In Despair about Nothing
Man is often plagued by the question of his own existence. Existentialism is a subjective philosophy that is centered upon the examination of man's existence, emphasizing the liberation, responsibility, and usually the solitude of the individual. It focuses on individuals finding a reason for living within themselves. The philosophy forces man to make choices for himself, on the premise that nothing is preordained, there is no fate. Men must find a truth in themselves, a truth that they must be able to live for. Existentialism is in harsh contrast to a belief in a higher power or a god. "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" is a story by Ernest Hemingway about men in successive stages in the philosophy of existentialism, revealing ultimately how the philosophy will fail them.Nothingness is a condition man is faced with when his life has no meaning, when there is no reason to exist. It is the hollowness or emptiness man experiences when he feels that his life has no significant meaning. If there is nothing to believe in, then life is nothing. The older waiter in the story recognizes the existence of nothing: "Some lived in it and never felt it but he knew it all was nada y pues nada y pues nada y pues nada" (202). As existentialists, men
The older waiter is the best example of a successful existentialist in the story. He is very aware of the nothingness and has found his truth: "It was all nothing and a man was nothing too. It was only that and light was all it needed and a certain cleanness and order" (202). The older waiter's reason for existence is his occupation "because there may be some one who needs the cafe" (201). Because there is a need for the cafe, there is a need for the waiter, thus validating his life. The pleasant light and cleanliness of the cafe represent the order and pleasantness that the waiter has created for himself by finding his truth. However, much like the younger waiter, the older waiter seems to rely desperately on this truth: "It is the light of course but it is necessary that the place be clean and pleasant. You do not want music. Certainly you do not want music. Nor can you stand before a bar with dignity although that is all that is provided for these hours" (202). The waiter tells himself that he does not fear the nothingness when he says, "What did he fear? It was not fear or dread" (202). However, the older waiter has trouble sleeping: "He would lie in the bed and finally, with daylight, he would go to sleep. After all, he said to himself, it is probably only insomnia. Many must have it" (202). Once again light is used in the story. But this time it is not the artificial light man has created. It is natural light, which represents the truth of a life with a higher power. A truth that the older waiter is afraid to face, for it would destroy the truth that he has constructed for himself. By sleeping during the daylight, ignoring the truth of the daylight, and mocking religion, the older waiter helps to subdue his fears of confronting his own nothingness. Nothingness is a feeling that man, no matter what his beliefs, is faced with from time to time. However a man of religious faith can fall back on the belief that his life is in the hands of his creator. It is comforting to
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Approximate Word count = 1340
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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