After reading “Soldier’s Home,” the main thing I kept thinking about was how hard it must be to come back home and feel like everything is the same except for you. Krebs returns from the war, but he doesn’t feel connected to anything anymore, and that really stood out to me. When he says he Did not want any consequences ever again” (ll. 64-66), I realized he doesn’t want stress or expectations. It made me think about times when I feel overwhelmed and just want everything to stop, even though my problems are obviously way smaller than his.
A part of the story that really got to me was when he says he doesn’t love anyone anymore, even his mother (ll. 177-180). I don’t think he means it in a mean way. To me, it felt like he’s so emotionally tired that he can’t feel anything. That idea made me feel kind of worried, because sometimes people look fine on the outside but are completely shut down inside, and others don’t notice.
I also felt frustrated reading how people in his town want him to talk about the war in a way that makes them comfortable, not him. For example, they want exciting stories, even though he doesn’t want to share them, so he lies (ll. 17-22). It reminded me of how sometimes people don’t listen to what you actually feel, they just want the version that fits what they want. I think that would make anyone feel even more alone.
The scene with his mother near the end bothered me the most. She wants him to promise he will be “a good boy” again (l. 194). Firstly I thought it was really weird, but It also made me think about how people sometimes expect you to stay the same forever, even when you’ve changed. Krebs isn’t trying to be difficult, he just doesn’t know who he is anymore.
Overall, the story made me think about loneliness and how hard it is when people want you to act “normal” even when you can’t. It made me feel sad for Krebs, but also more aware that people might be going through things we don’t see.
I like how you expressed your opinion on the way that Krebs talks about not loving his mother and that making you frustrated. And that you acknowledged how the townspeople wouldn’t listen to him was a very well thought out way to write. Well done!
I totally agree. You explained well how Krebs feels disconnected from everything and how people want him to act “normal” even when he can’t. The part with his mother also stood out it shows how emotionally shut down he is. Good post
i liked your perspective on the story and how you can relate to parts of the story even if it is in a smaller since. i liked how you explanned how people want to feel comfortable when kerbs explain the war even when its not a very comfortable experience.
I am impressed on your opinion on Krebs and why he is how he is and that it’s maybe not his fault that he doesn’t seem perfect but the others who just don’t get him. I really liked how you explained that people want the story they want to hear not the story that is true.
I like how wrote about Krebs feeling lost after the war. You showed that people want him to act normal, but he can’t. It made me understand better why he struggles.