Heroism In Soldier's Home

Anti-Heros Soldiers coming home from war often have to overcome adversity when dealing with their inability to integrate back into their families and society, as well as coping with the loss of innocence. Soldiers have trouble adjusting back into a normal society following war, because war is all they know. In the short story “Soldier's Home” by Ernest Hemingway, the main character Krebs, returns from war, and has trouble adjusting to regular life. At the ice cream parlor in his town, Krebs sees a group of women ahead of him and starts to think that he does not need a girl in his life. Krebs believes that when “[he] is ripe for a girl [he] will get one” and that there is absolutely no reason to have a women in his life (Hemingway 2). He is trying to convince himself that he is no longer
Furthermore, In the film adaptation of Born on The Fourth Of July written by Ron Kovic, Ron has come home from the Vietnam War, paralyzed from the mid-chest down. Shortly after arriving home, he tells his mother that citizens have “burned the flag and..demonstrated against [soldiers]” and expresses how disrespected he feels (Stone). Soon after, Ron’s brother confesses that he doesn't believe in war. Ron exclaims that those against the war and American political decisions ,like his brother, should “love it or leave it”, exhibiting Ron’s inability to conform into society (Stone). Lastly, in Speaking of Courage by Tim O’Brien, veteran Paul Berlin who is unable to leave the war behind, but is also unable to talk about it. Paul Berlin’s father had also been in a war, but he will not speak of it. Unfortunately for Paul, his father is the only person he feels comfortable talking to. Throughout the short story, Berlin “follows a tar road seven mile loop” repeatedly, thinking of the things that have happened post-war (O’Brien 1). Along the way, he begins to have imaginary conversations with himself. He realizes that everyone has moved on