Comparative Reading of Hemingway's “A Clean Well-Lighted Place” and William Faulkner’s “The Bear”



Learning Points 


1. Students are encouraged to reflect on the essential literary components of both "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" by Ernest Hemingway and "The Bear" by William Faulkner through this comparison.

2. The essay also engages students by connecting the themes of the narrative to broader ones discovered in comparative studies.

3. In this essay, students are challenged to consider the tension between egotism and empathy.


OVERVIEW OF BOTH THE STORIES


There are two distinct types of stories in both William Faulkner's "The Bear" and Hemingway's "A Clean Well-Lighted Place." The first narrative, which spans more than 100 pages and takes place over the course of more than ten years, is about a teenager named Ike's "growing up." The second story, about the terrible fate of an elderly man, is finished in a few hours and only requires a few pages. The first one exhibits essentially a wide range of characters and is written in a free-flowing rhetorical narrative. The latter employs a thinly populated cast of characters and sparse amounts of dialogue. There isn't much action in the second story, but there is plenty of it in the first. The iconic short story "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" by Ernest Hemingway encompasses Modernism, Minimalism, and Nihilism. These three philosophical ideas are critical to gain a better understanding and appreciation for the story. Added to other great expenses, the precarious, constantly shifting interaction between human civilization and nature is explored in William Faulkner's "The Bear."

Ernest Hemingway's "A Clean Well-Lighted Place" and William Faulkner's "The Bear" are two classic pieces of American literature that share some similarities and differences in terms of style, theme, and structure.


Points of Similarities


Ernest Hemingway's "A Clean Well-Lighted Place" and William Faulkner's "The Bear"  are written in a minimalist style, with simple and direct language. They both focus on the essentials, bare minimum and leave much unsaid, allowing the reader to imagine and interpret what lies beneath the surface. They are like an unison exploration of the relationship between man and nature, and the impact it has on the human experience. In "A Clean Well-Lighted Place," the cafe serves as a place of refuge from the darkness and chaos of the outside world, while in "The Bear," the wilderness is a place of testing and growth for the protagonist, Ike McCaslin. Central theme  encompasses loneliness and isolation. In "A Clean Well-Lighted Place," the two waiters are lonely individuals seeking comfort in their work, while in "The Bear," Ike is isolated from the rest of society and must come to terms with his own solitude.


Points of Differences


Ernest Hemingway's "A Clean Well-Lighted Place" and William Faulkner's "The Bear" have different narrative structures. "A Clean Well-Lighted Place" is told from a third-person point of view, while "The Bear" switches between first- and third-person perspectives. The physical setting of the two stories is different. "A Clean Well-Lighted Place" takes place in a cafe in Spain, while "The Bear" takes place in the wilderness of the American South. But it is to be remembered that the real setting is the human heart. More precisely "A Clean Well-Lighted Place" focuses on the inner lives of its characters, while "The Bear '' focuses on their actions and the events that take place in the wilderness as well as in consciences , "A Clean Well-Lighted Place" is melancholic and contemplative, while "The Bear" is adventurous and thrilling.


Structural perspective of the stories


"A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" and "The Bear" both have unique structures that contribute to their themes and impact on the readers.


"A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" has a simple and straightforward structure that reflects the minimalist style of the story. Even though written in barely four pages, It is divided into three parts: the first part introduces the two waiters and their conversation about the old man who frequents the cafe; the second part focuses on the thoughts and feelings of one of the waiters as he reflects on his own loneliness; and the third part returns to the conversation between the two waiters as they prepare to close the cafe. This structure creates a cyclical effect, emphasizing the repetitiveness of the waiters' lives and the sense of timelessness that pervades the story.


"The Bear" has a more complex structure that reflects the narrative's exploration of different perspectives and experiences. The story is divided into multiple sections, each of which is told from a different point of view and focuses on different events and characters. The sections are interspersed with passages that provide background information on the history and mythology of the land, as well as on the lives and experiences of the characters. This structure allows the story to delve into the multiple perspectives and experiences that shape the relationship between man and nature in the wilderness, and to explore the impact of this relationship on the individual and collective experiences of the characters.


