He constructs three characters who are identified by their age and occupation. These three men are symbolic representations of human beings at different stages of their lives. The old man is retired and nearing the end of his life, the young waiter's career is only just beginning and the middle-aged waiter is represents the transitory phase between youth and senescence. Hemingway's representation of the three men draws, the reader's attention to these key aspects of age and profession. The old man has lived his life and although he is wealthy, he has realised that this world has nothing more to offer him and the next world doesn't exist. His wife has died and he is an inconvenience to the rest of his family:

"I wouldn't want to be that old. An old man is a nasty thing ... You should have killed yourself last week." The younger waiter is desensitised and indifferent towards the old man and regards him as unimportant. He resents the old man's presence because it prevents him from returning home to his wife and family. In a capitalist society, the old are sometimes viewed by the young as being unproductive and an irritating burden to society. However, the old man's accumulated wealth empowers him and the younger waiter is forced to serve him. His resentment is highlighted by his actions: " ... the waiter took the brandy bottle and another saucer and ... marched out to the old man's table." The young waiter begrudgingly serves the old man and goes through the repetitive motions with little enthusiasm: the verb "marched" conveys a notion of obedience as the waiter must respond to the dictates of the old man. The waiter believes that his time is important because he has purpose in life: he has a job, a wife and home and his whole life in front of him.

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1075
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)