Soldier's Home by Ernest Hemingway
"Soldier's Home" is a short story by Ernest Hemingway that explores the profound disconnection experienced by veterans returning from war. Set in a small town in Oklahoma, the narrative centers on Harold Krebs, a U.S. Marine returning from World War I. Upon his return, Krebs grapples with the stark contrast between his traumatic experiences in war and the unchanged, superficial life of the town and its residents. The story highlights the theme of dishonesty, particularly in how the townspeople prefer embellished tales of heroism over the grim realities of battle. This pressure to conform leads Krebs into a cycle of lies, causing him to feel alienated from his family and community. His relationship with his mother culminates in a poignant conversation about love and truth, revealing the emotional chasm between them. Ultimately, Krebs chooses to leave the town, seeking a simpler life where he can evade the complexities of relationships and expectations. Through this narrative, Hemingway poignantly addresses the struggles of reintegration faced by veterans and the often unbridgeable gap between their experiences and the perceptions of those who remained at home.
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Soldier's Home by Ernest Hemingway
First published: 1925
Type of plot: Psychological
Time of work: The 1920's
Locale: A small town in Oklahoma
Principal Characters:
Harold Krebs , a former U.S. Marine who served in World War IMrs. Krebs , his mother
The Story
The title of this story suggests a familiar American landmark and symbol: The soldier's home, a place for retired military to live and relive their war experiences. In this tale, however, the soldier's home is neither a haven for former soldiers nor an environment for reminiscing. It is the place to which Harold Krebs, a U.S. Marine who fought in World War I, returns to be alone and to face the lies that he and others utter about the war.
When Krebs returns to his hometown in Oklahoma, after having fought in various European arenas, he discovers that he has changed but that nothing in the town has changed. This dramatic difference between the returnee and those who stayed home sets up the basic conflict in the story: the dishonesty that is demanded for survival. It is demonstrated most clearly in the retelling of war stories, for the townspeople do not want to hear the truth about the atrocities of battle, preferring, instead, lies about the heroics of war. Krebs finds himself telling these lies because dishonesty is the path of least resistance, even though it causes a "nausea in regard to experience that is the result of untruth or exaggeration."
Alienated from his family and the local people, Krebs spends his days aimlessly, sleeping late, reading, practicing the clarinet, and playing pool. He makes no effort to relate seriously with anyone, including women, because he does not want the complications or consequences of relationships. He is home, but it is no soldier's home to which he has returned.
The climax of the story occurs during a conversation between Krebs and his mother. Initiating a discussion with her son about religion and a job—predictable maternal and midwestern topics—Mrs. Krebs leads Harold to tell still another lie. She asks him, "Don't you love your mother, dear boy?" Harold responds with total honesty, "I don't love anybody," causing Mrs. Krebs to cry and revealing her inability and unwillingness to hear the truth. Nauseated by his next statement but believing that it is the only way to stop her crying, he lies and tells her that he did not mean what he said; he was merely angry at something. Mrs. Krebs reasserts her maternal role, reminding her son that she held him next to her heart when he was a tiny baby, reducing Krebs to the juvenile lie: "I know, Mummy. . . . I'll try and be a good boy for you." Mother and son then kneel together, and Mrs. Krebs prays for Harold.
After this emotional lie, Harold Krebs decides to leave the Oklahoma town, go to Kansas City for a job, and live his life simply and smoothly. The former Marine leaves his home.
Bibliography
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