A Clean, Well-Lighted Place

What is the significance of the soldier and the girl walking by on the street? How does this short aside contribute to the story’s themes?

Why is it significant that the old man is deaf? How does this add to the meaning of the text?

The younger waiter agrees with the older waiter that drinking at home is not the same as drinking in a clean, well-lighted café. What does this reveal about the younger waiter?

The younger waiter displays disgust toward the old man in the café, yet his coworker is also “older” and has much in common with the old man. Explain the younger waiter’s relationship with his coworker. Does he feel the same way toward both men? How does this shape the character?

Explain how the old man and the older waiter view the café similarly. How do they view it differently?

What techniques does Hemingway use to help characterize the three men? How do those techniques impact how each character appears?

How is the younger waiter a foil for the older waiter? How does this shape the older waiter’s characterization, and how does this contrast relate to the story’s theme of the generational divide?

The story ends with the older waiter anticipating his future actions. What does this paragraph reveal about the character and life as a whole? How does it contribute to the story’s presentation of despair and nothingness?