Communication In Ernest Hemingway's A Clean, Well-Lighted Place

Being in a state of isolation, whether it be physically or emotionally, can be tough on a person and potentially lead to self destruction. The ability to openly communicate and express your emotions is key to escaping the hardships of isolation. Today, we live in a developed society where we are encouraged to express our opinions and therefore, become more understanding of one another. However, many remain silent, what is it exactly that makes communication so difficult that we would prefer to suffer rather than giving a voice to your thoughts? Neglecting your true emotions and being dishonest with yourself will inevitably lead to a life full of distress and despair. The only method to move forward is to recognise your loneliness for what it

‘Hills like White Elephants,’ exhibits a disagreement between a man and a young girl on the abortion of their unborn child and the misery the girl must endure to save her baby. ‘Cat in the Rain,’ gives the readers an insight of a dysfunctional marriage as a result of lack of communication. ‘A Clean, Well-lighted Place,’ is based on the nightly routine of a suicidal old man in a clean, well-lighted cafe. ‘Rain,’ by Merce Rodoreda allows the reader to view the isolation of a woman as she decides to reject a possible new relationship due to fear of being heart broken again. All four short stories revolve around the same idea of how significant the power of words can be on one’s life because communication is key to successful relationships and overall

He once had a family and now he is all alone. The old man’s routine showed him sitting alone in the corner of the cafe and drinking his brandy until as late as the cafe was open. In this story, Hemingway is trying to show the readers that as a person ages and death draws nearer, they suffer from more despair and believe they no longer have a purpose in their life as a result of their isolation. It is this despair that starts to dominate a person’s life and eventually become a part of who they are. However, this suffering can be resolved with the ears of a trusting and understanding individual. Compared to the old man’s life, the young waiter’s character’s life is seen at its peak where he has a loving wife to go home to, “He's lonely. I'm not lonely. I have a wife waiting in bed for me," hence he does not sympathize with the old man. What the young waiter doesn’t understand is, his life will not remain the same forever because ageism is what caused the loneliness and hopelessness that the old man suffers from. Although, talking to someone would change the man’s life significantly, it is the clean, well-lighted setting of the cafe keeping him alive. To him, the cafe is temporary refuge from the darkness and emptiness of his home. The cafe acts as a shelter for “those who need a light for the night." The old man