Theme Of Loneliness In Hemingway's A Clean, Well-Lighted Place

‘A Clean, Well-Lighted Place’ is a short story written by an American author known as Ernest Hemingway. The story was at first distributed in 1933 in the Scribner’s Magazine. The plot is staged in a late night café centering on an old man who happens to be deaf and is reveler on this particular night. Being the only client of the evening, he prefers dining when the night grows still (Hemingway 149). From the old man's way of life, there is evidence of theme of loneliness with the old man preferring the tranquility of a silent night alone. The loneliness of the old man is noticeable by his desire while sitting at the café, to get drunk when he asks the waiter for some more brandy. The author is possible using alcohol in the story as a way within …show more content…
The old man gets into the café because he wants to be around people, even though he is sitting alone. When the older waiter jokingly asked the younger waiter if he was afraid to go home alone, the younger waiter affirmed by saying that he was confident and was just like him which they continue disputing between themselves. Later on, in the story, the older waiter attempted to connect with the bartender, and such tendencies emphasized the sense of loneliness which was the prevalent theme in the …show more content…
During this time, the waiter seems glad that he offers a better place in the café for the lonely, just like himself, as opposed to the bars which exhibit the cruel reality of the world to its revelers. At this point, he justifies his connection with the lonely and the desolate members of the society. In a more interesting end to the story, the old water is aware that he will have to lie in bed for a long time waiting for sleep. He again terms the condition just as insomnia which he is aware affects many, not just him. In the end, everyone is portrayed to exhibit a feeling of emptiness