Unlike other traditional war narration, Crane’s Red Badge of Courage reflects the main character’s inner journey. Our main character, “the Youth” named Henry Fleming, had a high romantic notion about war. He had not always intercepted and presented us the truest reality. In the last line of Crane’s introduction poem to Red Badge of Courage mocks youth’s fantasies, “Ah, I think there were braver deeds. ”
Wrote with a slight sarcastic tone, Crane suggesting brutal warfare does not represent true courage. Crane believes humans have the tendency to romanticize events in their life, but true courage rewards to those who don’t, and face the realities as it is.
First, the death fearing youth had a high romantic notion about war. The youth …show more content…
Upon realizing his regiment had won, the Youth proceeds to find a way back to his regiment. As he travels, he joined a group of the wounded. There he meet the tatterman, questions him “Where yeh hit, ol’ boy?” Ashamed by the question, Henry couldn't answer.“But he was amid wounds. The mob of men was bleeding. Because of the tattered soldier’s question he now felt that his shame could be viewed. He was continually casting sidelong glances to see if the men were contemplating the letters of guilt he felt burned into his brow.”(Chapter 9,Red Badge of Courage) Henry realizes others had the courage that he lacks. They didn’t flee the battlefield like he had. Henry wishes he could have the courage like them. “He wished that he, too, had a wound, a red badge of courage.” Further down the road, the Youth reunited with Jim Conklin, the tall soldier of his regiment. Jim tramps at the edge of death, he whispers to the youth.“I tell yeh what I’m ’fraid of, Henry—I’ll tell yeh what I’m ’fraid of. I ’m ’fraid I ’ll fall down—an’ them yeh know—them damned artillery wagons—they like as not ’ll run over me. That ’s what I ’m ’fraid of—” (Chapter 9,Red Badge of Courage) The tall soldier went running into the field. Following after him, Henry watches in horror as Jim convulses, collapses, and dies. Consumed with bitter anger cause by his friend’s death, the youth realized that nature is indifferent to …show more content…
After all, he would not accept a name like “coward”. After reuniting with his own regiment, Henry befriends the “Loud Soldier” name Wilson. Wilson had changed after the first battle, soldiers come to him when in needs. Now acting as a caretaker, Wilson no longer carries the name of “Loud Soldier”. Before the battle, Wilson asked Henry to deliver the packet in case of his death to his family, he inquires the packet back. “His friend at his side seemed suffering great shame. As he contemplated him, the youth felt his heart grow more strong and stout.He had never been compelled to blush in such manner for his acts; he was an individual of extraordinary virtues.” (Chapter 15,Red Badge of Courage) With cases like Wilson and Jim Conklin, Henry slowly revises his opinion of courage. He comes to the conclusion that being courageous means owning up to one’s own mistakes and flaws. Later on, in the course of the book, Henry discovers that he can transcend his own fears; he can be brave even in the face of his own very possible death. “There was the delirium that encounters despair and death, and is heedless and blind to the odds. It is a temporary but sublime absence of selfishness” (Chapter 19,Red Badge of Courage). By the end of the next conflict, Henry aligned his romantic ideals more towards the realities. He had grew into a man. In his old days, he look back and commented, “The veteran
Wrote with a slight sarcastic tone, Crane suggesting brutal warfare does not represent true courage. Crane believes humans have the tendency to romanticize events in their life, but true courage rewards to those who don’t, and face the realities as it is.
First, the death fearing youth had a high romantic notion about war. The youth …show more content…
Upon realizing his regiment had won, the Youth proceeds to find a way back to his regiment. As he travels, he joined a group of the wounded. There he meet the tatterman, questions him “Where yeh hit, ol’ boy?” Ashamed by the question, Henry couldn't answer.“But he was amid wounds. The mob of men was bleeding. Because of the tattered soldier’s question he now felt that his shame could be viewed. He was continually casting sidelong glances to see if the men were contemplating the letters of guilt he felt burned into his brow.”(Chapter 9,Red Badge of Courage) Henry realizes others had the courage that he lacks. They didn’t flee the battlefield like he had. Henry wishes he could have the courage like them. “He wished that he, too, had a wound, a red badge of courage.” Further down the road, the Youth reunited with Jim Conklin, the tall soldier of his regiment. Jim tramps at the edge of death, he whispers to the youth.“I tell yeh what I’m ’fraid of, Henry—I’ll tell yeh what I’m ’fraid of. I ’m ’fraid I ’ll fall down—an’ them yeh know—them damned artillery wagons—they like as not ’ll run over me. That ’s what I ’m ’fraid of—” (Chapter 9,Red Badge of Courage) The tall soldier went running into the field. Following after him, Henry watches in horror as Jim convulses, collapses, and dies. Consumed with bitter anger cause by his friend’s death, the youth realized that nature is indifferent to …show more content…
After all, he would not accept a name like “coward”. After reuniting with his own regiment, Henry befriends the “Loud Soldier” name Wilson. Wilson had changed after the first battle, soldiers come to him when in needs. Now acting as a caretaker, Wilson no longer carries the name of “Loud Soldier”. Before the battle, Wilson asked Henry to deliver the packet in case of his death to his family, he inquires the packet back. “His friend at his side seemed suffering great shame. As he contemplated him, the youth felt his heart grow more strong and stout.He had never been compelled to blush in such manner for his acts; he was an individual of extraordinary virtues.” (Chapter 15,Red Badge of Courage) With cases like Wilson and Jim Conklin, Henry slowly revises his opinion of courage. He comes to the conclusion that being courageous means owning up to one’s own mistakes and flaws. Later on, in the course of the book, Henry discovers that he can transcend his own fears; he can be brave even in the face of his own very possible death. “There was the delirium that encounters despair and death, and is heedless and blind to the odds. It is a temporary but sublime absence of selfishness” (Chapter 19,Red Badge of Courage). By the end of the next conflict, Henry aligned his romantic ideals more towards the realities. He had grew into a man. In his old days, he look back and commented, “The veteran