Soldier's Home

“A distaste for everything that had happened to him in the war set in because of the lies he had told. All of the times that had been able to make him feel cool and clear inside himself when he thought of them; the times so long back when he had done the one thing, the only thing for a man to do, easily and naturally, when he might have done something else, now lost their cool, valuable quality and then were lost themselves.”

This quote shows Harold’s alienation since returning from the war. The only way people will listen to his stories is if he tells lies, which makes him feel bad about himself and the war. Although at the time he thought the “manly” thing to do was to enlist in the military, he is now conflicted about that choice and wonders if he should have done something else.

“His mother would have given him breakfast in bed if he had wanted it. She often came in when he was in bed and asked him to tell her about the war, but her attention always wandered. His father was non-committal.”

This quote speaks to the theme of Postwar Generational Divides. Harold’s parents try but are unable to fully understand Harold’s experiences during the war. There’s a distance and disconnect between them.

“Nothing was changed in the town except that the young girls had grown up. But they lived in such a complicated world of already defined alliances and shifting feuds that Krebs did not feel the energy or the courage to break into it. He liked to look at them, though.”

This quote showcases Harold’s alienation since returning from the war. He feels out of the place in a world that has moved on without him, and as he watches the girls, he realizes that he lacks what it takes to talk to them. He can only observe them from a safe distance.

“He did not want any consequences. He did not want any consequences ever again. He wanted to live along without consequences.”

This quote explains Harold’s reluctance to talk to girls but also refers to his attitude since returning from the war. He does not want to handle life’s responsibilities or obligations, which include the risk of being hurt and dealing with consequences that come from choices. He would prefer his bubble of isolation.

“That was all a lie. It was all a lie both ways. You did not need a girl unless you thought about them. He learned that in the army. Then sooner or later you always got one. When you were really ripe for a girl you always got one. You did not have to think about it. Sooner or later it would come. He had learned that in the army.”

This quote shows the logic of Harold’s conflicted thinking, why he doesn’t pursue girls and instead prefers to look at them. His experience in the army taught him that it’s best not to think about it because by thinking about it you create a need for it. Hemingway uses repetition to convey Harold’s reasoning as if he’s trying to convince himself of something he doesn’t believe.

“But the world they were in was not the world he was in. He would have liked to have one of them. But it was not worth it. They were such a nice pattern. He liked the pattern. It was exciting. But he would not go through all the talking. He did not want one badly enough. He liked to look at them all, though. It was not worth it. Not now when things were getting good again.”

This quote finds Hemingway again using repetition to show Harold’s justification for not talking to girls. He doesn’t feel connected to them, and the world that they belong to, so he doesn’t want to make the effort to pursue them.

“He sat there on the porch reading a book on the war. It was a history and he was reading about all the engagements he had been in. It was the most interesting reading he had ever done. He wished there were more maps. He looked forward with a good feeling to reading all the really good histories when they would come out with good detailed maps. Now he was really learning about the war. He had been a good soldier. That made a difference.”

This quote shows Harold’s stagnation. Hemingway uses the lack of maps in history the books to symbolize his inability to move on from the war. He needs maps to provide him guidance and direction and help him make meaning out of his experience.

“‘I tell them all you’re my beau. Aren’t you my beau, Hare?’

‘You bet.’

‘Couldn’t your brother really be our beau just because he’s your brother?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘Sure you know. Couldn’t you be my beau, Hare, if I was old enough and if you wanted to?’

‘Sure. You’re my girl now.’

‘Am I really your girl?’

‘Sure.’

‘Do you love me?’

‘Uh, huh.’

‘Will you love me always?’

‘Sure.’

‘Will you come over and watch me play indoor.’

‘Maybe.’

‘Aw, Hare, you don’t love me. If you loved me, you’d want to come over and watch me play indoor.’”

This exchange between Harold and his sister Helen establishes their loving relationship, while at the same time, presenting Harold with a conflict. Will he deviate from his comfortable routine and watch Helen play indoor baseball? Helen makes it clear that it is important to her, and the reader then waits to see if that makes a difference to Harold. This conflict has significantly lower stakes than the one Harold’s mother presents—to get a job and settle down.

“I’ve worried about you so much, Harold […] I know the temptations you must have been exposed to. I know how weak men are. I know what your own grandfather, my own father, told us about the Civil War and I have prayed for you. I pray for you all day long, Harold.”

This quote shows the divide between Harold and his mother. She worries that he isn’t taking responsibility for his life, and she tries to talk to him about the war and express her empathy for his experience, but she is unable to fully relate to him. The best she can do is pray for him and hope that he gets better.

“Carley Simmons, who is just your age, had a good job and is going to be married. The boys are all settling down; they’re all determined to get somewhere; you can see that boys like Charley Simmons are on their way to being really a credit to the community.”

This quote, spoken by Harold’s mother, contrasts Harold with other young men in town and shows that, as a result of the war, Harold is unable to move forward and take responsibility. To Harold’s mother, Charley represents the ideal man: strong and masculine. One who can get a job, get married, and contribute to the community.

“It wasn’t any good. He couldn’t tell her, he couldn’t make her see it. It was silly to have said it. He had only hurt her.”

This quote further demonstrates the divide between Harold and his mother. After he tells her that he doesn’t love anybody, she starts to cry, and he realizes that she will never be able to relate to him and that he shouldn’t bother telling her the truth.

“‘I’m your mother,’ she said. ‘I held you next to my heart when you were a tiny baby.’ Krebs felt sick and vaguely nauseated.”

This quote shows Harold’s true feelings about his mother, which contrasts with the version of himself he presents to her. A member of the Lost Generation, Harold can’t connect to his mother and instead feels sick. The passage also highlights the story’s themes of generational division. Harold’s mother seems to have settled comfortably into the maternal and marital roles expected of her. Harold, by contrast, feels unable to be the husband, father, and community member that his parents expect.

“He had tried to keep his life from being complicated. Still, none of it had touched him. He had felt sorry for his mother and she had made him lie.”

This quote confirms Harold’s feelings about his mother, while also revealing that their conversation didn’t impact him. Despite her pleas, he doesn’t want to take responsibility for his life and get a job. He prefers life without responsibility and intimate relationships.