In “Soldiers home” by Ernest Hemingway, there also appears to be differing presentations of conformity. In this short story, the main character Krebs, a soldier returning home from World War Two, has a difficult time adjusting himself back to his life in Oklahoma. He no longer fits in to the society that he left behind. Still trying to cope with the experiences of the war, Krebs wishes not to speak about it at first. After a while, he finally realizes he must be talked about sooner or later. But with such a late arrival, Krebs war stories were no longer knew to any of the townspeople. The soldiers, who arrived promptly after the war was over, already told the stories. Therefore, no one was really interested in the new stories he had to tell. To make them listen, he figures he must spin the stories a little. However, this does not work out when former soldiers take notice of his exaggerated stories. Having knowledge of what is true and false, they “were not thrilled by his stories.” Hemingway …show more content…
He would rather read or play in “the cool dark of the pool room,” than assimilate back into such a “complicated world.” Krebs did not mind being different from everyone else, rather he enjoyed it, he was comfortable with his situation. It was his family that was not okay with his lack of motivation to change. The clarity of their insistence is depicted towards the end of the story. The mother is especially forceful, when she makes an offer to him to take the car out. Having an ulterior motive, as most mothers do, she is just trying to get him back into a routine of what a man his age might do, for example, going out. Her purpose to conform him into the lifestyle of an average person can demonstrate at least one positive aspect of conformity. In Krebs case, adaptation to a normal lifestyle may be needed, in order for him to live his life as a healthy