Paola ValenciaProfessor NandaEnglish 10213 February 2013Literary analysis of the “Soldier's House”Inspired by his days serving in the ambulance corps during World War I, Hemingway uses his experience to tell the story of a soldier's struggle to return home both physically and mentally in his short story “Soldier's Home.” Hemingway captivates his readers with the story of a soldier's (Harold Krebs) belated return home from the First World War. Upon his return, Krebs finds that the life he once knew has changed. In fact, his life had changed so drastically that upon his return Krebs' life no longer fit where it had been. Ernest Hemingway is often known for writing stories that feel flat and lifeless, but his unadorned prose style still manages to be extremely evocative and effective in its simplicity. Hemingway manages to give depth to his writing and give it a hidden meaning. Hemingway gives his readers the responsibility to interpret and create a personal connection to the story through a dark tone and ironic setting as they delve deeper into Krebs' world of desperation and the emotions he is struggling with; allowing readers to embark on a more personal journey with Krebs as he discovers his new post-war society and the role he plays in it. The title itself exemplifies Hemingway's talent for giving depth and suggestive symbolism to simple text. The title “The Soldier's Home” implies a hint of foreshadowing of the story. Rather than seeming like a statement to assure the reader that the soldier is happy to be home, Hemingway's title suggests more of a question: Where is this soldier's home? Did he ever come home? Does he even have a home to return to? The title of this story also establishes the...... half of the document... truth about it. Krebs feels nausea and discomfort when he lies about his experience. Bound by lies, Krebs forgets his courageous and heroic actions in the war. This is why Krebs develops a sense of bitterness towards the war and a disgust for everything that has happened to him. By bringing his character Krebs home after the war, Hemingway is able to create the tone of post-war desperation and nostalgia in the shows. Krebs' unhappiness at being home from the war and the difficulty of adapting to society. Krebs is caught somewhere in the mix between his previous life, his life in the military, and his new life at home. The “Soldier's Home” illustrates the misfortunes and difficulties of a soldier's return home. Hemingway gives his readers the tools to interpret the story and make it a more personal connection. It fascinates its audience as they are somehow able to relate to this tragedy.