How Does Henry Mature In The Red Badge Of Courage

Throughout The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane, main protagonist, Henry Fleming matures greatly. The man who ends up carrying the flag and leading the charge against Confederate troops was once but a boy who was dubious of his own conviction. For the first four chapters before the initial battle, Henry’s head was a whirlwind of self-doubt and curiosity. Will he fight? Will he run? As events would have it, he does both. Although Henry stands his ground in the first conflict, he flees moments after the next one begins. This is because Henry’s impressionable mind which had not yet experienced battle fell prey to peer pressure.

The Civil War is famous for having the highest casualty level of all American Wars due to new technology, but in the early months of the war, thousands of young men enlisted, unaware of the coming onslaught. Henry is no exception. The first two chapters reveal to us his expectations of great feats of heroism and tales of bravery. Instead he is met with the reality that is arduous marches, long periods of waiting, and chaotic, bloody battles. Unaware of how to face these new challenges, Henry does what most humans do when confused. He watches the others and follows suit. Since he cannot trust himself to do what is correct, he trusts his regiment and copies them.

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Henry as a new recruit, entered the battlefield with no knowledge of what he might encounter, and no prediction of how he might handle it. While imitating the others of his regiment gets him the right way the first time, it overrides his senses the next time, urging him to run away from battle. This goes to further contrast his character at the end of the book. Maturation is a prominent theme in The Red Badge of Courage, and what starts as a confused beginner soon becomes a seasoned fighter. Once he overcomes the peer pressure, Henry becomes a fine soldier capable of thinking for