Harold Krebs Character
Lauren White
English 102
Ernest Hemingway’s Soldiers Home discusses a young man who lives his life in solitude after returning home from the war. Harold Krebs, a World War I veteran, attended school at a Methodist college in Kansas but enlisted in the Marines in 1917. Krebs now lives at home with his father, mother and two sisters where he spends his days reading books or playing pool. Krebs is careful to keep his life simple due to the fact that he isn’t fond of change. Is Harold Krebs apprehensive to making a change in his daily lifestyle? When Harold Krebs returns home late, his return is not celebrated. He feels to be an outcast in a country that he defended. Instead of a warm welcome that this hero anticipated, Krebs finds himself being criticized for staying too long. Although Harold feels the need to talk about his involvement in the war, he soon learns that he would have to lie to be heard. Harolds’ cry for …show more content…
Fighting for his country apparently had no perks. No glory, just the pain of living in a lonely world on his own. Although Krebs is often hesitant of change, he has no clear vision for his future and what it holds for his lonely, militant life. Krebs finds comfort in his daily activities. His parents start to show concern that their son is headed in no particular direction. They fear that he will be internally trapped in his own limbo. Harold’s mother is concerned about him as she states, “…you have lost your ambition; you haven’t got a definite aim in life”. His mother, in an effort to encourage Krebs to become more social offers the family car. She also mentions many of the young men his age are “settling down” and “determined”, hoping to give Krebs some motivation. This conversation did was make him become silent and retreat farther back into his self. Harold eventually decides that it’s time to move on but with the intentions to please others, not
English 102
Ernest Hemingway’s Soldiers Home discusses a young man who lives his life in solitude after returning home from the war. Harold Krebs, a World War I veteran, attended school at a Methodist college in Kansas but enlisted in the Marines in 1917. Krebs now lives at home with his father, mother and two sisters where he spends his days reading books or playing pool. Krebs is careful to keep his life simple due to the fact that he isn’t fond of change. Is Harold Krebs apprehensive to making a change in his daily lifestyle? When Harold Krebs returns home late, his return is not celebrated. He feels to be an outcast in a country that he defended. Instead of a warm welcome that this hero anticipated, Krebs finds himself being criticized for staying too long. Although Harold feels the need to talk about his involvement in the war, he soon learns that he would have to lie to be heard. Harolds’ cry for …show more content…
Fighting for his country apparently had no perks. No glory, just the pain of living in a lonely world on his own. Although Krebs is often hesitant of change, he has no clear vision for his future and what it holds for his lonely, militant life. Krebs finds comfort in his daily activities. His parents start to show concern that their son is headed in no particular direction. They fear that he will be internally trapped in his own limbo. Harold’s mother is concerned about him as she states, “…you have lost your ambition; you haven’t got a definite aim in life”. His mother, in an effort to encourage Krebs to become more social offers the family car. She also mentions many of the young men his age are “settling down” and “determined”, hoping to give Krebs some motivation. This conversation did was make him become silent and retreat farther back into his self. Harold eventually decides that it’s time to move on but with the intentions to please others, not