Hemingway cut away the superfluous facts.
It takes place in Nick’s head
It’s up to the reader to interpret the story.
This story prepares the reader for reading Indian Camp
If you omit this story, then Indian Camp will start in medias res
Three shots tells us what’s on Nick’s mind
Krebs: He is emotionally detached, and very mentally tormented by his experiences in the war. He feels like he is living in another world than anybody else.
The relationship is like In Another Country. The war has made him shy and detached to the girls next door. He does not want to commit to anyone, because he does not want to lose anyone. War has changed him.
His sister, Helen Krebs, tells him that she will be pitching in an indoor baseball game that day. She asks if he’ll come. Their mother shoos her away and tells Krebs that he should think about finding a job.
His mother is very religious, and she wants to pray for Krebs and Krebs to pray with her. He does so even though he is not emotionally involved.
They are very appreciative of his efforts in the war and his sisters see him as a hero.
When he got back from the war he had changed, but unfortunately the small town society had not.
The title could be interpreted as quiet ironic since what Krebs returns to is not really his home anymore.
He puts on a facade when he tells stories from the war so that people will listen to him.
Is this a typical story by Hemingway? No, this
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