" A Clean Well Lighted Place"

What are the thought patterns between the younger and older generations? Does being secure or insecure play a role in today’s society? And, how is the world viewed through the different disabilities of life? Ernest Hemmingway’s short story takes place in a café late in the evening after the dew has settled to the earth. The main characters are two waiters, one is older than the other, and an older gentleman that frequently visit’s the café.
The mental thought of a younger individual versus an older person are considerably different. The younger thought process are impulsive, while the older is well thought out and empathetic to the needs of others. Ernest Hemmingway’s short story “A Clean Well Lighted Place” showed disparity between the thought processes. While the younger waiter is overly anxious to go home, and at the same time wishing the deaf man had completed his suicidal thoughts. The older waiter is patient and empathetic to disabilities of the deaf man. Who only wants to enjoy the atmosphere of a clean lighted place while sipping on a small glass of brandy. The older waiter sees himself as the lonely
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old man, while the younger waiters attention is focused only on his selfish mental thought process.
Fear and darkness is a lonely place for an older individual. Youth and confidence has no fears on being secure. The young looks to the future, while the older is waiting patiently on the final curtains of life to come. The light in the Hemmingway story was
important to the old man. He was deaf therefore his vision played an important role in his safety and feeling secure. When one sense fails another heightens. To see movement of the tree swaying back and forth in the light showed signs of life still flourishing. All while his silence of being deaf could have meant the ending of life.
This brings another thought about in “A Clean, Well Lighted Place”, how those with disabilities are perceived? Have you ever thought of what a person feels living in the world of silence? It cannot be easy not hearing the voices of others talking or the chirping of the birds as you awake in the morning. Because of this, one with a disability will never experience that aspect of life. Light offers security to those who have hearing deficits. It is important to be aware of your surroundings at all times in order to feel ultimately safe.
In conclusion, Ernest Hemmingway’s “ A Clean, Well Lighted Place” has increased my awareness and sensitivity to the disabilities of others. Through an old mans deafness and loneliness, I have learned respect and compassion. While a young man has his youth and confidence, an old man embraces life, cleanliness, and dignity in spite of his insobriety.


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