Hemingway

Ernest Hemingway lived through tough life changing experiences. As a young man he saw a lot of action and violence during WWI in which he probably will never forget. He also had the experience of loving someone and then having that person leave for another person.  Anyone would be depressed after these experiences and you see this in Hemingway’s short story "A Clean - Well Lighted Place".  

He puts his life experiences into his characters, like the old man and the older waiter. They both have nothing except the cafe. He talks about the old man like he is almost an outcast living in the shadows barely recognized by few. He is lost and doesn't have anyone in his life that truly cares for him. Life has no meaning except at the cafe.  The older waiter understands the old man, because he too is lonely and enjoys the comfort of the café.  He doesn’t see any meaning to life, especially when he recites his prayer using the word “nada” many times.  Coming out of War, Hemingway’s attitude towards life was negative and questioning what meaning life really has. 


"You do not understand. This is a clean and pleasant cafe. It is well lighted. The light is very good and also, now, there are shadows of the leaves."
               - Ernest Hemingway, "A Clean Well-Lighted Place"