A Clean, Well-Lighted Place

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A Clean, Well-Lighted Place is a short story by Ernest Hemingway, first published in 1926. It was later included in his 1933 collection, Winner Take Nothing.

[edit] Plot summary

It's late evening. In the café there are two waiters (old and young) and the old man who is sitting outside on the terrace. "The old man liked to sit late because he was deaf and now at the night it was quiet and he felt the difference". He was drunk as usually. Waiters are chatting about the old who tried to commit suicide last week. Young waiter has no idea why he wanted to kill himself: "He was in despair" (...) "He has plenty of money".

After a while the old man wants another glass of brandy. The young waiter comes to him and refuse to give him another glass: "You will be drunk". And then he just goes away back inside the café. Young waiter starts to complain about the old man. "I'm sleepy(...) he should have killed himself last week". Then he takes the brandy bottle and marches out to the old man's table. And says this word directly to the old man.

After than in the café both waiters are talking about reason of committing suicide by the old. From this talk we can understand that he hung himself with a rope, and that it was his niece that cut him down. Young waiter again says that the old man should go home because he wants go to his wife. The young cannot understand that the old man (as well as older waiter) likes to stay in the café longer: "He's lonely. I'm not lonely. I have a wife waiting in bed for me."- he said. Again we can see that young waiter has no regard towards the old. He describe the old as "an nasty thing". And one more time older waiter try to explain few things to younger. The deaf man wants another glass. But the waiter who was in a hurry persuade him <<with that omission of syntax stupid people employ when talking to drunken people or foreigners. "No more tonight. Close now".>> The old man pays for the brandy and gives a tip for waiter.

Both waiters are putting the shutter. This time they are talking about a matter of being lonely, feeling no fear about going home before usual hours. Young man: "I'm confidence. I am all confidence." Then he says that older one has the same things as he. But for older says "No. I have never had confidence and I am not young (...) I am of those who like to stay late at the café," the older waiter said. "With all those who do not want to go to bed. With all those who need a light for the night." Young waiter seems not to understand idea of well-lighted and clean place where the old can escape from loneliness. "..there are shadows of the leaves"- older says. Well-lighted is a contras with the darkness of the death and bad thoughts. The darkness must be avoided because in the darkness everything is a "nada" (Spanish 'nothing'). After 'good night' before young went out older waiter starts his monologue about "nada" which sounds like The Lord's Prayer

Our nada who art in nada, nada be thy name thy kingdom nada thy will be nada in nada as it is in nada. Give usthis nada our daily nada and nada us our nada as we nada our nadas and nada us not into nada but deliver us from nada; pues nada. Hail nothing full of nothing, nothing is with thee.

After that he smiled (no respect toward God).

"What's yours?" asked the barman.

"Nada."

"Otro loco mas," said the barman and turned away.

The story ends with this words: Now, without thinking further, he would go home to his room. Hewould lie in the bed and finally, with daylight, he would go to sleep. After all, he said to himself, it's probably only insomnia. Many must have it.

[edit] Reaction

James Joyce once remarked: "He (Hemingway) has reduced the veil between literature and life, which is what every writer strives to do. Have you read 'A Clean Well-Lighted Place'?...It is masterly. Indeed, it is one of the best short stories ever written..." [1] [2]

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