Soldier's Home Themes
The three main themes in “Soldier’s Home” include the generation gap, the changing face of America, and the tension between progress and tradition.
- The generation gap: The story centers on the divide between Krebs, a World War I veteran, and the townspeople to whom he returns.
- The changing face of America: Krebs represents the transformation of America after World War I.
- The tension between progress and tradition: The story explores the conflict between those who want to move into the modern world and those who want to protect traditional values.
Themes: All Themes
Themes: The Generation Gap
One of the story’s central concerns might be described by a term that was once fashionable: “the generation gap.” In “Soldier’s Home,” the gap is more like a chasm that separates the ex-Marine from the townspeople. Krebs returns from the war, changed by his experiences, but the local citizenry are exactly what they were before the war—sure of themselves and their values. To stay in the town, to survive this time warp, Krebs must compromise his...
(Read more)Themes: Transformation and Conflict of Values
Krebs represents the transformation brought about by World War I, and in this sense his metamorphosis reflects America’s changed face. Before the war, the conventional values of Krebs’s hometown had been, for the most part, America’s values. After World War I, however, those values were challenged, and the war’s returnees were among the chief challengers. In “Soldier’s Home,” the conflict is between challenger and challenged—the tension between...
(Read more)Themes: War Trauma
In "Soldier's Home," war trauma profoundly affects Harold Krebs, altering his relationships and worldview. Upon returning from World War I, Krebs struggles to reintegrate into his pre-war life. He feels disconnected from his family and community, unable to communicate his experiences. This detachment highlights the deep impact of war on personal relationships and individual identity.
Krebs's relationships with his family illustrate his alienation....
(Read more)Themes: Isolation
Isolation is a central theme in Ernest Hemingway's "Soldier's Home." The story follows Harold Krebs, a World War I veteran, as he returns to his small hometown in the Midwest. Despite being home, Krebs feels disconnected from his surroundings and struggles to reintegrate into civilian life. The setting, both temporal and physical, plays a crucial role in emphasizing his isolation. Krebs returns home late, after the town has already welcomed other...
(Read more)Expert Q&A
The central theme and moral of Hemingway's "The Soldier's Home"
The central theme of Hemingway's "The Soldier's Home" is the difficulty of returning to civilian life after the trauma of war. The moral emphasizes the alienation and emotional disconnection soldiers often feel, highlighting the challenges of reintegration into society and the lack of understanding from those who have not shared similar experiences.
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