An analysis of "Soldier's Home"
             In Ernest Hemingway's short story, "Soldier's Home", we are presented with the story of a young man returning from war. As the protagonist of Hemingway's short story, Krebs returns from WW I to the town and house in which he was raised as a boy. Though we are not given any narration of Krebs' experiences before or during the war, Hemingway leaves us symbols of both in the first four paragraphs of the story. One, a picture of Krebs before the war, with his fellow fraternity brothers at a Kansas Methodist college, where notably, "all of them [are] wearing exactly the same height and style collar" (136), obviously symbolizing conformity to Methodist family values and expectations. The second from during the war, a picture of Krebs with, "two German girls and another corporal." (137). This picture is placed to let the mature audience ponder the likely possibilities it reflects. An assumption can easily be made that the two girls are, in all likelihood, prostitutes; an assumption that acquires greater validity and significance as the plot progresses. Yet a third and very important symbol Hemingway leaves us as foundation to build his story upon is the solitary note of Krebs, " [having] been at Belleau Wood, Soissons, the Champagne, St. Mihiel, and the Argonne" (137), all of which were instrumental and equally horrific battles of WW I; and yet this is all that Hemingway leaves us throughout the entire story, this off-hand reference of a mere symbol, to indicate the very significant assumption of the profound horrors Krebs must have been witness and party to. Indeed, Hemingway leaves us much to be assumed with this opening, but these early symbols gradually gain significance and definition as the narration unfolds. Hemingway shows us, through the progressive narration of Krebs contemplations and interactions with his family and towns ...