How Does Henry Mature In The Red Badge Of Courage

Coined by Stephen Crane, The Red Badge of Courage meticulously delineates the subtle yet tremendous psychological changes within a youthful soldier named Henry Fleming. The story took place during the American Civil War, a deplorable time period when Romanticism replaced Realism. Various qualities and sentiments such as trepidation, cowardice, humility, courage, and wisdom are discovered throughout the novel. Most importantly, The Red Badge of Courage illustrates how Henry achieved his manhood by portraying his transformation over the course of the book. Even though Henry did achieve his maturation and manhood at the end of the book, he was indisputably a craven neophyte of the war when he first enlisted. Henry’s diffidence led him to experiment his friend with eccentric inquiries. “’Did you ever think you might run yourself, Jim?’ he asked” (Crane 8). The war …show more content…
Although his regiment was like a moribund machine, “The youth walked stolidly into the midst of the mob, and with his flag in his hands took a stand as if he expected an attempt to push him to the ground” (Crane 83). While the flag apparently made him more of a target, Henry still stepped forward into the commotion resolutely due to his burgeoning mettle. Henry completely understood that the flag is a paramount symbol which represented what the young men were giving their lives for −− country, honor, and freedom. When a friend came to give Henry a farewell before fleeing the battlefield, “’Oh, shut up, you damned fool!’ replied the youth”. (Crane 84). Exasperated by his friend’s disheartening words, Henry nevertheless demonstrated his unfaltering faith in his regiment. He believed in the victory of his regiment like an exceptional warrior. Furthermore, Henry’s remarkable aplomb was evidently revealed in such a perilous situation. As the story got closer to the end, the spate of Henry’s fortitude and maturation finally took