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P165, 1995) The achievement in literature can prove this point of view. A lot of great works was produced by the Lost Generation. Generally speaking, the Lost Generation was a group of people who were sobered up by the War. II. The General Introduction to the Novel A. The Writing Style of A Clean and Well-lighted Place As it has been mentioned above, Hemingway helped to accomplish a revolution in literature style and language. He tried to cut out all the words that were not necessary. His style was characterized by short and simple sentences with a few adjectives and adverbs. In his short story A Clean and Well-lighted Place, Hemingway used a lot of conversations to compare the middle aged waiter with the young waiter. In the short story, the sentences have only one or several words. In the short story, Hemingway also used meaningful symbols to convey deep meanings, which is worthy of studying and thinking over. B. The Characters of the Novel The short story A Clean and Well-lighted Place took place in a Spanish café. The plot was focused on the old man, the middle aged waiter and the young waiter. The old man was the main character in the short story. Late at night, everyone had left the café except the old deaf man, who was a little drunk. The two waiters were worried that he might leave without paying if he became deeply drunk. Then they kept watch on him and began their conversation about the old man. “Last week he tried to commit suicide,” one waiter said. “Why?” “He was in despair.” “What about?” “Nothing.” “How do you know it was nothing?” “He has plenty of money.” (陶洁, P112, 2000) At first glance of the short story, it seemed difficult to understand why the old man wanted to commit suicide just for nothing. However，through the following conversation, more information can be learned about the old man. “He’s drunk now,” he said. “He’s drunk every night.” “What did he want to kill himself for?” “How should I know?” “How did he do it?” “He hung himself with a rope.” “Who cut him down?” “His niece.” “Why did they do it?” “Fear for his soul.” “How much money has he got?” “He’s got plenty.” “He must be eighty years old.” “Anyway I should say he was eighty” “I wish he would go home. I never get to bed before three o’clock. What kind of hour is that to go to bed? “He stays up because he likes it.” “He is lonely. I’m not lonely. I have a wife waiting in bed for me.” “He had a wife once too.” “A wife would be no good to him now.” “You can’t tell. He might be better with a wife.” “His niece looks after him. You said she cut him down.” “I know.” “I wouldn’t want to be that old. An old man is a nasty thing.” “Not always. This old man is clean. He drinks without spilling. Even now, drunk. Look at him.” “I don’t want to look at him. I wish he would go home. He has no regard for those who must work.” （陶洁，P113-114,2000） The old man’s character is complex. Being depressed but still keeping dignity was the old man’s image created by Hemingway, which fits the image of “Hemingway Hero”. On one hand, the old man was weak, despaired and extremely unhappy. He had a lot of money but lost belief. He stopped believing in anything that might have been significant in the past. For him, Nothingness meant hopelessness, aimlessness and meaninglessness of the life. The old man tried to commit suicide but failed. Then he