Introduction: “Homecoming” by Julia Alvarez
“Homecoming” by Julia Alvarez first appeared in her 1984 collection Homecoming, exploring themes of family, war, and the struggle to reintegrate after trauma. This poignant poem vividly captures the return of a soldier father from the Korean War, painting a picture of anticipation shadowed by estrangement. The narrator’s family prepares joyfully, with “new frocks for mother and me” and “sweet, cold champagne,” but the father’s haunted demeanor disrupts the idyllic reunion. His “eyes rimmed with sleeplessness” and his pacing at night reflect the psychological scars of war, creating a fragile and tense domestic atmosphere. Alvarez’s ability to convey profound emotional disconnection through simple, evocative imagery makes this poem a favorite in textbooks, offering readers insight into post-war family dynamics. The yearning for wholeness resonates deeply, encapsulated in the hopeful yet ambiguous conclusion: “he’ll be with us again, whole, unharmed, and we’ll be a family reunited at last.” This duality of hope and uncertainty solidifies the poem’s enduring relevance.
Text: “Homecoming” by Julia Alvarez
In the airport,
stomping of boots
announces my father’s return
from his tour of duty in Korea.
We’ve prepared ourselves
as if for a second honeymoon:
new frocks for mother and me,
sweet, cold champagne
to toast his safe arrival.
But Daddy is a stranger
who has brought home the war.
He sits stiffly
on the edge of the couch,
eyes rimmed with sleeplessness,
fingers beating a tattoo
on the ashtray’s edge.
Mother presses him with questions
but he just stares ahead,
lost in a world
we don’t understand.
Later, in my bedroom,
I hear his footsteps pacing
the living room’s length,
marking off the battleground
of his return.
In the morning,
he’s up before any of us,
whistling off-key
while he scrubs his uniform
till the fabric turns raw
in his hands.
We tiptoe past him
out the door to school,
not daring to breathe
for fear of breaking
whatever fragile peace
he’s found in his sleep.
But tonight, when he comes home,
he’ll be with us again,
whole, unharmed,
and we’ll be a family
reunited at last.
Annotations: “Homecoming” by Julia Alvarez
| Line | Annotation |
| In the airport, | Sets the initial scene of anticipation and public formality, symbolizing a transitional space between war and home. |
| stomping of boots | The “stomping of boots” symbolizes the military and the lingering presence of war, foreshadowing the tension to come. |
| announces my father’s return | The word “announces” suggests a formal or impersonal tone, contrasting the intimacy expected in a family reunion. |
| from his tour of duty in Korea. | Establishes the historical and emotional context, hinting at the personal cost of war through its impact on the soldier and his family. |
| We’ve prepared ourselves | Suggests optimism and deliberate effort to create a celebratory atmosphere, highlighting familial anticipation. |
| as if for a second honeymoon: | The “second honeymoon” metaphor emphasizes hope for a renewal of joy and connection, juxtaposed with the reality of his return. |
| new frocks for mother and me, | The new clothing symbolizes an attempt to create a fresh, idealized beginning. |
| sweet, cold champagne | Champagne reflects celebration and relief, reinforcing the expectation of a happy reunion. |
| to toast his safe arrival. | Reinforces the initial hope and gratitude for his physical safety, while leaving his emotional state unexplored at this point. |
| But Daddy is a stranger | Marks a turning point, introducing the theme of alienation and the emotional distance created by his experiences of war. |
| who has brought home the war. | A powerful metaphor indicating that war’s impact cannot be left behind, emphasizing its intrusion into family life. |
| He sits stiffly | Conveys discomfort and unease, both physical and emotional, in adjusting to civilian life. |
| on the edge of the couch, | The phrase “edge of the couch” symbolizes his inability to relax or feel at home, reflecting his psychological turmoil. |
| eyes rimmed with sleeplessness, | Suggests insomnia, a common symptom of post-traumatic stress, hinting at the depth of his inner struggle. |
| fingers beating a tattoo | The repetitive motion symbolizes agitation and the lingering effects of military discipline or anxiety. |
| on the ashtray’s edge. | The ashtray reflects an attempt to cope, possibly hinting at smoking as a mechanism to manage stress. |
| Mother presses him with questions | Illustrates the wife’s effort to connect and understand him, emphasizing her concern and confusion. |
| but he just stares ahead, | The vacant stare conveys detachment and withdrawal, common reactions to traumatic experiences. |
