In the short stories “Soldiers Home” by Ernest Hemingway, and “A&P” by John Updike, both authors introduce the concept of rejection of community values. Although the two stories are written in different styles, “Soldiers Home” being serious and dismal, and “A&P” being more humorous and sarcastic, they both reveal similar settings, which both Kreb’s and Sammy rejects. The main characters, Kreb’s and Sammy, both have very similar views on society and reject similar things. Both of the authors used very detailed examples of how each of the main characters rejected society. To begin, “Soldiers Home” takes place in an older time, where society had more expectations and guidelines for the youth. The story demonstrates the conflict between Kreb’s value, which has dramatically changed after his time as a solider during the war. His family is concerned about his future and is worried he had lost his ambition while at war. Krebs doesn't agree with the ways of society and didn't want all the things that most of the people in his town wanted. He didn't have a definite aim in life, like society seemed to order. He rejected what everyone in society wanted. He didn’t even want a girlfriend, or to talk to girls because they were just too complicated for him. Krebs felt as if he had to choose isolation by detaching himself from social relations, love, religion and ambition. Hemingway reveals his familys worry for him in "Soldier's Home" when Kreb's mom says, “Don't you think it's about time? God has some work for everyone to do.” “Charley Simmons has a good job and is going to be married boys like Charley Simmons are on their way to being really a credit to the community” (Hemingway 170). She explained to him how he was going to need to settle down and start to work, and he didn’t have much to say about the topic. Another example, is when Kreb’s mother explains to him that any job is okay to start in at and how his father always says that, “all work is honorable” (Hemingway170). These quotes shows the high expectations that are set for Krebs by his family and the rest of the people in his community.

In Updike's short story, he also creates a town with guidelines. Sammy is an opinionated and sarcastic 19 year-old boy who is trying to figure out what the future holds for him. He works in a grocery store named A&P. One day when he was at work, he witnessed three girls who walked in dressed in bikinis. Obviously that was against the views of society, especially in 1961 when this story took place. Sammy expresses his