A Clean, Well-Lighted Place Essay -- Literary Analysis, Ernest Hemingw

Hu globe life story Torture of the MindErnest Hemingway captures the essence and origins of nihilistic thought in A Clean, light array, written in a time of spectral and moral confusion shortly after The Great War. The ideas expressed in this short story represent the post World War 1 thinking of Hemingway, and the notoriously nihilistic Lost Generation in Paris, which was greatly influenced by the many traumas of war. Learning from his unnerving experiences in battle, Hemingway enforces the idea that each humans will inevitably fade into eternal nothingness and everything precious by humans is worthless. He develops this idea by creating a pictorial mockery of two coveted religious documents, revealing authority figures as typical, despicable, human beings, and he reduces life into the most raw, simplistic, and frightening reality imaginable. Hemingway states that all humans will naturally die alone and literally be in discouragement about nothing (494), and that people will both seek a calm and pleasant caf (496), or a self-inflicted expiration simply to escape despair. Undoubtedly, Hemingway eliminates any consideration of a higher marrow because he believes that life is all a nothing, and a man is nothing in like manner (496). By viewing the actions of three different generations, Hemingways A Clean, Well-Lighted Place elaborates on the idea that human life is not regular enlightenment and growth, plainly gradual despair, and an inevitable death into nada (497). The untested and confident waiter, representing the youngest of the three male generations, is the only apparent spec of existentialist thought in the story. However, this young man is simply an unconcerned existentialist due to his age he is not in despair bec... ...ed Place, represent the opinions and views of one typical person, in one ordinary life. The opus of a world of nothingness is overwhelming to the human brain, and almost inconceivable, and everything we do in this life is simply designed to help us lead our mind off of death suicide is the ultimate escape from despair over nothing (494). Hemingways brilliant transitions in time develop how life eventually grows worse with age, and humans will succumb to suicide, drunkenness, or something comforting and safe, much like a clean, well-lighted caf. Further, Hemingway has shown the world that man has created many bogus ways to cope with the insurmountable fear of nothingness, namely religion. Bluntly, people can try to kid their selves into feeling soulful, genuine, or meaningful, but there is no need to fear for the human soul, as it is non-existent.