A Clean, Well-lighted Place

How does Hemingway use light and dark as symbols? How do the shadows fit in?

In this short story, the light and darkness of the café really carry throughout this piece. Initially, the lighting in the café represents life and being able to, or allowed to, provide for strangers. The older, and wiser, waiter constantly mentions the fact that the café is very well lit, clean, and pleasant for visitors. He also mentions the fact that people may want to come into the café at a late hour for the comfort of the lighting and warmth of the café. This is interesting, though, that the younger waiter mentions nothing about the lighting because all he wants is to go home. Lighting in this piece could also represent grace and lovingness towards others due to the care that the older waiter is showing while mentioning the well lit café often, compared to the younger waiter who does not bring up that fact. Additionally, the darkness symbolizes what they are discussing. The older, drunken man that was sitting in the only shadowed place in the café symbolizes the topic the waiters were discussing. The two waiters were talking about the man, specifically about the fact that he is always showing up drunk late at night when all they want is to head home to sleep. If it wasn’t for the shadowy corner, there would be no man and no topic to talk over.