During the war the harshest acts can be witnessed, some of which can seem unfathomable, causing changes in those people exposed to them. Hemingway's short story, "Soldier's Home," includes many examples of what war can do to a young person exposed to the harshest of environments. Harold Krebs was a young college boy who went to war from him Methodist college. When he returned home two years later, he had undergone many changes. As a result of war, Krebs had lost all faith, he no longer could love, and he had resorted back to a more simplistic perception of life and relationships.
             Hemingway throughout the story conveyed Krebs as coming from a religious and faithful family. After two years at war, upon returning home from the most gruesome battles of World War I, Krebs no longer had any faith. Faith, hope, and belief dwindled after seeing the atrocities that were being dealt from one human being to another. During war, God must have seemed not to exist to Krebs. How could there be a God that loves His children beyond all else who would inflict such pain and torture onto his "chosen people?" What is God's Kingdom if these types of atrocities are allowed to happen? Harold no longer believed in a kingdom of God. He responded to his mother's remark that everyone is in His kingdom he answers, "I'm not in His Kingdom" (156). Because of war the thought of God was too complicated to think of having belief or faith in Him.
             In a war there are simple ways for a soldier to protect his limbs, body, and life: kill or be killed. How is a soldier to protect his mind and heart? Many instead of facing the truth of the horrors being done to one another recede into their own minds. Soldier's in war stop feeling. Krebs also did this during the war, but when he came home he never returned to reality. Krebs seemed to decide to stay within himself. He did not need to feel, nor love or be loved, there was no need for it. Kr
             ...