Soldier's Home by Ernest Hemingway

An important dichotomy in "Soldier's Home" is between the reality of war and of true existence compared to the supernal haven that those who haven't experienced it exist in. When Harold Krebs arrived in his hometown after his tour, "Krebs found that to be listened to he had to lie." When he lied, he betrayed the reality that he couldn't ignore. Later, Krebs stares at the hardening bacon fat on his plate when his mother asks him to pray. He believes that praying would be a lie to himself and his beliefs and focuses on something real and solid.

His mother also calls him “Harold” while the narrator refers to him as Krebs. The war took away the individuality granted by the name “Harold”, and her calling him this is also a form of a lie. All that comforts Krebs is reading about the battles in which he fought. In this, he accepts death and affirms reality. This shows the dichotomy between the "realities" the post-war community wants to impose on him and the reality of the world he understands from war.

When he consents to get a job, though, he ultimately elects to embrace a lie.