Hemmingway Essay

Did you know that over 1,000,000 people commit suicide every year? And even more people attempt it; sometimes you just have to sit back and realize all of the amazing things in life. In the story "A Clean Well Lighted Place" one of the main characters decides to attempt the taking of his own life; he also is very similar to another main character who happens to obtain a more positive outlook on things. Interestingly enough, the author also obtains these similarities.

The two main characters in this story, the old man and the old waiter, are very similar in some ways. First of all, they're both lonely. When the younger waiter kicks the old man out of the café, the old waiter questions him; not understanding why the younger waiter would be in such a rush to get home; why would a couple of hours' difference matter? And the difference really is that the young waiter has a life; he wants to get home to his wife instead of hanging around at his job. Meanwhile, the old waiter wants to stay; he has nothing to come home to and enjoys the company and closure that comes from the café. He understand the lonely people that come there because he is the same way. He even says "I am one of those who likes to stay late at the café, With all of those who do not want to go to bed. With all of those who need a light for the night." And that’s really what it comes down to. The old man is the same way; he is already disconnected from people because of the disability of his deafness, each night that will understand how he feels. Maybe that’s why he attempted suicide earlier on in the story, because he was so lonely and didn't feel like he was understood.

Ironically, the author of this story, Hemingway, committed suicide at an elderly age just like the old man in the story attempted to. So did many other people in Hemmingway's life including his father, Clarence, and siblings, Ursula and Leicester. Along with Hemingway , these people seemed to lack a appreciation for life. Yet, why throw away all of the beauties of life? All of the wonderful moments and loved ones taken away from you. There usually is a reason for things, but it seems that Hemingway lived a full life. It was full of many experiences and loved ones. Even if the reason is unknown for sure, he must have had one.

Suicide could be the result for many things from Cyber bullying to Family problems or even the loss of a job. And for whatever reason suicide rates for young adults have increased largely, however the highest suicide rate happens to be the elderly which Hemingway was when he committed suicide. Overall, on average every 11.3 people out of 100,000 people have committed suicide . But sadly, for every death there is a an estimated eleven attempts. It’s a sad fact that suicide rates are so high, so many people take the wonders of life for granted, and once they're gone; they're gone.

In the story "A Clean Well Lighted Place" the old man had his niece to save him, but the thing is; people don’t always have that one niece to save them. And people just don't realize what they're throwing away. It's like that one saying people always say; you don’t realize how good it is until it's gone.