What does light signify in the story, “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place”?
Answer The idea of a well-lighted place is of great significance to this short story. It illuminates the connection between the old man and the older waiter, both of whom favor well-lighted places especially at night. A well-lighted atmosphere is an atmosphere in which the old man and older waiter can escape their loneliness. In the darkness of the night, the men are more vulnerable to thoughts of suicide and despair. Darkness and sleep must be avoided, for in these states there is nothingness, “nada.” The old man and the older waiter have nothing to go home to except darkness. The younger waiter, on the other hand, has a wife to go home to, and is therefore anxious to close up the café. When he refuses to refill the old man’s brandy, the older waiter wonders what difference an extra hour would make. The older waiter can empathize with the old man and understands his attraction to a clean, well-lighted place. On some level, the younger waiter may also understand why the old man prefers