The minimalist structure of "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" reflects the story's focus on the essential, while the complex structure of "The Bear" reflects the story's exploration of different perspectives and experiences. Both structures serve to draw the reader into the story and to create a sense of immersion in the world of the story.


Rhetorical perspective of the stories 


"A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" and "The Bear" both employ a variety of stylistic devices to convey their themes and impact the reader. In "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place," Hemingway employs his trademark minimalist style, using simple and direct language. This style creates a sense of understated intimacy between the reader and the characters, and highlights the poignant moments of the story through its lack of ornamentation. The repetition of key phrases and images, such as the mention of the "clean, well-lighted place" and the "nothingness" of the old man's existence, reinforces the central themes of the story and creates a sense of rhythm and unity. In "The Bear," Faulkner employs a more dense and lyrical style, using intricate imagery and extended metaphors to convey the relationship between man and nature. Here is  rich and evocative language, creating a vivid picture of the wilderness and the experiences of the characters. The use of multiple perspectives and shifting points of view also contributes to the rhetorical impact of the story, allowing the reader to experience the world of the story from multiple angles and to gain a deeper understanding of the themes.


Comparative Character Analysis


In "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place," there are three main characters: the old man, the young waiter, and the old waiter. The three characters in "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" represent different attitudes towards loneliness and isolation, and the story serves as a commentary on the importance of compassion and understanding for those who are struggling with these feelings. The old man is a deaf and elderly patron of the cafe. He is a lonely and isolated figure, coming to the cafe every night to find some sense of peace and solitude. He is a victim of his own deafness, which separates him from the rest of the world and makes it difficult for him to connect with others. Despite this, he is a dignified and proud man, and he takes great pleasure in the simple pleasures of life, like sitting in the cafe and enjoying a drink.


The young waiter is an impatient and callous character who is eager to close up the cafe and go home. He is rude to the old man and dismissive of his need to be in the cafe, seeing him as a burden and an inconvenience. He is a contrast to the old waiter, who is more compassionate and understanding of the old man's needs.


The old waiter is a compassionate and empathetic character who understands the old man's need for a clean, well-lighted place. He recognizes that the cafe is a place of comfort and security for the old man, and he takes great pleasure in providing him with good service and a welcoming atmosphere. Unlike the young waiter, the old waiter is patient and understanding, and he takes the time to listen to the old man and offer him a sense of connection and companionship.


"The Bear" by William Faulkner  tells the story of a hunting trip in the Mississippi Delta and the moral and spiritual awakening of a young boy named Ike McCaslin. Here is a galaxy of  characters. Ike is the protagonist of the story and is a young boy who is on a hunting trip with his grandfather and a group of men. He is struggling to come to terms with the death of his cousin and feels a sense of guilt and responsibility. Ike is introspective and questioning, and his moral dilemma about killing Old Ben reflects his struggle to reconcile his own humanity with the harsh realities of the natural world. Major de Spain is Ike's grandfather and the owner of the hunting land where the hunt for Old Ben takes place. He is a traditional, patriarchal figure who is deeply rooted in the land and its history. Sam Fathers is a Native American guide who helps the hunters track Old Ben. He is depicted as being more in touch with the natural world and his own spirituality than the white characters. Boon Hogganbeck is a white man who is also on a hunting trip. He is depicted as being boorish and insensitive, lacking the spiritual awareness and respect for nature that Sam Fathers possesses. Notably, Old Ben is the legendary bear that is the focus of the hunting trip. He represents the natural world and serves as a metaphor for the search for meaning and purpose in life. Old Ben's fate serves as a moral and spiritual turning point for Ike as he grapples with the complexities of human nature and the natural world.


