutely.
What is the climax of A Clean, Well-Lighted Place?
The climax of “A Clean Well-Lighted Place” is
as quiet and subtle as the story itself
. Throughout the story, the young waiter wants to close the cafe early, while the older waiter wants to remain open, at least until their regular closing time.
What does light symbolize In A Clean, Well-Lighted Place?
In “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place,” darkness symbolizes despair while light symbolizes
safety, refuge, and compassion
, especially when accompanied by cleanliness and order.
What is the importance of the idea of nothing in Hemingway’s story?
mwestwood, M.A. Spanish for nothing, nada in Hemingway’s “A Clean Well-Lighted Place” represents the
author’s understanding of nihilism, the belief that life is without objective meaning
. Without any meaning in his life, the old man has attempted suicide, but has been saved by others.
Why is it called A Clean, Well-Lighted Place?
The title of Ernest Hemingway’s short story, “A Clean Well-Lighted Place,” on the surface refers
to the old man’s preference of the night life available in the town
. Unlike the younger waiter, who likes the more lively atmosphere of noisy bars and bodegas, the old man seeks out a…
Who is the protagonist in A Clean, Well-Lighted Place?
The protagonist is
the older waiter
. He is the character who embodies the story’s overriding theme of existential angst in the face of nothingness.
What the significance of alcohol in the story A Clean, Well-Lighted Place?
Alcohol serves as an anesthetic
in “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place,” allowing the old man to dull the pain of a meaningless existence. Drinking at a café, in Hemingway’s story, is a way of participating in society, even if one drinks alone there.
What is the rising action in A Clean Well Lighted Place?
The Rising Action
The waiters discuss about why he tried to commit suicide. The old man asks for a brandy which is a drink
.
Why do you think the old man attempted suicide in A Clean Well Lighted Place?
The old man has tried to stave off despair in several unsuccessful ways. We learn that he has
money
, but money has not helped. We learn that he was once married, but he no longer has a wife. We also learn that he has unsuccessfully tried to commit suicide in a desperate attempt to quell the despair for good.
HOW IS A Clean Well Lighted Place an example of modernist literature?
Ernest Hemingway’s short story titled “A Clean Well-Lighted place” deals with the loneliness, isolation, and depression felt by many during the modernist period. … This story is the perfect example of the modernist form
because it questions the meaning of life
.
What is the purpose of the description and dialogue about a girl and a soldier?
What is the purpose of the description and dialogue about “a girl and a soldier”?
The soldier represents the stability the cafe gives to the old man; the soldier wears a uniform and walks a steady pace, relating how to the cafe gives the man a steady sense of effort
.
What characteristics of modernism are there in A Clean, Well-Lighted Place?
First published in 1933, the famous short story “A Clean Well Lighted Place” is a classic example of Hemingway’s modernistic approach.
The language is simple and basic, without any frills
. The story is a truncated set piece, seemingly without a beginning or an ending.
What chases away the dark A Clean, Well-Lighted Place?
The answer is simple –
light chases
away the dark.
Is it insomnia that is keeping the old waiter awake?
The older waiter, too, is lonely. He lives alone and makes a habit of staying out late rather than going home to bed. But there is more to the older waiter’s “insomnia,” as he calls it, than just loneliness. … The older waiter recognizes himself in the old man and sees his own future.
