Wu Ting
How would you interpret these two sentences? 1. ‘Nor can you stand before a bar with dignity although that is all that is provided for these hours.’--in the fifth passage from the bottom. How would you interpret the sentence? What does the first ‘that’ in the phrase ‘that is all that is provided…’ refer to? 2. ‘Some lived in it and never felt it but he knew it all was nada y pues nada y nada y pues nada.’ --in the fifth passage from the bottom. I guess ‘nada y pues nada y nada y pues nada’ is Spanish. What does it mean? Thank you. The excerpt is taken from the short story ‘A Clean, Well-Lighted Place’ written by Ernest Hemingway.The excerpt: “I am of those who like to stay late at the café,” the older waiter said. “With all those who do not want to go to bed. With all those who need a light for the night.” “I want to go home and into bed.” “We are of two different kinds,” the older waiter said. He was now dressed to go home. “It is not only a question of youth and confidence although those things are very beautiful. Each night I am reluctant to close up because there may be some one who needs the café.” “Hombre, there are bodegas open all night long.” “You do not understand. This is a clean and pleasant café. It is well lighted. The light is very good and also, now, there are shadows of the leaves.” “Good night,” said the younger waiter. “Good night,” the other said. Turning off the electric light he continued the conversation with himself. It is the light of course but it is necessary that the place be clean and pleasant. You do not want music. Certainly you do not want music. Nor can you stand before a bar with dignity although that is all that is provided for these hours. What did he fear? It was not fear or dread. It was a nothing that he knew too well. It was all a nothing and a man was nothing too. It was only that and light was all it needed and a certain cleanness and order. Some lived in it and never felt it but he knew it all was nada y pues nada y nada y pues nada. Our nada who art in nada, nada be thy name thy kingdom nada thy will be nada in nada as it is in nada. Give us this nada our daily nada and nada us our nada as we nada our nadas and nada us not into nada but deliver us from nada; pues nada. Hail nothing full of nothing, nothing is with thee. He smiled and stood before a bar with a shining steam pressure coffee machine. “What’s yours?” asked the barman. “Nada.” “Otro loco m ás,” said the barman and turned away. “A little cup,” said the waiter.
16. Nov. 2018 13:28
Antworten · 2
Thanks for your help. And I guess you’ve read a lot of short stories written by Hemingway.
30. Januar 2019
1. ‘Nor can you stand before a bar with dignity although that is all that is provided for these hours.’ Means: Only bars are open late at night, but if you go to them you feel old, dirty or drunk. 2. ‘Some lived in it and never felt it but he knew it all was nada y pues nada y nada y pues nada.’ Means: Some people lived full lives, while others knew it was nothing leading to nothing then nothing, and then nothing and then nothing. Wu Ting, You read a lot of good short stories. : )
30. Januar 2019
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