A Clean, Well-Lighted Place: Critical Response
The story occurred in a clean well – lighted café which symbolizes the need of every lonely man. The old man drinks in the café until it closes because he does not want to go home and face his problems or loneliness he would rather pass his time drinking in a clean and bright café because it is the exact opposite of what he is running away from, the nothingness and darkness of being alone. As with the old waiter, he also does not want to go home yet because he does not want to sulk alone in the night. He also mentioned why people likes better a well-lighted and clean café than dark clubs because it is precisely the darkness they are running away from. One can also see the contrast between the young and the old waiter. The young waiter is eager to go home and wanted the old man to go because he has a wife waiting for him. On the other hand the old waiter although he understands his comrade, he still finds a place to drink because he does not want to go home yet. Besides he has no one to go home to. The similarities between the old man and old waiter are seen as well. They are both treating the clean and well-lighted place as their companion, as their escape from their lonesome and sleepless dark nights.