Characterization of Harold Krebs

Outer characterization

The main character of the short story “Soldier’s Home” by Ernest Hemingway is Harold Krebs. His outer characterization reveals that he was a soldier who fought in World War I from 1917 until the end of the war (p. 1, ll. 3-4). He enlisted in the Marines in 1917, which means he volunteered to become a soldier.

His background shows that he comes from a very religious family. He also went to a Methodist college in Kansas before the war, which suggests that he is most likely in his 20s. 

Inner characterization

Initially, Krebs’ inner characterization is revealed through his experiences during World War I: “At first Krebs, who had been at Belleau Wood, Soissons, the Champagne, St. Mihiel and in the Argonne did not want to talk about the war at all” (p. 1, ll. 13-14). The fact that he has fought so many battles suggests that he is most likely affected by the experiences of war. Furthermore, because he does not want to talk about his time in the war, it is implied that he is traumatized by what he ha...