Manhood In Soldier's Home

Ernest Hemingway is among the most unmatched of American authors. In his works, he is often said to focus on gender roles, especially those of men. Hemingway often created characters that showed the characteristics that he believed made a boy into a man. However, these characteristics are not gender-specific, and could very well apply to women as well. This collection of characteristics became the Hemingway Code Hero. The Hemingway Code Hero, more commonly referred to as the Code Hero, was an embodiment of male prowess. Most of Hemingway’s characters failed to live up to this almost impossible standard, however, all of his characters are capable of

Hemingway's "Soldier's Home" depicts a young man in his early twenties after his return from World War I. The young man, Krebs, has arrived home too late. Thus, he doesn't receive the adulation of the town as the others did. This first loss was the beginning of a long inward journey for Krebs. His

Does deviating from one’s gender norms inevitably doom one down a spiral of moral corruption? Tim O'Brien, author of “Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong” and Ernest Hemingway, author of “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber”, certainly seem to hold this view, as evident by the fates of the major female characters in their respective works. The deviance of the major female characters in both works appears to corrupt not only themselves, but also pollute their partners, causing them to suffer injury or harm as a result. The degree of injury ranges from negligible, like Fossie’s demotion and broken heart, to fatal, like the bullet that rips through Macomber’s skull. It begs the question, are these stories meant to serve as cautionary tales for their female readers, or possibly for their husbands, so they may recognize gender deviance and stop it in its tracks before their wives transform into Margot Macomber or Mary Anne Bell? This essay will analyze what such characters say about pervading views of women, both in society and in literature.

life. Meanwhile, his mother shows serious concern about his social life and his job. Krebs tries

The theme of Ernest Hemingway's “A Soldier’s Home” is one that is all too familiar. The ironic title suggests to the reader of a young Marine who returns home after the war where his existence is unnoticed and the true meaning of “home” is now lost. The short story is of Harold Krebs, a young Kansas City Methodist college student who returned to his home state of Oklahoma two years after the beginning of World War I. The internal struggle of adjusting post-war within Krebs is the main conflict of Hemingway’s story.

She asks Krebs if she is his beau and if he loves her. He gives very monotone and lifeless answers to her, saying “Sure,” or “Uh-huh.” His sister, although, does not buy this, and holds the belief that he does not love her. His mother asks Krebs if he loves her as well. He responds, “No, I don’t love anybody. It wasn’t any good. He couldn’t tell her, he couldn’t make her see it.” (Hemingway 5) Naturally, she reacts upset and dejected, obviously not understanding what Krebs has seen and gone through. Krebs’ behavior after he came home from the war is typical for most. He has definitely lost his outlooks on life he had before. “He had tried so to keep his life from being complicated. Still, none of it had touched him. “ (Hemingway 6) Of course, he had not been exposed to the brutalities of war then. He came home a new man. He cannot unsee what he lived through. As much as his family wishes he was, Krebs has let go of his innocence and pleasure for life.

conception of productive masculinity; many follow in the tradition of early-twentieth-century home front novels by women to consider the value of female work, in wartime and beyond […] and most conclude with a look to the future (which is now the present) and a sense of promise that is decidedly free from irony. (21-22)

Prior to the war, his dad did not trust him enough to be able to take the car out as he pleased. Even after Krebs returned home, his father seemed to hold a rather absent presence in his life, in fact, he is not even present at any point throughout the story. The only time his father is brought up in discussion, is when Krebs mother informs him that she and Krebs father had discussed finally letting him use the family car. Even when his mother reveals that it had been his father’s idea, Krebs replied “I’ll bet you made him” (136). This line is an unmistakable clue which shows the true feelings Krebs has towards his father, whom he clearly has no type of faith in. Although Krebs mother has an active role in his life, his relationship with her does not seem to be that much better than his relationship with his father. When she asked if he loved her, he quickly responded “No”(137), which sent her straight into tears. This was probably not always the truth

   Ernest Hemingway has been greatly criticized for a supposed hatred of women that some feel is evident in his writings. One of the primary books that critics believe shows this misogynistic attitude is A Farewell To Arms. It is counterproductive to interpret the book using such a narrow focus because the author is dealing with much more profound themes. Hemingway is not concerned with the theme of gender equality, but rather with the greater themes of the inherent struggle of life and the inevitability of death.

The characters in Hemingway’s stories reveal much about how he feels about men and the role they should play in society. Most of Hemingway’s male characters can be split into one of two groups. The first of which is the “Code” Hero. This is the tough, macho guy who chooses to live his life by following a “code of

The characters in Hemingway’s stories reveal much about how he feels about men and the role they should play in society. Most of Hemingway’s male characters can be split into one of two groups. The first of which is the “Code” Hero. This is the tough, macho guy who chooses to live his life by following a “code of honor,

The main character in Hemingway’s story is a young man that goes by a nickname which was bestowed upon him during his time in combat, Krebs. Krebs is an intriguing character. He can best be described as a dynamic and round character. Hemingway starts the story off making a mention to the fact before Krebs ever was deployed off to war, he was a student enrolled into a Methodist college back in Kansas. “Krebs went to the war from a Methodist college in Kansas.” (Hemingway 129). That early introductory quote gave readers the impression Krebs may have had an interest in religion at one point. Throughout the story we come to see the grueling effects of combat life made Krebs into a hardened, dark person. In the second paragraph Hemingway mentions, “There is a picture which shows him on the Rhine with two German girls and another corporal.” (Hemingway 129). After coming back home Krebs wanted nothing to do with any of

In the short story “Indian Camp”, by Ernest Hemingway, many controversies arise about the idea of feminism in the text. Feminism is a general term used to describe advocating women’s rights socially, politically, and making equal rights to those of men. Feminist criticism is looked through a “lens” along the line of gender roles in literature, the value of female characters within the text, and interpreting the perspective from which the text is written. Many of Hemingway’s female characters display anti-feminist attributes due to the role that women play or how they are referred to within a text by him or other characters. There are many assumptions that go along with the

In reading the short story, “Up in Michigan”, by Earnest Hemingway, Hemingway appears to take a feministic approach in writing this story. In this story, men are seen as the dominant or domineering partner in the relationship and women are more seen, not heard and are often found in the kitchen cooking and doing house choirs as their womanly/ femininely duties called for in this era. In this story, Liz is a young lady who was physically and mentally infatuated with a blacksmith by the name of Jim Gilmore. Even though Liz was smitten by Jim, Jim in return appeared to barely notice Liz. Towards the end of the story Liz puts herself in some rather compromising positions, which lands her in more than a noticeable position

In the first chapters of Ernest Hemingway’s novel, The Sun Also Rises, we start to look into what is to be considered to be the New Woman in the 1920s. Young woman with bobbed hair and short skirts who drank, smoked and said “unladylike” things, in addition to being more sexually free than previous generations. “This later New Woman pushed past the example of the preceding generation by infringing on the masculine in her physical appearance as well as in her level of education and career choice by combining masculine and feminine traits” (Yu). In the first chapters of this novel Hemingway emphasizes the New Woman and their social culture. He does this by his portrayal of Brett. Brett in the novel is the perfect example of the New Woman in her apperance, the role she plays, and how she uses sexuality.