Stephen Crane’s The Red Badge of Courage
Biographical Summary
From 1871 until the end of the nineteenth century, Stephen Crane graced the world with his literary presence. He was born in Newark, New Jersey, as the son of a presiding elder of the Methodist Conference. Crane was the youngest in a family of fourteen children; his sister Agnes was often his sole caretaker. Throughout his boyhood, he traveled from city to city, under the heavy influence of the Methodist religion; he continued to move about with his mother after his father passed away in 1880, when Crane was only nine.
Even though he was never close with either of his parents, they nonetheless were a primary influence in his desire to write. Crane was incessantly …show more content…
Throughout the rising action of the novel, Fleming “...dreams of Homeric glory…” in the battlefield (Walcutt 1). Walcutt feels that Henry is joining the war effort for self-absorbing reasons. Henry likes to think he possesses “...war ardor and patriotism” but in truth, he is only fascinated with the idea, the romanticism, of dying a warrior's’ death in the battlefield (Crane 5). However, once Henry finally reaches the warzone, his inner fears begin to resonate. He wonders whether “...he will run or stand...and dare confide his fears with the other men…” because he lacks experience in the real world (Walcutt 2). The protagonist’s character development climaxes when he allows himself to become a part of something bigger: the war machine that was the Union. Once he experienced fear and failure, only then does think less of his “...reputation when others were thinking of skin” (Crane 86). Henry Fleming becomes a man when he loses his illustrious desire to become famous, and instead earns his honor through courage and reflection of past …show more content…
Henry Fleming is a convincing lead character because he is relatable. Like most youth, essentially all he wants is to be famous. He strives to be a war hero. Before he enters the war, he thinks of himself as undefeatable and wants to conquer the world. Yet once he enters the battle, he sees the world for what it really is. Fears and doubts begin to consume him, and any hopes and dreams he had before are gone. I believe the most important plot point in the novel is when Fleming flees during his second battle. It is singlehandedly the lowest point in his maturation process because he lets his fears get the better of him; he fails. This failure sticks with Fleming for the duration of the novel as a constant reminder that he is not entitled to anything, including his aspirations of glory. It is at his lowest point that Fleming finally begins to understand his role in the
Biographical Summary
From 1871 until the end of the nineteenth century, Stephen Crane graced the world with his literary presence. He was born in Newark, New Jersey, as the son of a presiding elder of the Methodist Conference. Crane was the youngest in a family of fourteen children; his sister Agnes was often his sole caretaker. Throughout his boyhood, he traveled from city to city, under the heavy influence of the Methodist religion; he continued to move about with his mother after his father passed away in 1880, when Crane was only nine.
Even though he was never close with either of his parents, they nonetheless were a primary influence in his desire to write. Crane was incessantly …show more content…
Throughout the rising action of the novel, Fleming “...dreams of Homeric glory…” in the battlefield (Walcutt 1). Walcutt feels that Henry is joining the war effort for self-absorbing reasons. Henry likes to think he possesses “...war ardor and patriotism” but in truth, he is only fascinated with the idea, the romanticism, of dying a warrior's’ death in the battlefield (Crane 5). However, once Henry finally reaches the warzone, his inner fears begin to resonate. He wonders whether “...he will run or stand...and dare confide his fears with the other men…” because he lacks experience in the real world (Walcutt 2). The protagonist’s character development climaxes when he allows himself to become a part of something bigger: the war machine that was the Union. Once he experienced fear and failure, only then does think less of his “...reputation when others were thinking of skin” (Crane 86). Henry Fleming becomes a man when he loses his illustrious desire to become famous, and instead earns his honor through courage and reflection of past …show more content…
Henry Fleming is a convincing lead character because he is relatable. Like most youth, essentially all he wants is to be famous. He strives to be a war hero. Before he enters the war, he thinks of himself as undefeatable and wants to conquer the world. Yet once he enters the battle, he sees the world for what it really is. Fears and doubts begin to consume him, and any hopes and dreams he had before are gone. I believe the most important plot point in the novel is when Fleming flees during his second battle. It is singlehandedly the lowest point in his maturation process because he lets his fears get the better of him; he fails. This failure sticks with Fleming for the duration of the novel as a constant reminder that he is not entitled to anything, including his aspirations of glory. It is at his lowest point that Fleming finally begins to understand his role in the