A Clean Well-Lighted Place

A detailed Summary of A Clean Well-Lighted Place


A Clean, Well-Lighted Place," written by Ernest Hemingway, is about an old waiter and a young waiter working in a cafe. Also there is a deaf old man who is getting drunk in the bar. The younger waiter is aggravated that the old man will not leave the cafe so. The young waiter wants to get home before 3:00a.m. The old waiter would leave the cafe open for the old man because he reminds him of himself, who is lonely. The old waiter says, "I am of those who like to stay late at the cafe. With all those who do not want to go to bed. With all those who need a light for the night" (447). The story takes place in Spain around the time of World War II. The day before the old man tried to kill himself because he was in "despair" (445). The old waiter wanted to know what the old man was in despair about because he to was in despair the young waiter told him "nothing"(445) The old waiter then asked "How do you know it was nothing" and the young waiter said, "he has plenty of money"(445). The old waiter feels that just because you have money doesn't mean that your life is complete money doesn't buy everything. He feels that you can't buy love or just because you have money doesn't mean that you can't be in despair or depressed.


The two waiters close up the cafe and the young waiter goes home to his wife and the old waiter goes to a bar. As the old waiter was closing he was saying the Lord's Prayer but was using the word "nada", which means nothing. He says the prayer like this maybe because he was angry that he was alone, angry because the cafe was closing, or angry because he was in despair. The old waiter has a cup of coffee and makes a comment to the bartender, "the light is very bright and pleasant but the bar is unpolished" (448). After he drank his cup he went home and was in bed and when the sunlight came he went to sleep.

he young waiter wants to go home to his wife and he is mad because he never gets to go home early, "I wish he would go home. I never get to bed before three o'clock"(446). The old man asked for another brandy and the young waiter said, "Finished". (447) The old man pays for his drinks and leaves the cafe. You can't tell that he is drunk because he doesn't stagger and he holds himself up well," a very old man walking unsteadily but with dignity" (447). The old waiter doesn't understand why the young waiter wouldn't serve the old man another brandy. The young waiter tells the old waiter, "I want to go home to bed" (467). The old waiter does

Some common words found in the essay are:
War II, Lord's Prayer, Ernest Hemingway, waiter cafe, Clean Well-Lighted, doesn't understand, waiter doesn't understand, waiter feels, waiter doesn't, home bed, money doesn't, waiter home, leave cafe, money doesn't mean, cafe waiter, 447 waiter,

Approximate Word count = 851
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Novels

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