1. "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" (1933): This story focuses on two waiters in a cafe late at night. The older waiter, struggling with existential loneliness and the futility of life, sees the cafe as a haven for those seeking refuge from the "nothingness" of existence. He contrasts the empty lives of the patrons with the sense of purpose he finds in his work, even if it's a futile attempt to create meaning in an indifferent world.
2. "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber" (1936): This story explores the theme of masculinity and its limitations in the face of fear and death. Francis Macomber, a wealthy American on safari, is initially mocked for his cowardice. He eventually finds courage and kills a lion, but his wife's manipulation and the ultimate futility of his achievement leave him disillusioned. The story highlights the temporary nature of victory and the ultimate triumph of the natural world.
3. "The Killers" (1927): This story depicts two hitmen waiting to kill a man, a former boxer. The reader understands the futility of the victim's life and the cold, emotionless nature of the killers' task. The story leaves the reader pondering the existential implications of violence and the powerlessness of individuals against the forces of fate.
These stories use Hemingway's signature minimalist style, vivid imagery, and the unspoken to convey a sense of despair and disillusionment. They explore the limitations of human agency in the face of larger forces and the difficulty of finding meaning in a world where death and nothingness are ever-present.