"A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" by Ernest Hemingway

The empty swimming pool pictured above represents the theme of nothingness in the story. In the fall, winter, and spring time this pool is good for nothing. That is the way the old man feels he has no purpose in life, there is only nothingness and emptiness. The Nihilistic theme comes about a couple different times in the story, which is the belief that there is no God to believe in.




The Café portrays the setting of the story which takes place in a café. There are different types of cafes, there is a big difference between the “well-lighted ones” and the dark bodegas or bars. The setting is very critical to the story, not only is it the cause for the title, but it sets the tone for the storyline. The old man just wants to have a drink, he is old and probably has a hard time seeing. The atmosphere of the little café is also good because there are “shadows of the leaves” which is another large symbol.



Light and darkness are very large symbols in “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place.” The Lightness of the café is a safe place for the darkness of reality. In the café the old man can drink in peace. He is already very alone in the world, so coming to a nice clean place with a good atmosphere is important to him. In general light usually portrays happiness and joy, while dark is loneliness and fear, so that is good to keep in mind when thinking about how they play into the story.




The picture of this sheep, alone and isolated, represents the character of the old man. He is deaf which really disconnects him from the world. This man is extremely lonely and wants to die, but is forced to live by his niece. The old man has nothing to live for so he is basically drinking his problems away night after night.