"A Clean, Well-Lighted Place."

My first experience reading this story left me confused and disoriented; the story is delivered in an awkward but ultimately fulfilling manor. I read it twice more and things began to come together as I began to understand the pessimism this story is rooted upon. It appears that Hemingway expresses the view of two men (the older waiter and the old man) who thoroughly believe that there is no purpose in life and nothing after death. This overtone, solidified in the old waiter's mock prayer, gives the two depressed old late-night cafe-goers almost a respectful and graceful appearance for accepting life's so-called "nada." Instead of drinking at home in misery, the men seek out a clean and well lighted cafe to avoid the powerful emptiness and loneliness that darkness exhibits upon those who have descended into the cold winter of his or her life. The younger waiter represents the naive, green point of view that people share before realizing the ultimate fate that time brings all of us. Other possible story leads can also be pursued in this story, such as the closing line referring to the old waiter's insomnia. Perhaps the waiter can empathize with the old man because he evidently can see that the old man shares a common ailment: maybe a regret or traumatic experience that only alcohol and staying up until sunrise can numb. This expressed empathy can be traced to the natural human desire to be normal and therefore seek out others to accompany oneself in the case of such a feeling as misery. I could easily go on for pages about the intricate use of symbolism in the story, such as the leaves and the unpolished bar, but i feel like I have gotten my main points across. I enjoyed this story and feel that there is still more to learn from it.