| lost in a world | Suggests a psychological barrier, separating him from his family and their reality. |
| we don’t understand. | Highlights the emotional chasm between the father and his family, symbolizing the isolation caused by unshared experiences. |
| Later, in my bedroom, | Shifts the scene to the daughter’s perspective, signaling a more introspective and personal lens. |
| I hear his footsteps pacing | The pacing underscores his restlessness and inability to find peace, mirroring the ongoing battle in his mind. |
| the living room’s length, | The confined space contrasts with the expansive battlegrounds of war, symbolizing his internal struggle to adapt to domestic life. |
| marking off the battleground | The “battleground” metaphor reinforces the idea that his homecoming is a continuation of his wartime experiences. |
| of his return. | Suggests the difficulty and complexity of reintegration, as if his return itself is a new challenge to overcome. |
| In the morning, | Indicates the passage of time and introduces the routine of post-return life, focusing on his actions. |
| he’s up before any of us, | Suggests hypervigilance, a common symptom of PTSD, and a sense of isolation from the family’s normal rhythms. |
| whistling off-key | The off-key whistle reflects a fragile attempt at normalcy, tinged with imperfection and discomfort. |
| while he scrubs his uniform | Scrubbing the uniform symbolizes a physical and psychological need to cleanse himself of the war, perhaps seeking absolution or closure. |
| till the fabric turns raw | The raw fabric becomes a metaphor for his raw emotions and the irreparable changes wrought by his experiences. |
| in his hands. | Emphasizes his personal effort and struggle, yet also hints at futility as his hands alone cannot mend what has been damaged. |
| We tiptoe past him | The family’s cautious behavior reflects their fear of provoking or disrupting his fragile state. |
| out the door to school, | The mention of school contrasts the children’s normal life with the father’s emotional turmoil, highlighting the disparity in their experiences. |
| not daring to breathe | Exaggerates their fear and tension, illustrating the fragility of the household dynamics. |
| for fear of breaking | Suggests that the peace is tenuous and easily shattered, underscoring the father’s precarious mental state. |
| whatever fragile peace | The phrase underscores the instability of his emotional recovery and the family’s delicate adaptation. |
| he’s found in his sleep. | Indicates that sleep provides a temporary reprieve, but even that is fragile and unreliable. |
| But tonight, when he comes home, | The shift to hope signals the family’s resilience and their yearning for normalcy despite the challenges. |
| he’ll be with us again, | Expresses hope for emotional reconnection, though the lack of certainty reflects the complexity of their situation. |
| whole, unharmed, | The adjectives “whole” and “unharmed” underscore their idealized vision, contrasting with the emotional wounds he bears. |
| and we’ll be a family | Reaffirms the family’s desire for unity and a return to pre-war normalcy. |
| reunited at last. | The final note of optimism is tempered by the preceding context, leaving readers to question whether this unity is truly achievable. |
Literary And Poetic Devices: “Homecoming” by Julia Alvarez
| Device | Example | Explanation |
| Allusion | “from his tour of duty in Korea” | Refers to the Korean War, grounding the poem in a specific historical and cultural context. |
| Ambiguity | “he’ll be with us again, whole, unharmed” | Leaves the reader questioning whether this hope will be realized, reflecting the uncertainty of reintegration. |
| Assonance | “sweet, cold champagne” | The repetition of the “ee” sound in “sweet” and “cold” creates a melodic effect, emphasizing the celebratory preparation. |
| Caesura | “But Daddy is a stranger” | The pause in the middle of the line highlights the emotional impact of the father’s alienation. |
| Connotation | “marking off the battleground” | “Battleground” connotes conflict and struggle, reflecting the father’s psychological turmoil. |
| Contrast | “We’ve prepared ourselves…Daddy is a stranger” | Contrasts the family’s joyful anticipation with the father’s detached return, emphasizing the emotional disconnect. |
| Enjambment | “He sits stiffly / on the edge of the couch” | The continuation of the thought across lines mirrors the unresolved tension and disconnection in the father’s demeanor. |
| Foreshadowing | “stomping of boots announces my father’s return” | Suggests the lingering presence of war, hinting at the conflict to come in the poem. |
