A Clean, Well-Lighted Place: Response

The thing with light and dark in this piece is that it describes two people. The older waiter and the younger waiter. The younger waiter represents the light, while the older waiter represents darkness. What I mean by this is that the younger waiter prefers to be en-coated in light, and surrounded by his friends, while the older waiter prefers the night time, and being alone. He agrees with the old man and wouldn't mind being alone to drink like him, while the younger waiter would rather drink with a group. This is another example of light and dark, seeing as light would technically mean happiness and groups of people, while darkness is typically considered aloneness and solidarity.