“Soldier’s Home”

Critical Perspective 

For the theme of blindness versus awareness in Hemmingway’s story “Soldier’s Home,” it is difficult to discern whether it is Krebs or is mother that is “blind” if there is not an adequate definition for “blindness.” Depending on which character a reader chooses to focus on, Krebs or his mother, both characters each carry their own unique sense of blindness and awareness according to their situations.

Many readers may be quick to think that Krebs is the one aware, and that his mother is blind, since the story revolves around him. At the very beginning of the story, the reader is introduced to the various conflicts revolving within Krebs, the first being his reluctance to return home after the war. Krebs is portrayed as a pitiful character. Nothing substantial happened to him over the war, and he does not have the famous war stories his fellow soldier boast. Even the stories he makes up to impress those at the pool room to little to capture their interest. The passage “He was still a hero to his younger sisters,” perhaps goes to show that just because he was in the war, it would automatically mean that he would be a glorious hero. This is also proven as his mother “often came in when he was in bed and asked him to tell her about the war, but her attention always wandered.” Not everyone’s experience in war is heroic, as Krebs’ experience goes to prove. He was not a shameful soldier, just an insignificant one. His insight into this subject may be a first indicator of his ability to “see” where others are “blind.”

Another topic that becomes a great conflict to Krebs, as well as the centre issue in his conversation with his mother, is his reluctance to find a girlfriend. Throughout the story Krebs often repeats liking the image of the American girls, but does not want to go through the conversations required. During the conversation, Krebs’ mother is trying to persuade him to find a girlfriend, even going as far as to let him use the family vehicle. She also lectures him by using examples from other members of the community:

“Charley Simmons, who is just your age, has 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.”

Whether or not Kreabs is actually interested in girls or not, it is still evident in his inner conflicts that he has given the idea of a relationship some thought, and believes it more profitable to him to avoid one in the mean time.

            That being said, it could also be argued that the Krebs is the “blind” one, and that his mother truly has the sight. As mentioned earlier, since Krebs is the main character, the reader often tends to believe everything that is said by them. Ever since Krebs returned home from the war, he had done nothing more than sleep, eat, go to the library, and go to the pool room. War hero or not, according to nearly anyone’s standards this is the lifestyle of a lazy, irresponsible citizen. In the conversation at the breakfast table mother is seen trying to motivate Krebs away from his lifestyle by trying to encourage him to get a job and a relationship. The mother knows that despite the war, life must still go on, and she wants her son to be a part of that. Krebs however, continues to wallow in his own self-misery, not even bothering to answer half of his mother’s questions. Krebs could be interpreted as being blind to the world around him, and the relationships he is in, as he continues to think in a self-centred fashion.

            It is unfair to completely label a character as blind or aware without taking into account their differing views of the situation. Someone may be away of some aspects of a situation while entirely ignoring others. In this sense, everyone can be considered blind and aware in their own way. In order to truly understand a situation, the views of everyone involved must be taken into account. By combining these different views, a true outlook on an incident can finally be understood.