| Hyperbole | “not daring to breathe” | Exaggerates the family’s cautious behavior to emphasize their fear of upsetting the father’s fragile peace. |
| Imagery | “eyes rimmed with sleeplessness” | Creates a vivid image of the father’s exhaustion and psychological struggle, appealing to the reader’s senses. |
| Irony | “as if for a second honeymoon” | The ironic expectation of a joyous reunion contrasts with the father’s haunted and distant behavior. |
| Metaphor | “marking off the battleground of his return” | Compares the father’s struggle to a battlefield, highlighting the emotional conflict in his reintegration. |
| Mood | “We tiptoe past him…not daring to breathe” | Establishes a tense and apprehensive mood, reflecting the fragile family dynamic. |
| Personification | “he’s found in his sleep” | Sleep is given the human quality of offering peace, underscoring its temporary and unreliable nature. |
| Repetition | “whole, unharmed” | Repeats adjectives to stress the family’s longing for the father’s emotional and physical wholeness. |
| Shift | “But tonight, when he comes home” | Marks a shift in tone from despair to hope, reflecting the family’s resilience and optimism despite challenges. |
| Simile | “as if for a second honeymoon” | Compares their preparations to a honeymoon, highlighting their idealized expectations for the father’s return. |
| Symbolism | “scrubs his uniform till the fabric turns raw” | The uniform symbolizes the father’s identity as a soldier, and scrubbing it reflects his attempt to cleanse himself of war’s impact. |
| Tone | “lost in a world we don’t understand” | The tone here is one of sorrow and helplessness, illustrating the family’s inability to connect with the father. |
Themes: “Homecoming” by Julia Alvarez
- The Psychological Impact of War
- The poem “Homecoming” delves deeply into the psychological scars left by war on soldiers, portraying how these wounds extend beyond the battlefield into domestic life. The father’s behavior upon his return—”eyes rimmed with sleeplessness” and “fingers beating a tattoo on the ashtray’s edge”—reflects his lingering trauma and inability to reintegrate fully into his pre-war life. His pacing in the night, described as “marking off the battleground of his return,” highlights the internal war he continues to fight. This metaphor underscores that his struggle is far from over, emphasizing how war irrevocably changes those who experience it. Julia Alvarez captures the pervasive nature of trauma, illustrating its capacity to disrupt not just the soldier’s life but the entire family’s sense of stability.
- Family Dynamics and Alienation
- “Homecoming” explores the fragile dynamics of a family grappling with the emotional distance created by the father’s war experiences. Despite the family’s hopeful preparations, with “new frocks for mother and me” and “sweet, cold champagne,” the reunion is far from celebratory. The father is described as “a stranger who has brought home the war,” emphasizing the emotional chasm between him and his loved ones. The family tiptoes “not daring to breathe,” reflecting their fear of further straining an already delicate situation. Alvarez poignantly illustrates how war isolates soldiers even from those who love them most, leaving families to navigate the complexity of reintegration while yearning for the person they once knew.
- Hope and Resilience
- Amid the tension and emotional distance, “Homecoming” also captures the enduring hope and resilience of the family. Despite the father’s haunted demeanor and the visible impact of his experiences, the narrator clings to the belief that “he’ll be with us again, whole, unharmed, and we’ll be a family reunited at last.” This hopeful conclusion contrasts sharply with the preceding tension, demonstrating the family’s determination to rebuild their bond and move past the shadow of war. Alvarez juxtaposes despair with hope, reflecting the human capacity to endure and the power of love and commitment to overcome adversity.
- The Fragility of Peace
- Throughout “Homecoming,” peace is depicted as fragile and fleeting, both in the father’s psychological state and the family’s interactions. The family’s cautious behavior, such as tiptoeing past the father in the morning “for fear of breaking whatever fragile peace he’s found in his sleep,” highlights the precariousness of their situation. The father’s actions, including “scrubbing his uniform till the fabric turns raw,” symbolize his struggle to reconcile his wartime experiences with his present reality. Alvarez portrays peace as something that must be carefully nurtured, underscoring the difficulties of returning to normalcy after the upheaval of war.
