Soldier's Home story
"Soldier's Home" is the ninth installment of The American Short Story television anthology series produced by Learning in Focus and Sea Cliff Productions for the Public Broadcasting Service. This installment is based on the 1925 Ernest Hemingway short story of the same name. Synopsis: A young man returns from fighting in the First World War a changed man.
15 total · 6 major · 9 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| belonging | major | The young man Harold came back from fighting in the Great War a changed man and quickly discovered that he no longer fit in in the cozy town where he'd grown up. |
| coping with post-traumatic stress | major | Harold suffered from post-traumatic stress from his time as a soldier, as evidenced by others' puzzled reactions to his being aloof and cold upon his return. |
| mother and son | major | Harold's mother continually lobbied for her son, making it clear how relieved and thankful she was that he had safely returned from fighting in the war. She also convinced his father to let Harold use the car. Harold reduced his mother to tears by coldly telling her he didn't love her, or anybody else for that matter. |
| reintegrating into society | major | The story follows the young man Harold as he comes back to his hometown after fighting in the Great War a withdrawn, despondent man who doesn't fit in anymore. |
| the horrors of war | major | One gathers that Harold was left deeply troubled by the carnage he'd seen fighting in the trenches in World War I. The film opens with a montage of soldiers dying horribly in the trenches. Bill Kenner spoke distraughtly of having seen his comrades "screaming and bleeding to death". |
| World War I | major | The story follows the young man Harold in the immediate aftermath of his returning home from fighting in this war. |
| brother and sister | minor | Harold and his younger sister Marge exchanged pleasantries over the dinner table. |
| Christianity | minor | Mrs. Krebs praised the Lord for having brought her son home from the war safe and sound. It is clear from the small town American context that this was the Christian God. |
| coping with a crisis of faith | minor | While Harold's mother seems distressed that Harold cannot pray aloud with her, Harold seems very matter-of-fact about his unbelief. |
| coping with unwelcome romantic attention | minor | Roselle was shocked when Harold forced himself upon her with unrequited kisses and forcefully resisted his attempts. |