Wolz 1

Mike Wolz
English 101
Mr. Hackney
13 November 2014
Analysis on A Clean, Well-Lighted Place
Multiple interpretations are always possible when analyzing literature. In psychoanalytic
criticism, characters are studied in depth in order to reveal things about them that isnt obvious,
as well as what is going on in their minds. The focus of psychoanalysis is ultimately on patterns
of behavior that are destructive to an individual. Coincidentally, Ernest Hemingways writing is
not dialogue-heavy, which raises many questions and leaves room for analysis. In his short story,
A Clean, Well-Lighted Place, the deaf old man speaks very little and information about him is
revealed through other characters instead. Because of this, there are many ideas and theories that
can be hypothesized about the old man. In Hemingways short story, A Clean, Well-Lighted
Place, symbols, characterization and conflict are used to reveal the old mans struggle for
personal power over his emotions and suicidal tendencies.
Symbols that are associated with the old man are used in order to show his struggle for
personal power. The old man is deaf and he comes to the caf that the waiters work at every
night to get drunk. It is obvious that he is struggling with depression as well as some mental
issues. Suffering a profound sadness, the old man uses alcohol to drive away his depression and
suicidal urges. Alcohol is a strong symbol in the story that is used to display the old mans
struggle for power over himself. The waiters discuss the old mans habits, Hes drunk
now[H]es drunk every night (297). This proves that the old man has nothing to do and he
simply drinks on a daily basis to combat his depression.

Wolz 2
In addition to alcohol, there is brief focus on a soldier and a girl that are walking down
the street outside the caf. The soldier is a symbol that relates to the old man. He represents the
old man when he was younger, and is simply a figure of his imagination. This shows that the old
man is longing for his past because it was better than the current state of life he is experiencing.
It is also known that the old mans wife is dead, and the girl with the soldier represents his wife.
Furthermore, this reinforces that the old man is lonely and unhappy. In support of this, Lois
Tyson describes the psychoanalytic element that is regression. Tyson writes, [O]ne of the most
complex defenses is regression, the temporary return to a former psychological state, which is
not just imagined but re-lived (18). This supports that the old man is desiring a time that he was
happy and things were simple, and he is reliving it through this memory of him and his wife
when they were younger. Ultimately, these symbols prove that the old man is struggling for
power over his depression.
In addition to symbols, Hemingway often uses characterization to reveal things about the
old man as well as his struggle for personal power. The characterization takes place in
conversation between the cafs two waiters. Likely, almost everything about the old man is
revealed through the waiters. For example, the waiters reveal the old mans suicide attempt and
how he attempted it, how wealthy he is, how much he drinks, and that he had a wife before too.
One example of characterization that stands out is when the waiters are talking about the old
mans wife. The waiters discuss, He had a wife once too[A] wife would be no good to him
now. This particular line in the story is interesting because it reveals information about the old
man. The idea is that in his old age, the man has no need for a wife because his sex drive has
diminished, and because of this, it is suggested that women are only sexual objects to the old
man now. Additionally, the old man has no emotional connections with any women because of

Wolz 3
his old age. This proves that part of the cause of the old mans depression and emotional
instability is because he lost his wife and has no immediate family.
The third element that Hemingway uses to show the old mans struggle for personal
power is conflict, specifically person vs. self. Lois Tyson describes psychoanalytic defenses, and
like regression, another one that the old man is found to use is avoidance. Tyson writes,
Defenses are processes by which the contents of our unconscious are kept in the
unconsciousDefenses include[A]voidance - staying away from people or situations that are
liable to make us anxious by stirring up some unconscious or repressed experience or emotion
(18). The avoidance defense described by Tyson supports the conflict that the old man is
experiencing with himself. The conflict is very clear: the old man gets drunk in order to avoid his
depression, memories, and suicidal urges. Furthermore, alcohol is what triggers the old mans
avoidance defense. The alcohol is what he uses to avoid reality. Conflict and avoidance also
prove the old mans struggle for personal power in addition to characterization and symbols.
In conclusion, psychoanalysis reveals a lot of information about the old man that is not
directly shown in the story or stated through dialogue. It is indirectly proven through symbols,
characterization, and conflict, that the old man is lonely, depressed, and suicidal, and he avoids
these emotions by getting drunk. Overall, A Clean, Well-Lighted Place is about an old man
that struggles for personal power over his emotions.

Works Cited
Hemingway, Ernest. "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place." The Oxford Book of American Short
Stories. Ed. Joyce Carol
Oates. New York: Oxford UP, 1992. 296-300. Print.
Tyson, Lois. Critical Theory Today. New York: Garland, 1999. Print.

Wolz 4