Essay on Hemingways Soldiers Home and Big Two-Heated River

Veterans of war have different but almost similar experiences mostly characterized by a sense of loss. These individuals often deal with post-traumatic stress disorder, a myriad of emotions, and sexual deprivation, among others. Hemingway, in his short stories Soldiers Home and Big Two-Hearted River introduces the reader into the lives of the characters Nick and Krebs respectively. These partook in war and were lucky to have survived where others did not. They, like the others, struggle to reclaim their lives as it were before the war. Although Krebs seems to be adjusting to life after the war because of his efforts to settle down in his hometown, nonetheless, Nick is more successful because he chooses isolation for his peace of mind and because this separation eventually leads to a revival of his skills in fishing hence kick-starting the healing process.

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A disillusioned and emotionally wounded Nick Adams embarks on a camping trip as soon as he sets foot back home. He does this in a bid to create a routine in his life that will help keep his mind off the war and will facilitate his turning a new leaf. Trout fishing is Nicks way restoring him to a physically and emotionally healthy life and when the writer says that He had made his camp. He was settled, it shows that he was making tremendous progress hence the satisfaction at accomplishing simple tasks. Nick delights in such small pleasures that any other person who had not participated in war would possibly overlook. Consequently, the reader meets a contented Nick who fishes even more and takes control of his emotions. One can, therefore, conclude that Nick healed and fit into the post-war world.

One would think that an emotionally stressed Harold Krebs is lucky to return to his unchanged hometown after the war. He, however, does not share in the joy because he cannot relate to its residents who opine that war is glamorous hence his decision to flee from home. Krebs is full of anger and hate and resorts to being dishonest to survive since no one clearly understood the atrocities of war. Krebs effectively talks about the heroics of the war to those who care to listen. Consequently, memories of his experiences in the war become distasteful as the line A distaste for everything that happened to him in the war set in suggests. Krebs does nothing meaningful to keep his mind off the war as he is seen spending time playing pool and reading. The writer does not insinuate that these activities are geared towards a healing process as he states that Krebs days were spent aimlessly. In fact, the only honest utterance that Krebs makes is the one in response to his mothers query on whether his love for her. Krebs solemnly answers I dont love anybody a reaction which causes his mother to burst into tears. As though that were not sufficient, Krebs makes a false promise to his mother be an exceptional person. Unable to stand the sickening liar he was becoming, Krebs decides to leave for Kansas City where live in solitude and fell right.

Needless to say, Krebs is adjusting to life at home because he tries to accommodate the peoples perceptions about the war even though he is forced to lie. Harold Krebs demonstrates that he can interact with his friends in a game of pool however much he avoids any serious contact including any serious relationships with women. Nick Adams, however, is luckier because he separates himself from the rest of humanity; a remarkable starting point in the healing process, and because through fishing, finds a way to practice self-control. Nick demonstrates that for one to fit into the post-war world, the recovery process may entail isolation as evidence when he goes to a deserted area where there was no town.' Succeeding isolation is the recollection stage which is mirrored in the fact that Nick reunites with his fishing expertise and this gives him a significant bearing in his mental rejuvenation.

All in all, post-war survivors experience many difficulties before they can find a bearing. Those in the community often misunderstand their experiences because of the misconstrued perceptions of the war or false stories that they may have heard. From these two stories, one gathers the importance of seeking solitude until such a prime time for a family reunion. Soldiers need not be in a rush to blend in with the rest of the society. It can be facilitated after they make peace with their circumstance.