A Clean Well-Lighted Place

Describe the setting. Why is the idea of "A Clean, well-Lighted Place" so significant to this short story?

The setting of the story is inside of a cafe in a Spain. The cafe is one know to serve alcohol. The cafe is described to be well-lit and clean.

Why are the characters nameless?

The characters remain nameless in the story because the point of the story is not about who the characters are its about what they represent. The young waiter represents a husband that works to support his family but he is still young so he needs to sleep and spend time with his wife. The deaf man represents a drunk that has money but doesn't have anything else to do besides drink away any of his pains. The older waiter also doesn't have family so working late is not a problem for him because it keeps him occupied.

What is the connection between the old man and the older waiter? What is the purpose of the younger waiter in the story?

In the story there is a connection between the old man and the old waiter. The young waiter has a wife and had other commitments to make than staying at the cafe until three in the morning. Where as the old waiter does not have a problem stay at the cafe until whatever time he wants. The old man likes to stay at the cafe as well until he gets way to drunk and its time for him to leave. The old waiter can relate the old man because he doesnt have family or anything to go home to either. The old waiter has a bottle of alcohol sitting by his bed at all times because just like the old man he is also a drunk. The purpose of the younger waiter to show what both of the old men were like when they were younger. The younger waiter has a wife and both of the old men had wife's at one point and now they have live lonely and drink.

What is the plot?

The story starts out at a cafe where an older and younger waiter both work. Its late in the night and they have one customer left who is a deaf old man probably in his 80's. They sit there and watch him as he drinks quit a few glasses of brandy. Then when the old man asks for more the younger waiter tells the man "no" that their closing up and he was to go home. Then the younger waiter leaves to go home to his wife. The older waiter stays and gets a drink from the barman and finally goes home and lays on his bed waiting for the next days sunrise.

What is the theme of the story?

The theme of the story is solidarity. In the story the young waiter is described as being youthful and confident. His life is going good for him, he doesn't have to worry about getting old and what life will be years from now. Where the old men have already reached a point in their lives where they just don't care anymore. They turn to alcohol to drink away any of their pains and sorrows. They believe that their youthful days are over so being in a lit place takes away some of their depression.

http://www.bookrags.com/studyguide-welllightedplace/themes.html

Who is Ernest Hemingway,? What about him is related to the story?

Ernest Hemingway was an American writer and a journalist. He typically writes stories about men who display "grace under pressure." He was also a soldier in World War 1. In the story Hemingway uses the old man to describe himself. The old man had attempted to commit suicide but failed. Just as Hemingway had tried but his wife and sent him to a mental institute. In the story the old man is also an alcoholic who drinks every night just like Hemingway who had been a heavy drinker throughout his whole life.

http://www.biographybase.com/biography/Hemingway_Ernest.html