A Clean Well-Lighted Place Essay

In Ernest Hemingway’s “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place” the older waiter goes through morose character transformation. In the beginning he is extremely unware of how empty his life is, but as the story progresses he understands that there is truly nothing that can bring him joy or fulfillment.
In the beginning of “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place” the older waiter shows the significant difference between younger and older people. He demonstrates this by seeing certain similarities between him and both the old man and waiter. Giving a reason to believe that he might be going through a midlife crisis. The older waiter is very uncertain whether he is older or younger, and if he has things to live for or not. A good example of this is when he has a conversation with
He starts to become disheartened because there is nothing left in his life but the cafe that works at. The older waiter confesses to the younger waiter that “each night i am reluctant to close up because there may be someone who needs it” (154). He is reluctant to close because he is the one that needs the cafe. This can be because his job is the only thing left he has to live for in life that gives it meaning, that working hard gives him something to look forward to. The older waiter also come to the realization that “I am one of those who like to stay late at the cafe” (154). He realizes that he is already like the old man because some nights after work he goes to bar and has a drink; however, none are as nice as the cafe because he is not as rich as the old man. He does this because his house is lonely and that there is no one in the house to keep him company. In conclusion, the older waiter is saddened that he has nothing and no one is his life, so now he has to spend the rest of his days in a awake, weary, and lonely in a dusty