Literary Theories and “Homecoming” by Julia Alvarez
| Literary Theory | Explanation | References from “Homecoming” |
| Psychoanalytic Theory | Explores the father’s psychological trauma and its manifestation in his behavior, as well as the family’s emotional responses. | The father’s “eyes rimmed with sleeplessness” and his pacing at night “marking off the battleground of his return” reflect his unresolved trauma and inner conflict. |
| Feminist Theory | Examines the roles and expectations placed on women within the family dynamic, particularly the mother and daughter. | The mother’s effort to comfort and engage the father, “Mother presses him with questions,” and the daughter’s observant silence highlight traditional gender roles. |
| Postmodern Theory | Focuses on fragmentation and the breakdown of traditional narratives, showcasing how war disrupts familial and personal identity. | The line “But Daddy is a stranger who has brought home the war” challenges the expected narrative of a joyous reunion, presenting a fragmented, disjointed reality. |
| Reader-Response Theory | Analyzes how individual readers interpret the emotional weight of the family’s struggles based on their own experiences or cultural background. | Lines such as “we tiptoe past him…not daring to breathe” invite readers to empathize with the family’s tension, evoking diverse responses depending on personal context. |
Critical Questions about “Homecoming” by Julia Alvarez
1. How does “Homecoming” explore the lingering effects of war on soldiers?
“Homecoming” vividly portrays the psychological scars that war leaves on soldiers, emphasizing how these wounds transcend the battlefield. The father’s behavior upon his return—”eyes rimmed with sleeplessness” and “fingers beating a tattoo on the ashtray’s edge”—reflects his ongoing internal struggle. His pacing at night, described as “marking off the battleground of his return,” illustrates that the war continues within him, even in the safety of his home. Alvarez highlights that while the soldier has returned physically, his mind remains trapped in the horrors of war. This ongoing battle underscores the long-term emotional and mental toll of warfare, making his return less a joyful reunion and more a continuation of conflict, albeit on a different front.
2. What role does the family play in the father’s reintegration in “Homecoming”?
The family in “Homecoming” is portrayed as both hopeful and fragile, attempting to support the father’s reintegration despite not fully understanding his experiences. Their preparations for his return, such as wearing “new frocks for mother and me” and setting out “sweet, cold champagne,” signify their anticipation of a celebratory homecoming. However, their reactions shift to caution and apprehension as they witness his emotional withdrawal, seen in lines like “We tiptoe past him…not daring to breathe.” The family’s role becomes one of silent support and endurance, trying to preserve peace while yearning for the father’s emotional recovery. Alvarez paints a poignant picture of the family’s resilience and the challenges they face in bridging the gap created by his wartime experiences.
3. How does “Homecoming” depict the tension between hope and reality?
“Homecoming” juxtaposes the family’s hope for a joyful reunion with the harsh reality of the father’s emotional detachment, creating a poignant tension. The opening lines set a hopeful tone, with preparations likened to “a second honeymoon,” signaling the family’s expectation of renewal and unity. However, this hope quickly fades as the father’s haunted demeanor becomes apparent—he “sits stiffly on the edge of the couch” and remains “lost in a world we don’t understand.” The final lines, “he’ll be with us again, whole, unharmed, and we’ll be a family reunited at last,” convey the family’s continued hope despite the evident challenges. Alvarez masterfully captures this duality, showing how hope persists even in the face of painful realities.
4. What does “Homecoming” suggest about the fragility of post-war family dynamics?
“Homecoming” underscores the fragility of family relationships after the upheaval of war, illustrating how deeply trauma impacts the home environment. The family’s cautious behavior, such as tiptoeing “not daring to breathe” and observing the father’s mood, reflects their fear of disrupting his precarious peace. The line “scrubs his uniform till the fabric turns raw” symbolizes the father’s struggle to reconcile his war experiences with his current reality, further straining familial bonds. Alvarez emphasizes that the family’s unity is delicate and dependent on their ability to navigate this tension. This portrayal highlights the resilience required to maintain relationships in the wake of trauma and the effort needed to heal as a family.
