What Is The Significance Of Krebs In A Soldiers Home

In his short story A Soldiers Home, author Ernest Hemmingway attempts to give insight on the reasons for the disconnect felt by soldiers who attempt to re-enter civilian life after participating in war. The stories central character, Herold Krebs, a young soldier who fought in WW1, arrives at his hometown in Oklahoma at a later date than the majority of other soldiers. As a result no one wants to listen to him talk about his experiences at war. Krebs faces the new existent gap which exists between him and the life he left behind. The characters who attempt to comfort Krebs only perpetuate his feelings of isolation as they understand war as a romanticized, heroic affair, rather than a life shattering tragedy. Though Krebs wishes for his existence

Krebs was a sheltered boy, a fraternity brother attending a Methodist college in Kansas before joining the Marines to fight in WW1. While overseas Krebs is exposed to the graphic reality of war, operating guns, witnessing death and sleeping with German and French prostitutes. One image which stands out in particular is a description of a photograph, showing Krebs with two German girls and another corporal. The girls are described as “Not beautiful,” and the Rhine River, which should be a focal point, is “not shown in the picture.” (Hemingway 1) The bleakness of the image reflects in some ways the feeling of numbness Krebs experiences upon his returning from war. When he arrives home Krebs is at a loss, he finds solace playing pool and only feels understood when he is in the presence of other soldiers, but this is only

Though the soldier returns home and is expected to continue life where he left off, this is impossible. He will remain a soldier until healed, if no one is willing to truly listen to the needs of veterans, they will never be healed. During WW1 America shipped thousands of normal boys oversees to fight, an experience which would change their lives forever. In returning home in a post-traumatic state the entire makeup of American town life was altered and, like Krebs, many young men sought to run away from their problems and attempt to start fresh. As Krebs states, “He would go to Kansas get a job…He wanted his life to go smoothly.” (Hemingway 5) This statement alone shows just how badly Krebs wants to forget about his past experiences. He wants nothing more than a normal life and is willing to remove himself from his family to achieve