Initial Personal Reaction: Hemingway Soldier’s Homes - essentially, focuses in Harold’s (Krebs) lost of self-identity. I felt deeply sadden for him. Moreover, I felt as if I was with him, completely lost, detached from society, from reality, misunderstood, unappreciated, and people’s perception of the world. Simply, because he was a soldier and coming back to reality was a shocker for him. For the reason that, many people did not seem to appreciate nor care for the truth of the story, but were only fascinated with the lies he told. The irony of him ranting on about how he likes them (girls) but does not need to be with them, interest me. Furthermore, it demonstrates a great detail of confusion, lack of ownership to even his own thoughts, and the inability to show confidence in his own thoughts all portray, a lost soldier. Consequently, after reading this short story, I recall a time when I felt helpless to one of my family member, as a result, I started to feel lost and confused. In essence, I can relate to the sense of feeling lost and confusion.
Literary Element/Thematic Analysis: Granted, Harold (Krebs) is the protagonist of the short story. The tone of the story seemed sympathetic which draws the audiences attention, like myself, into the story. The part of this imagery “late summer, he was sleeping late in bed,” and spending “the hottest hours of the day in the cool dark of the pool room” all signifies laziness and unwilling to change. He liked the dark pool room. Moreover, dark room illustrates the meaning of waiting, waiting for something to happen. I interpret that he is waiting for something to happen, but he is lazy, and at the end of the short story girls are not worth the “trouble.” In other words, he wants the girl, but doesn’t want to work for it, and believes that girls are not worth the trouble.
Questions/Comments: After reading this short story do you think Krebs have a chance of finding himself again? Why or why not?:
Thank You for reading Hemingway!!! No one else posted about Hemingway!!! I think Krebs has plenty of time to find himself. He doesn't seem to have a mental disorder as a result of the war, so he won't be haunted by traumatic events. He loves his family very much and it's probably going to stay that way for a very long time.
ReplyDeleteI am on the edge on whether or not Krebs will be able to "find" himself again. The end of the story, it was expressed that he was hoping his life would go smoothly and it was for a while. To me, I saw it as, once he got back from the war, how he was living his life was normal to him until his mother had confronted him about finding a stable job and such. It seems to me that he felt as though he already was happy the way things were. He had the time to wake up late, he stayed in his room, he admired girls. I believe after the war, his mind set on what had seemed normal had changed so significantly that going back into a day to day basis job would not allow him to "find himself." He does however decide to get a job in order to make his mother feel relieved. I'm not sure what that part of the story is trying to say. I don't know if Hemingway is trying to show to us that even though he has been through the war, he still has to battle for the things that he wants versus the things his family wants for him.
ReplyDeleteI think Krebs has a chance to find himself. Whether or not he does is on him and his ability to move past his experience of going to war. It will be a challenge but if he has enough determination and willpower, I think he can do it. He is still young and has his whole life in front of him.
ReplyDeleteI see Harold as a person who has been forever changed by his experiences during the his time fighting in the war. As his life starts to settle into an easy routine, he seems to find comfort in the lack of responsibilities and complexities. However, he looses that sense of peace when he realizes that he must join the workforce. Could he move on with his life? Possibly, but likely not in the way which he had imagined his life before the war.
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