Soldier’s Home
by Ernest Hemingway

Soldier’s Home: Foil 1 key example

Foil
Explanation and Analysis—Krebs's Mother as a Foil:

Krebs's mother serves as a foil for Krebs throughout "Soldier's Home," revealing different elements to his character and various aspects of the story as a whole. Whereas she is inside God's kingdom and believes everyone to be inside God's kingdom, Krebs is adamant he is "not in His Kingdom." While she can pray for Krebs, Krebs cannot pray at all. This dichotomy places Krebs outside the world of the divine, his feelings of solitude and isolation taken to an extreme.