A Clean, Well-Lighted Place,"" written by Ernest Hemingway, is about an old waiter and a young waiter working in a café. Also there is a deaf old man who is getting drunk in the bar. The younger waiter is aggravated that the old man will not leave the café so. The young waiter wants to get home before 3:00a.m. The old waiter would leave the café open for the old man because he reminds him of himself, who is lonely. The old waiter says, "I am of those who like to stay late at the café. With all those who do not want to go to bed. With all those who need a light for the night- (447). The story takes place in Spain around the time of World War II. The day before the old man tried to kill himself because he was in "despair- (445). The old waiter wanted to know what the old man was in despair about because he to was in despair the young waiter told him "nothing-(445) The old waiter then asked "How do you know it was nothing- and the young waiter said, "he has plenty of money-(445). The old waiter feels that just because you have money doesn't mean that your life is complete money doesn't buy everything. He feels that you can't buy love or just because you have money doesn't mean that you can't be in despair or depressed.
The young waiter wants to go home to his wife and he is mad because he never gets to go home early, "I wish he would go home. I never get to bed before three o'clock-(446). The old man asked for another brandy and the young waiter said, "Finished-. (447) The old man pays for his drinks and leaves the café. You can't tell that he is drunk because he doesn't stagger and he holds himself up well,"" a very old man walking unsteadily but with dignity- (447). The old waiter doesn't understand why the young waiter wouldn't serve the old man another brandy. The young waiter tells the old waiter, "I want to go home to bed- (467). The old waiter doesn't understand what the difference would be if they stayed open for another hour.