Setting

Physical setting

The events of “Soldier’s Home” by Ernest Hemingway take place in Oklahoma, in Harold Krebs’ home-town (p. 1, l. 8).

An important part of the physical setting is Krebs’ house, where Krebs seems to isolate himself. When he looks at the girls in his home-town, he watches them “from the front porch” (p. 2, l. 14), which becomes a symbol of his desire to remain detached and not get involved in a relationship. The house also becomes a safe place for Krebs, who fears consequences and who finds his house comforting and secure. However, the concept of the house as a safe place is ironic, as the story suggests that Krebs no longer considers it his home. Krebs will also end up rejecting the protection of the house, since he decides to move to another town. Furthermore, Krebs' conflicts with his family also means that the home is not a completely safe space for him. 

The narrative also offers a glimpse of the places in Europe where Krebs has fought during the war: “At first Krebs, who had been at Belleau Wood, Soissons, the Champagne, St. Mihiel and in the Argonne did not want to talk about...