“The Red Badge of Courage” by Stephen Crane undergoes many events, all of which emphasize deeply the author’s opinions. One key point the author wants to express is the behavior Henry Fleming, the protagonist, has when enlisting into the army. Henry Fleming was a normal teenager born during the Civil War, which used to do “masculine” things and had just one more step to accomplish. He wanted to enlist in the Union army and fight along them for their nation. Henry’s behavior is being very confident of himself, at first, at least. He believes that he is strong and capable enough to handle war scenarios and accomplish his goal: fighting successfully.
On the other hand, as we get to understand better Henry Fleming’s attitudes, and how he compares
The Evolution of the Mind of Henry Fleming The Red Badge of Courage is a historical fiction novel written by Stephen Crane. It takes place during the American Civil War and follows the journey of Henry Fleming, a young man who has enlisted in the war on the side of the Union. Over the course of the story, Henry changes tremendously, starting as a reasonably sane, rather prideful, but also fearful youth, and ending with considerable damage to his psyche, significant blows to his ego, but still having gained some courage. However, the most notable change throughout the book concerns Henry’s sanity, or lack thereof; this is the transformation that will be explored, and Henry’s evolution throughout the novel will be revealed.
In the beginning of the story Henrys doubt and struggle to find courage seriously affects his faith in himself. He joined the army because he was drawn to the glory of military conflict; considering war a sort of accessory. In the book it states, “He had read of marches, sieges, conflicts, and he had longed to see it all.
Henry’s personality immediately portrays this asset with his compassion and being a “romantic”. When using the term “romantic” it reflects a meaning of realism and seeing the brighter side to war. Henry entering the war from his perspective on Greek Heroism and Homer’s writings which gave him false hopes. Quickly Henry learned it was not what he thought it was prior to enlisting into war. Henry had a different approach to understanding the true meaning of courage.
In “the Red Badge of Courage” the Narrator only focuses on one main character “the youth,” Henry Fleming's is more of an outsider. Henry is just watching other soldiers fight while he’s doing his own. “The separation was as great to him as if they had marched with weapons of flame and banners of sunlight. He could never be like them.” It tells us how isolated he is.
Henry Fleming is a coward because he ran away, he faked an injury just to get attention, and he just joined the army just to get known. First reason Henry Fleming is a coward is because he ran away from war. Henry ran away because he was scared to die and he didn’t come back for a while to his regiment. He was so excited to join the war but when
In The Red Badge of Courage, the reader follows a character known as the youth whose constant struggle both internally, trying to prove to himself that his fleeing from battle and overall cowardice is natural, and externally as he fights the United States worst war are both questioning whether Henry can truly call himself a man. Although Henry starts this story a full blown deserter, he drastically changes once he feels he belongs, becoming not only a great soldier who rallied men against a terrible foe, but indeed became all a man can be. As Henry enters his first battle he “thought he might very likely run”(Crane 30), which he had been arguing with himself about for the past few days. Ever since he was a kid, Henry had dreamed of the glory
Courage comes in many different forms. Everyone has many things in their life they must use their courage for. The “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas” by Frederick Douglas, and the movie The Red Badge of Courage by John Huston focus on the content of finding the courage inside of one’s self, and the acts of bravery or leadership that come from this newfound courage. Both men aim to show how harsh situations can change people, and what a little courage and bravery can do for a person.
Henry comforts himself with the thought that if the enemy is meant to win the battle, their victory will at least not be an easy one. As the 304th fights, he is assured of its confidence in combat. In a pitched battle, Henry’s
In Stephen Crane’s Red Badge of Courage, Henry Fleming evolves from an anti-hero to a hero. The biggest difference between an anti-hero and a hero is motivation. Towards the beginning of the novel in Fleming’s inexperienced state, his goal was to become a respected soldier, but later in the novel as his motivations change, his goal became to protect his regiment with his life. Fleming’s new, heroic motivations require him to develop new characteristics. Henry Fleming evolves from an anti-hero to a hero by becoming brave, altruistic, and influential.
As defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a hero is “a person who is admired for great or brave acts [of purpose] or fine qualities.” In the book, The Red Badge of Courage, Henry Fleming is not a protagonist, nor a hero because he does not behave as a hero should and does not possess the qualities of a hero. He becomes motivated to enlist merely because of his desire for glory, flees from his first experience in battle, and leaves the tattered soldier alone. Fleming’s self-absorbed, cowardly, and selfish behavior are of a tempestuous teenager, who is clearly not a hero.
Henry’s flawed nature and inner desire to be morally upright are revealed as he escapes the battle and as he justifies himself
Henry The main protagonist of “The Red Badge Of Courage” is a young impressionable soldier who has never been in combat. He fights for the union, who is currently locked in a fierce war with the confederacy. In the first battle the enemy attacks Henry’s camp, however he is inexperienced and has no clue on what to do or say. His actions become automatic and he fights like he never fought before.
In “Red Badge of Courage” young union soldier Henry, bravely fights alongside his fellow soldiers in his first battle. However once the second battle starts he flees. Through the first four chapters, leading up to the battle, you can see Henry’s apprehension slowly rise. The army is constantly moving, which makes him and his fellow soldiers uneasy. After his regiment is finally settled into one position, young Henry’s first battle begins.
In battle, there are many ways to be put in the wrong position. A few erratic decisions can cause lifelong problems. In “The Red Badge of Courage” Stephan Crane shows the many situations in battle during the Civil War in 1860. Henry Fleming, also known as “The Youth,” made many notable decisions that would consider him a coward rather than a hero. Henry demonstrates a coward because he ran during the battle, deserted the tattered soldier, and lied to the other soldiers.
Throughout Stephen Crane’s Red Badge of Courage, Henry Fleming grows as a character, but not quite to a hero. Enlightened by his ability, Fleming finds confidence as a “young soldier.” Nonetheless his earlier failures and fears detract from one’s heroic image of Henry. Although Henry Fleming evolves into a man with heroic qualities, his fearful attitude, narcissism, and lack of leadership all characterize Fleming as a protagonist, not a hero.