My initial reaction to this story was that it seemed to have a parralel narrative of what happened to soldiers after the Vietnam war. Vietnam veterans were treated poorly after the war but looking deeper into “Soldier’s Home,” I don’t believe Krebs was being treated poorly.
On the surface it seems that Krebs went to war and his world moved on without him. Upon return he finds he has been too far removed to get back into the “advanced society.” I believe though, that Hemmingway was trying to show that the town was the same but it was Krebs that had changed. Hemmingway uses repetition by stating what Krebs had learned in the army. The reader doesn’t truly have any reason to believe the town has changed at all. The girls maybe, but not the town.
Another sense of repetition is shown in things Krebs like; girls, pool, his sister. Those things were there when he left and there when he came back. Ultimately i think Hemmingway wants the reader to understand that soldiers change and society should be more receptive to those changes. That being said, soldiers must understand that those of us who never took part in war might find it difficult to connect with soldiers. Do you believe that Hemmingway chose the name “Soldiers Home” ironically or literally? That is, is the town truly Krebs home anymore?
David, good point about Krebs experience being very similar to the Vietnam War. I think that Krebs was the one that changed from his fighting experienced not the town himself. He almost came back a different person and because of that could not fit in. Hemmingway chose the title ironically due to the fact that his home really was not how being home should have been for him.
ReplyDeleteFirst in response to your question, I think the name "soldier's home" was literal. The entire time Krebs is home he is caught up in the life he had as a soldier; a life only a soldier would understand. This is why i think it's titled a "Soldier's Home" and not "Krebs' home." Any soldier could relate to it. I agree that Krebs struggled to fit into a society that is much different than the life he had become so accustom to living.
ReplyDeleteI like your comment about the world moving on without him when he went to the war. I think this is a big part of the story and contributes to Krebs's difficulty in transitioning back "home." I think part of his problem was that his hometown moved beyond what was comfortable to jump back into.
ReplyDeleteIn response to the question, I think it was more of an ironic title. While the story deals with his literal home, I think the title describes the irony of Krebs coming home to a home that he doesn't really consider home anymore. Throughout the story he struggles to figure out where home is for him.
In answer to your question I think it was completely ironic. And you’re right about how soldiers leave and go off to war and they come back changed. And when they come back they come back home but because they have changed so much it doesn’t seem like their home anymore. This is exactly what happened to Krebs. So yes the title is iconic because Krebs came back from war but when he got there he didn’t really feel at home. You’re also right about how people who haven’t gone to war need to be more receptive to the changes that happen to our soldiers. I feel like Krebs’s parents gave him time to get back into the swing of things but they didn’t give him enough. They need to understand that he needs to go at his own pace.
ReplyDeleteI really like your parallel comment about the Viet Nam vets. Your right, they had a totally horrible homecoming and the fallout can still be seen today with homeless vets on the streets. Your correct in your understanding about a service persons life being put on hold in their minds when they leave. It is an almose surreal feeling when you return and everyone has moved on seemingly without you, everything popular that you knew and understood changed. The music is different, people look older, businesses have closed and new ones have opened. The one thing that was constant that you held on to in trying times is completely different. Your bedrock is shattered and it is not an easy thing to piece together. You seem wise for your years my friend. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, I think Hemingway intended this story to be ironic. It is supposed to be ironic because when we think of "home," we think of the welcoming and grateful vibe, thus in Hemingway's story, "home" symbolized a cold environment where Krebs was pretty much ignored. I agree with everyone that commented above about the parallelism that you pointed out about the vietnam war and krebs' experience, that was sleek. I also like how you pointed out that Hemingway might be implying that Krebs' difficulty in adjusting back to his hometown is due to the changes and moving on without him(Krebs.)
ReplyDeleteIt’s true how ironic it is. And it is unfortunate that soldiers leave and return changed and not themselves. The title of the story interpreting what is a home to Krebs. A home to him is a place to escape and be alone and not have to think about what his mother tells him or what’s happening around him. His mother assumes that everything is fine now and Krebs can get on with his life from where it left off. But it’s much more complicated than that. And it’s difficult for him to readjust to his previous life.
ReplyDeleteHemmingway meant for this to be ironic since his "home" doesn't even feel like a home anymore. I agree with your interpretation of this story. The author wants the reader to know the situations soldiers have to deal with. He did this with the use of repetition which works effectively. Now that i think about it you are right. The town never changed. Krebs as a person did change. I think society can learn a thing or two from Hemmingway, this story helps the reader see a soldiers point of view of life after the war. Hopefully people can take away from this story and be more sensitive towards soldier's feelings.
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