Hemingway’s “Soldier’s Home” takes one into the damaged mind of a World War Two veteran suffering the effects of PTSD. When Harold Krebs returns home from the war he faces the demanding challenge of assimilating back to community and societal norms. The community values illustrated through conversations between Krebs and his family is similar to those one might find in a small town. These values include marriage, family, and hard work, the real American dream. Unfortunately, Krebs no longer can comprehend such valued norms. This is demonstrated best during the conversation between Krebs and his mother, during which, Krebs tells his mother that he does not love anyone, including her. He has no interest in finding a wife or finding employment. The atrocities that Krebs witnessed in France and Germany during his service left a scar on his psyche, hindering his ability to conform back to the community values he may once have held
Hemingway’s “Soldier’s Home” takes one into the damaged mind of a World War Two veteran suffering the effects of PTSD. When Harold Krebs returns home from the war he faces the demanding challenge of assimilating back to community and societal norms. The community values illustrated through conversations between Krebs and his family is similar to those one might find in a small town. These values include marriage, family, and hard work, the real American dream. Unfortunately, Krebs no longer can comprehend such valued norms. This is demonstrated best during the conversation between Krebs and his mother, during which, Krebs tells his mother that he does not love anyone, including her. He has no interest in finding a wife or finding employment. The atrocities that Krebs witnessed in France and Germany during his service left a scar on his psyche, hindering his ability to conform back to the community values he may once have held