A Clean, Well-Lighted Place | Social Sensitivity
The human fear that life, in and of itself, does not have any intrinsic meaning is the most resounding issue broached in "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place." It is not often a pleasant issue to discuss with others, but it lies at the root of cognitive thought: Is there a higher order in the world? Does an individual life have meaning in and of itself? The older waiter hints at these thoughts throughout his dialogues with the younger waiter, the patrons at the cafe, and the bartender, but he brings these topics to the fore when Hemingway reveals the man's inner dialogue as the waiter ponders...
[The entire page is 615 words long]
Join eNotes
Over 3,500 study guides, question and answer forums, literature criticism, reference content, and much more!
Navigate
Tell a friend about A Clean, Well-Lighted Place at eNotes.