Literary Works Similar to “Homecoming” by Julia Alvarez
- “The Soldier” by Rupert Brooke
Explores the romanticized view of a soldier’s sacrifice and the impact of war on identity, contrasting the harsh realities of reintegration seen in “Homecoming.” - “Dulce et Decorum Est” by Wilfred Owen
Shares a focus on the trauma and disillusionment of war, vividly illustrating its lasting psychological effects, akin to the father’s emotional withdrawal in “Homecoming.” - “Facing It” by Yusef Komunyakaa
Reflects on the lingering emotional scars of war and the struggle to reconcile past experiences, mirroring the father’s internal battle in “Homecoming.” - “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke
Examines the complexities of familial relationships and the tension between affection and alienation, resonating with the strained family dynamic in “Homecoming.”
Representative Quotations of “Homecoming” by Julia Alvarez
| Quotation | Context | Theoretical Perspective |
| “In the airport, stomping of boots announces my father’s return from his tour of duty in Korea.” | Sets the stage for the father’s return, blending anticipation with militaristic imagery. | Postmodern Theory: Highlights the intersection of personal and historical narratives, challenging the idea of a celebratory homecoming. |
| “We’ve prepared ourselves as if for a second honeymoon: new frocks for mother and me, sweet, cold champagne.” | Reflects the family’s idealized expectations of the father’s return. | Feminist Theory: Shows how traditional gender roles shape the family’s actions and expectations for domestic harmony. |
| “But Daddy is a stranger who has brought home the war.” | A pivotal moment revealing the father’s emotional disconnection and lasting trauma. | Psychoanalytic Theory: Highlights the psychological alienation caused by war and its impact on identity and familial relationships. |
| “He sits stiffly on the edge of the couch, eyes rimmed with sleeplessness, fingers beating a tattoo on the ashtray’s edge.” | Depicts the father’s inability to relax or engage with his family. | Psychoanalytic Theory: Illustrates symptoms of PTSD, such as hypervigilance and restlessness. |
| “Mother presses him with questions but he just stares ahead, lost in a world we don’t understand.” | Highlights the mother’s effort to connect and the father’s emotional isolation. | Reader-Response Theory: Invites readers to empathize with both the mother’s frustration and the father’s silence. |
| “Later, in my bedroom, I hear his footsteps pacing the living room’s length, marking off the battleground of his return.” | The father’s pacing symbolizes his ongoing internal conflict, likened to a battlefield. | Postmodern Theory: Challenges linear narratives of recovery by showing how war persists psychologically even after physical return. |
| “In the morning, he’s up before any of us, whistling off-key while he scrubs his uniform till the fabric turns raw in his hands.” | Demonstrates the father’s attempt to cleanse himself of war’s remnants, both literal and symbolic. | Psychoanalytic Theory: Reflects compulsive behavior as a coping mechanism for unresolved trauma. |
| “We tiptoe past him out the door to school, not daring to breathe for fear of breaking whatever fragile peace he’s found in his sleep.” | Illustrates the family’s tension and cautious behavior around the father. | Structuralism: Highlights the delicate family dynamic shaped by the father’s mental state, showing how relationships are restructured. |
| “But tonight, when he comes home, he’ll be with us again, whole, unharmed, and we’ll be a family reunited at last.” | Expresses hope for emotional and familial restoration despite the evident challenges. | Reader-Response Theory: Allows readers to interpret the ambiguity of hope—whether it is realistic or merely wishful thinking. |
| “lost in a world we don’t understand.” | Emphasizes the emotional gap between the father and his family. | Feminist Theory: Examines how societal expectations of emotional support burden families, particularly women. |
Suggested Readings: “Homecoming” by Julia Alvarez
- Álvarez, Julia, and Megan Myers. “A Promise Kept: A Conversation With Julia Álvarez.” Afro-Hispanic Review, vol. 31, no. 1, 2012, pp. 169–76. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/23617218. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.
- ALVAREZ, JULIA. “An American Childhood in the Dominican Republic.” The American Scholar, vol. 56, no. 1, 1987, pp. 71–85. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/41211381. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.
- MALECH, DORA, and LAURA T. SMITH, editors. “Julia Alvarez (b. 1950).” The American Sonnet: An Anthology of Poems and Essays, University of Iowa Press, 2022, pp. 89–89. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv32r03gt.67. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.
- Aldama, Frederick Luis. “Julia Alvarez.” Formal Matters in Contemporary Latino Poetry. New York: Palgrave Macmillan US, 2013. 83-110.