Understanding Symbols & Motifs


Most interestingly, the bare minimum word structure in "A Clean Well-Lighted Place" have four telling symbols: The Café , The Old Man's Deafness, Old Waiter's Prayer, Insomnia. The café represents the opposite of nothingness: its cleanliness and good lighting suggest order and clarity, whereas nothingness is chaotic, confusing, and dark. It is also the symbol of an empty, meaningless life, emotional darkness, surrounding the old man and the older waiter. They both are victims of fear, inner loneliness, hopelessness, and "nada." They consider a "clean well-lighted cafe" a refuge from the deserted night. The old man represents the depths of despair and depression a person could experience in a lifetime. His deafness makes him physically isolated from the rest of the world, as he is deprived of the pleasure of human conversation. The older waiter, in his mocking prayers filled with the word nada, shows that religion is not a viable method of dealing with despair, and his solution is the same as the old man's: he waits out the nighttime in cafés. He is particular about the type of café he likes: the café must be well lit and clean. We all end up in the same place of spiritual "insomnia," unable to make sense of a senseless world.


In William Faulkner's "The Bear" , Old Ben, the big bear, who was even given a name, functions as a, preternatural animal that symbolizes for them (the hunters) their relation to nature and thus to life. The naturalistic elements are given by the scheme of man versus natural forces and their determination through their environment.


All of this contrasts sharply with Boon's inherent possessiveness. Despite his bravery and loyalty to McCaslin and Major de Spain, Boon remains "violent, insensitive, and untrustworthy." Notably, his eyes, according to Faulkner, are "without intensity or meanness or generosity or viciousness or gentleness or whatever else." Lion combines "unbroken courage" and "indomitable spirit" with "bloodless and impersonal malignancy" and a "will to pursue and kill." Many other actors in "The Bear" have dominant trends that can be observed. They convincingly demonstrate a much wider range of characters in this story.


Critical Conclusion 


"A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" by Ernest Hemingway and "The Bear" by William Faulkner are both highly regarded short stories that have received critical attention for their themes, style, and impact on the reader.


"A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" is often considered a masterpiece of minimalist short story, and is celebrated for its simple yet powerful exploration of loneliness, aging, and death. Critics have praised the story's direct and understated style, which creates a sense of intimacy between the reader and the characters and highlights the poignant moments of the story. "The Bear" is considered a seminal work of American literature and is praised for its vivid portrayal of the relationship between man and nature in the wilderness. The story is celebrated for its complex structure, which allows for multiple perspectives and experiences to be explored and its dense and lyrical style, which creates a vivid picture of the wilderness and the experiences of the characters. Critics have also noted the impact of the story's themes on the reader, including the significance of the relationship between man and nature, the impact of human actions on the natural world, and the importance of individual and collective experiences in shaping one's relationship with the world.


Both "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" and "The Bear" continue to be widely studied and admired for their themes, style, and lasting impression on readers’ mind.They are masterpieces of American literature that offer insightful perspectives on the human experience. While they share some similarities, each story stands on its own and offers a unique perspective on the themes of loneliness, isolation, and man's relationship with nature.


Ardhendu De


(Note: American author Ernest Hemingway first published "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" in Scribner's Magazine in 1933. It was also included in his collection Winner Take Nothing (1933).


The history of "The Bear"'s publications is convoluted. Its original version, which was first published in The Saturday Evening Post on May 9, 1942, is very different from the version in Go Down, Moses. In 1955, Big Woods, a collection of hunting tales by Faulkner, included a third version.

( "Was", "The Fire and the Hearth", "Pantaloon in Black", "The Old People", "The Bear", "Delta Autumn", "Go Down, Moses")


Ref:

1. R. Noble. (n.d.). Hemingway: A Revaluation. (1998).

2. Harnngton, & Abadie . (n.d.). Faulkner and the Short-Story.(1992).

3. IGNOU Study Guide


Farther Studies

Who is the protagonist in The Bear by William Faulkner?

Who kills old Ben in The Bear?

What does The Bear symbolize in The Bear by William Faulkner?

What is the theme of The Bear by William Faulkner?

What is William Faulkner The Bear about?

What is the plot in the story The Bear?

Is The Bear a short story?

How many sections are there in the story The Bear?

Who are the 3 characters in A Clean, Well-Lighted Place?

What type of character is the old man in A Clean, Well-Lighted Place?

Who is a symbolic character in A Clean, Well-Lighted Place?

Who is the antagonist in A Clean, Well-Lighted Place?



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