62 pages • 2 hours read
Kristin HannahHome Front
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2012A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
Jolene’s Helicopter
One of the novel’s core symbols is Jolene’s Black Hawk helicopter, which represents her strength and ability to overcome difficult situations. When Jolene’s parents died, she entered the military as a means of survival. She becomes a helicopter pilot and finds true freedom in the air. This freedom helps Jolene change from a timid girl to a strong and independent woman. Jolene’s accomplishment as a pilot deepens when Michael describes how difficult it was for his wife to gain respect and recognition as a female pilot. He says:
I remember all your boot camp stories and your flight school stories. And how about all those times men climbed into your Black Hawk, saw your ponytail, and got out, saying they wouldn’t fly with a woman. You told me you made them eat their words. You said you were tough (264).
Thus, Jolene turns to her helicopter in her greatest time of need, and that helicopter symbolically strengthens her and helps her become a woman who overcomes great adversity.
As Jolene endures deployment in Iraq, Jolene describes her Black Hawk as her “home away from home. It has so much equipment, the whole world is at my fingertips. Whenever I look at the GPS, I think of [family] and home and I count the days till I’m back” (208). However, after her helicopter crashes, Jolene loses an important part of herself, adding to her struggle to overcome her amputation and grief. The control she had once felt in flying is gone, leaving her even more helpless. This sense of loss increases when Captain Lomand tells Jolene she will not be able to fly again because of her injury and amputation. However, because of her permanent prosthesis, Jolene later learns she can fly small helicopters when ready. This realization brings Jolene additional hope. While Hannah does not describe Jolene’s return to flight, the audience can assume that Jolene returns to the air and the job that meant so much to her, a symbol of her lasting recovery.
Courage
The novel explores the many forms courage can take. For example, Jolene is courageous not only for joining the military and fulfilling her duty to the National Guard during deployment but also for raising a family despite her military career. When she returns home, Jolene demonstrates courage as she overcomes fear, PTSD, and grief. While she does experience extreme depression and anger as a result of her trauma, Jolene is courageous enough to use her family to inspire her to keep working and improving. Lastly, Jolene demonstrates courage when she forgives Michael and agrees to continue working on their marriage.
Michael likewise shows great courage when Jolene leaves for Iraq. Although he acted selfishly and cruelly, he is brave enough to face his mistakes and admit he was wrong. His mindset changes first, and he remembers Jolene as the woman he fell in love with. He also sees his daughters differently and becomes a much more involved father. Michael demonstrates even more courage when Jolene returns home. He continues being the primary provider for his children while also helping Jolene in her recovery. Michael does not back down from Jolene’s anger and depression, continuously showing he loves her and has changed. He is even courageous enough to confront Jolene and be honest with her about her behavior and how detrimental it is to her recovery, their relationship, and their family’s well-being. Jolene answers Michael’s courage when she acknowledges he has changed and is willing to change herself for his and her daughters’ sake.
Even the novel’s minor characters demonstrate courage in their actions. For example, Jamie, Jolene’s gunner who survived the crash, returns to Iraq. Conny demonstrates courage by continuously encouraging Jolene and refusing to back down when she becomes angry. Keith Keller shows courage when he tells Michael that he will not appeal his guilty verdict for second-degree murder. This decision indicates that Keith accepts his responsibility and is unafraid of consequences. Mila is courageous when she stands up to Michael and tells him to be a better father and husband, using Theo’s example to show Michael he is headed down the same path. Even these small examples of courage teach readers that small choices can make a powerful impact and deeply affect their lives and those of the other characters.
The Zarkades House
Another symbol in the novel is the Zarkades house, which represents safety and security. Jolene wanted this house as it was close to Michael’s parents. Because she lost her dysfunctional parents so young, family means everything to Jolene. Thus, the house’s proximity to Theo and Mila is significant to her. Likewise, Jolene fills her home with furniture that tells a story. Michael has the money to buy new furniture, yet Jolene prefers pieces that have character and represent memories of the previous owners. After Michael and Jolene move in, they build a white fence to surround the house. This fence symbolizes that Jolene and her family belong there and that their home is set apart from the rest of the community.
Initially, Michael resents this house, feeling they bought it because Jolene wanted it, not because they both liked it. However, once Jolene leaves for Iraq, Michael begins to see his home as Jolene does. He comes to grasp the life and family they have built together and how their home represents the ups and downs inherent in life and family. The changes Michael and his daughters make to accommodate Jolene’s amputation add to the house’s story and the memories made within its walls. The house has a different appearance by the novel’s end. However, the home still represents safety and security despite its changes and developments because of the character’s ability to overcome conflict and trial.
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By Kristin Hannah
