What is courage? Courage means different things to different people. Stephen Crane uses characterization, figurative language and imagery in the Red Badge of Courage to help us consider this important question. The main character is Henry Fleming. He is a young man who believes he is ready to fight in the war. “He had, of course, dreamed of battles all his life--of vague and bloody conflicts that had thrilled him with their sweep and fire. In visions he had seen himself in many struggles.”(pg. 3) He has an immature notion that fighting in a war would be exciting. It is not until he is in the thick of the war does he realize the true meaning of courage and how he must earn it. You do not start with courage, it is not guaranteed, you must earn
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Henry and his regiment start their first battle off strong. “He suddenly lost concern for himself, and forgot to look at a menacing fate. He became not a man but a member. He felt that something of which he was a part--a regiment, an army, a cause, or a country--was in crisis. For some moments he could not flee no more than a little finger can commit a revolution from a hand.”(pg. 25) Henry felt courage when reinforced by the other members of his regiment. This shows how courage is easily obtainable in the presence of others. You need to have impression to gain courage. At this point Henry loves this war thing and it seems to be quite as he expected. This changes quickly as Henry soon realized war was not what it cut out to be. It is easier to have courage when winning. The enemy then recharge against Henry’s regiment as strong as ever. This leaves Henry sitting here in disbelief. “To the youth it was an onslaught of redoubtable dragons. He became like the man who lost his legs at the approach of the red and green monster. He waited in a sort of a horrified, listening attitude. He seemed to shut his eyes and wait to be gobbled.”(pg. 30) It was now a chance to Henry to prove this courage, but he now realized that he may be in serious danger. “He, too, threw down his gun and fled. There was no shame in his face. He ran …show more content…
He seeks this courage in redemption and truly shows us what courage is. “The youth and his friend had a small scuffle over the flag. Each felt satisfied with the other's possession of it, but each felt bound to declare, by an offer to carry the emblem, his willingness to further risk himself.”(pg. 81) Henry is finally putting himself in real danger and this time it by his own doing. The man who holds the flag is a true position of honor and sacrifice. The flag holder is in the front of the line and is the biggest target on the battlefield. By Henry’s self sacrifice he finally gains his badge of courage. It is not until this moment are we truly able to define
Henry and his regiment start their first battle off strong. “He suddenly lost concern for himself, and forgot to look at a menacing fate. He became not a man but a member. He felt that something of which he was a part--a regiment, an army, a cause, or a country--was in crisis. For some moments he could not flee no more than a little finger can commit a revolution from a hand.”(pg. 25) Henry felt courage when reinforced by the other members of his regiment. This shows how courage is easily obtainable in the presence of others. You need to have impression to gain courage. At this point Henry loves this war thing and it seems to be quite as he expected. This changes quickly as Henry soon realized war was not what it cut out to be. It is easier to have courage when winning. The enemy then recharge against Henry’s regiment as strong as ever. This leaves Henry sitting here in disbelief. “To the youth it was an onslaught of redoubtable dragons. He became like the man who lost his legs at the approach of the red and green monster. He waited in a sort of a horrified, listening attitude. He seemed to shut his eyes and wait to be gobbled.”(pg. 30) It was now a chance to Henry to prove this courage, but he now realized that he may be in serious danger. “He, too, threw down his gun and fled. There was no shame in his face. He ran …show more content…
He seeks this courage in redemption and truly shows us what courage is. “The youth and his friend had a small scuffle over the flag. Each felt satisfied with the other's possession of it, but each felt bound to declare, by an offer to carry the emblem, his willingness to further risk himself.”(pg. 81) Henry is finally putting himself in real danger and this time it by his own doing. The man who holds the flag is a true position of honor and sacrifice. The flag holder is in the front of the line and is the biggest target on the battlefield. By Henry’s self sacrifice he finally gains his badge of courage. It is not until this moment are we truly able to define