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Definition of Motif
A motif is an element or idea that recurs throughout a work of literature. Motifs, which are often collections of related symbols, help develop the central themes of a book... read full definition
A motif is an element or idea that recurs throughout a work of literature. Motifs, which are often collections of related symbols, help develop the... read full definition
A motif is an element or idea that recurs throughout a work of literature. Motifs, which are often collections of... read full definition
Motifs
Explanation and Analysis—I Like It, I Like It Not:
Throughout "Soldier's Home," Krebs is bluntly described as liking and not liking specific things. The frequency with which this occurs, as well as the seemingly contradictory nature of many of these likes and dislikes, transforms an otherwise unremarkable facet of the short story into a motif that emphasizes many of the most prevalent themes and symbols of "Soldier's Home."
Anaphora, or the repetition of a word or phrase to start successive clauses, marks one prominent example of this motif. When describing the girls that walk by the porch, "He liked..." begins six sentences in one paragraph, whereas "He did not want..." begins four sentences in the next paragraph. While Krebs likes looking at the girls and would like to "have" a girl, he is uninterested in "getting her," or in putting in the work required to form a mutual attraction. The repeated phrases make clear an otherwise subtle, almost contradictory distinction.
This motif highlights an emotional state that appears simple and childlike on the surface. Hemingway's stark prose further contributes to this sense of Krebs's emotions. Within the context of his life as a soldier, as well as the specific insight into Krebs's emotional state revealed over the course of the story—such as the fact that he greatly enjoys reading about the war, has no interest in "consequences," and the climax in which he fights with his mother—a more complicated emotional state is revealed. Returning to his hometown a changed man, Krebs is unable to fulfill the expectations others set for him, from starting a family to finding a job.
Furthermore, this motif contributes to height of the climax, which centers around his initial refusal to say he loves his mother. The recurring mention of likes and dislikes from Krebs numbs the reader to such claims, making the ultimate climax both less shocking to the reader and more relevant to the story than it would otherwise appear to be.
Related Themes:
