Soldier's Home by Ernest Hemingway

Introduction

Hemingway's fiction generally focuses on persons dwelling absolutely crucial, unsafe lives soldiers, anglers, athletes, bullfighters who rendezvous the agony and adversity of their reality with stoic courage. This study is going to discuss one of such novels Soldier's Homes. This study will provide a critical analysis while specifically addressing the plot, point of view of Hemingway, and development of a character in the short story of “Soldier's Home.”

Krebs in 1917 went to the war on behalf of Methodist College from Kansas. A picture of him with his fraternity brothers was taken before he leaves for the battle field. A picture of him was also taken during the war with corporal fellow and two German fellows. In 1919 he returned home and wanted to be celebrated as hero; however no one was interested in celebrating his return. He wanted to tell his war stories to others, but failed to get anyone who might listen to him (Hemingway and SeIan, pp. 45-57). Consequently, he started to incorporate lie in his stories in order to make them interesting so that he may get some ears to hear his voice. Although, he is tired of talking about the war, not because people get bored but because the war was over and this is of no importance to live in the past.

Meanwhile, Krebs has no activity in day and he started to sleep late. But, still he is a veteran, hero for his family and sometimes to calm the agony of Krebs his mother ask him to tell his war stories but ultimately she got bored. Since the time he left his town to his return, he observe no change except some girls has turned women. Krebs like to watch girls, however in the battlefield he has learnt that a women means nothing to soldier and a soldier can live his whole life without having a girl in his life (Hemingway (b), pp. 12-65). This belief has profound effect on his life, as Krebs no longer wish to establish relationship with women, though he likes to watch girls. Though, the soldier has returned home but he never wanted to, and while living with his family Krebs is missing his life during war. Krebs finally chooses to read about wars in which he participated, which increased his knowledge about the war (Baker, pp. 23-78).

Harold's mother love him and want him to spend his life smoothly, in this connection, her mother wanted him to go out in night, create social gathering and find a job. Although, Krebs has no plans for his future and he don't even have love and affection for anyone, even when his mother asked him if he loves him, and he said no. This response of Harold hurt the feeling of his mother which compels him to lie to her mother regarding his feeling (Hemingway (b), pp. 12-65). Throughout the story, conflict between Harold Krebs and the values of society can be witnessed easily. At different points he had ...