A Clean, Well-Lighted Place

The ending of this story is very laconic and brief.  Throughout the story, the old man is understanding, sympathetic and observant.  He has come to realize that as he continues to grow old he has nothing to live for anymore.  Both the old man and the old waiter like shadows and are talked about when they are in a shadow.  Shadows are symbolic of the old man and the old waiter of their emotional distress.  The old men like the shadows which shows their lack of happiness, and depression.  It shows that they can be in a clean well lighted place but they can be lonely in the shadows still because they go home to nothing and they have nothing to live for.  In the end, the narrator says, "He would lie in the bed and finally, with daylight, he would go to sleep.  After all. he said to himself, it is probably only insomnia.  Many must have it."  The old waiter came to an epiphany in this moment because he came to a realization of what his life is consisted of, nothing.