When I read “Soldier’s Home”, I didn’t really get Krebs as a person. Some things he does, like the way he talks to his sister or the part where he seems to have liked the war, didn’t make sense to me at all. But the part I could relate to was how hard it must be to live in a small town where you can’t really say what you think. That felt real, and I could understand it.
One thing that frustrated me for him is how nobody wants to hear the truth about what he went through. He even has to lie just so people will listen (ll. 28–30). That made me think about how suffocating it must be to have your experiences ignored or turned into something everyone else wants to hear. Being back in a conservative town like his only makes that worse. People already have an idea of how he should act, and he’s expected to follow it even if it doesn’t fit him.
His routine of sleeping late, walking around with nothing to do, sitting on the porch didn’t make me get him either, but I could understand what it feels like to go through life feeling stuck and out of place (ll. 55–61). Even small actions, like going to the library or the pool room, seem empty because he’s just going through the motions. It made me think about times when you feel like life is moving around you, but you can’t move with it. That stuck feeling is something I think anyone can imagine in some way.
Another thing I noticed is how the story shows the difference between his life during the war and life back home. In Europe, things were intense and simple. There wasn’t a need to explain or perform for anyone. Back in his town, even small interactions feel complicated and exhausting (ll. 95–110). That contrast made me realize how much environment can affect a person’s sense of freedom. You can feel trapped not because of what’s happening to you, but because of how others expect you to behave.
Even though I didn’t understand everything about him, I could understand that feeling of being stuck in a place where you can’t really be yourself. That sense of pressure and distance is what made the story stay with me.
I like how you connected to his feeling of being stuck. I also liked that you noticed no one wanted to hear his real experiences. Your point about his routine feeling empty was really clear and well said.
You did a good job noticing how Krebs feels stuck and out of place. I like how you connected his small-town life to the pressure he feels and explained how his experiences made him seem isolated. Your reflection shows you really understood his emotions.
I think you did really well. You covered a lot of your feelings for different moments in the story. You also have a good understanding of Krebs’ feelings on the matter. However, I think you could make it better by adding exact quotes said in the story. Overall, your reflection shows you read the story thoroughly and can make sense of Krebs’ feelings, which is really good.
I like how you wrote about that Krebs feels stuck in a place where he can’t be himself. And your ideas helped me understand why coming home feels so hard for him.
I like how you added a personal connection showing the frustration that you had about no one wanting to hear the truth of what kerbs went through.
I like how you talk about how Krebs is “going through the motions” and how the world is kind of spinning without him. I also think that the part where you mention that he needs to lie to make others listen is important and well explained. Good work!