A CLEAN WELL LIGHTED PLACE

Say it, But Boil it...

Hemingway once wrote, "I am trying to make, before I get through, a picture of the world--or as much of it as I have seen. Boiling it down always, rather than spreading it out thin."

With "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" (1926), Ernest Hemingway succeeds in that goal. He boils down the lines, helping us to see the essence of the situation. But, he doesn't go "thin." We have what we need to see the situation, with basic truths about loneliness, sadness, aging, and human connectivity. What is it to connect with another human being--even with the shadows surrounding--in the dead of night?

Light and Shadows

The story is filled with light and shadows, as an old man sits through another sleepless night--in the quiet of a well-lighted cafe. The older waiter explains to the younger, more impatient waiter, "You do not understand. This is a clean and pleasant cafe. It is well lighted. The light is very good and also, now there are shadows of the leaves."

For a lonely, old man, the clean, well-lighted cafe is a slight respite from the darkness. He drinks himself into a drunken state, hoping that sleep will come--taking him from the quiet desperation that has already caused him to attempt suicide once (as the waiters discuss).

Anger is Dangerous

Authors Note: this is an essay about the theme “the effects of anger” as shown through Cynthia  in “My Life” as well as people from history.  These examples demonstrate how anger only hurts you not help you

Why is it that every time someone insults you  to your face , you let it slide? Or would you fight back? When this happens to you , you feel of anger an you more than likely will say something back to them.  Learning to control your anger is a very challenging thing to do.  In the novel “My Life” , by Ginna Mackle , The main character Cynthia Moore experienced many challenges to overcome  his anger.  The issue has happened many times in history too.

Cynthia the main character from the novel “My Life”  struggled with anger and that  almost  sent him to a insane asylum  , many other  in real life have also dealt with anger issues.   For Cynthia karma was very real  whenever he would do something bad It always came back to him, and hurt him in some way. The first thing he did that came back to him , is he robbed a bank and vandalizing his whole school and then going on the brag about it. What happened because of that was he had to go to Juvenile Hall. When he heard that , he went insane and beat up his mom. She ended up sending him to live with his grandma in Connecticut to change his ways.  If Cynthia would’ve been able to control his anger , he wouldn’t be in this mess.

For some of the great leaders of history , their downfalls were also anger related. One of the first great leaders of America .  Alexander the Great , was murdered because of his rage when unsuccessful  in battle . He couldn’t control his anger so his time as leader ; was passed on. He would’ve been able to control his anger he would’ve been able to achieve  a lot. One of the most infamous leaders were Adolf Hitler , his father abused him and by doing so he taught him anger and revenge although his came on a much larger scale.  There is a thin line between anger and revenge , after anger there is a sight of revenge.

The emotion of being angry is caused by your minding thinking the world or a specific person has done something unfair to you.  Followed by the emotion of revenge , revenge is when your mind is trying to make (or at least tempt) you to order out what has happened with  between the two .  Anger and revenge work hand in hand even if  aren’t with the same person. So that was the theme of the piece.