A Clean Well Lighted Place

Every night the darkness envelopes you. You feel alone, and it seems as though life is passing you by in a blur. In the story “A Clean Well Lighted Place” written by Hemingway, symbolism isn’t about happiness, it’s about death.

First, the old man in the story represents hopelessness. He sits alone in a dark diner, dreaming of death and peacefulness. His depression is so strong throughout this story that he refuses to sleep in the dark, he will only sleep when it is light outside and all bad has gone. A few paragraphs into the story, the waiter talks about the old man being deaf. This results in the old man seeing things that may not actually be there in the night, and that could be the reason he is terrified of the dark.

Although the old man is the main character, when the darkness comes it takes over the life of him. Darkness is a very powerful thing, it sucks the life of people and things, making them obey as it pleases. People can change a lot just by the light of the day. They could be the most proper well dressed person during the day, and turn into someone that does drugs at night. It’s true that people can become something they’re not just by the flick of a light switch.

While the darkness can take you over throughout the night, the light is what makes the life in you come back. The light for the old man is when he does not feel afraid anymore. He can finally get some rest and feel the freedom of sleep. But while in the night, evil lurks the streets near, and the old man feels the fear arise back in him. Throughout the story the old man’s light is small, he never really feels safe unless he in the presence of someone or the light overcomes his fears.

Overall this story shows great emotion, whether it’s because of the thrilling darkness, or the light that helps you break through your shell. Not only that but you can truly feel the despair radiating off of the old man as he sits in the old bar just waiting for the light to show. But rest assured “A Clean Well Lighted Place” is truly a one of a kind story, and has one of a kind symbolism to go with it.