Harold Krebs In A Soldier's Home By Ernest Hemingway

Ever wondered what the life of a soldier would be once they are home? Will the life of a soldier ever be the same? Through many generations of adolescents, they have gone from a peaceful environment to experiencing the war. Many have witnessed the catastrophes and devastations that occur during the war. The adjustment from two years on the field of World War I to the ordinary everyday life of a small Oklahoma town can be tough. Harold Krebs in Ernest Hemingway’s Soldier’s Home, has a tough time adjusting to his home life than most soldiers would when they return home. Krebs was expected to conform back into society’s expectations with not much time to adapt back into his life not being surrounded by war. Harold Krebs ignores his surrounding …show more content…
Before he left, he was an approachable person that respected household relationships and religion. Now that he has returned he is careless about those values. He does not have much relationship with his father, his mother is the communicator between both. Krebs was never allowed to drive the family car, but his mother sees him miserable. She says, “’ Your father does not want to hamper your freedom. He thinks you should be allowed to drive the car. If you want to take some of the nice girls out riding with you, we are only too pleased. We want you to enjoy yourself’” (Meyer, 137). This shows how Krebs’ mother tries to show affection for his father but Krebs can no longer return that kind of love. “He asked me to speak to you this morning and then you can stop in and see him at his office” (Meyer, 138). Krebs decides not to go to his father’s office. He shows disrespect by not going stating he does not care about his father anymore. He was affectionate to his sister. He remembered the times he taught her how to play baseball. After the war, Krebs’ sister asked him if he loved her and he replied with “’sure’” (Meyer, 137). He could not express himself and say yes because he was disorganized about how he felt. Over breakfast, when Harold’s mother asked him if he loved her, he could not help but to tell the truth. Krebs says, “‘No … I don’t love anybody’” (Meyer 138). He …show more content…
Even though he is fighting himself over his existence, he does not seem to fit back in with humanity. By planning to escape from the small town in Oklahoma, he shows he is an outcast. “He had tried so to keep his life from being complicated. Still, none of it had touched him. He had felt sorry for his mother and she had made him lie…. He wanted his life to go smoothly. It had just gotten going that way. Well, that was all over now” (Meyer, 138). If he stayed with his family, he knew he would undergo a large amount of pressure every day to join in with society. He leaves to Kansas City, where no one would bother him for confronting the social norms. He is free from living a complicated