Reading Soldiers Home by Ernest Hemingway I found that was not as interesting and educational for me. I found that the poetry reading packet helped me learn and intake the information better than Soldier’s Home. I didn’t really understand some of the things they mentioned in the story making it not very interesting for me. Although certain parts of this story had things in relation to the poetry readings I found myself feeling lost by what was going on in the story. This story was good at showing one side of coming home from war and feeling lost but I think that the other readings we read this unit did a better job at showing more perspectives.
I did find that Hemingway was able to convey Krebs as emotionless and empty. This aspect of the story really tells you how it felt for him to come home, especially since he got home later than everyone else and didn’t have the same warm welcome. The way Hemingway described Krebs’s emotions and thoughts really made you be able to feel for him. Another thing i found interesting about Krebs was that he thought that once he had come home he was a mature, responsible adult but really he was not very responsible at all. He didn’t want any responsibility, requirements or relationships to uphold. This also has to do with his family because his mother was not giving him consequences for some of his fairly bad actions once he was home, making him think he can get away with anything. This also really did not help his situation with responsibility. Along with his emotionless self and not wanting too hold up a relationship, he mentioned he wanted a girlfriend but didn’t want to have to make much conversation or have to get to know her. This also relates to the fact that he probably has some PTSD from the war making him more emotionally unavailable and prone to not wanting the responsibilities of being an actual mature adult.
In the end I didn’t really like this story or the character although I do think Ernest Hemingway did a good job at trying to convey the emotions Krebs went through.
I like how you pointed out Krebs’ emotionless side and his lack of responsibility. Your connection to PTSD really helps explain his behavior. Even if the story wasn’t your favorite, your points were clear.
I like how you sectioned off each paragraph, adding things you enjoyed and didn’t, giving your full, honest opinion. You used really good explanations to explain how you felt about the short story.
I agree that Krebs acts like a mature adult when he comes back from the war, even though the narration tells us that he actually believes he should be able to live the rest of his life without consequences, and he seemingly has no chosen direction for his future. I can also agree with not liking the character or the story.
i like how you where honest on how you took the book and how it came to you. i do also like how you set it up and seeing his side of his PTSD and how he struggles with it differently.