Critical Analysis of The Red Badge of Courage
Critical Analysis of The Red Badge of Courage
The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane traces the effects of war on a Union soldier, Henry Fleming, from his dreams of soldiering, to his actual enlistment, and through several battles of the Civil War. Henry Fleming was not happy with his boring life on the farm. He wanted to become a hero in war and have girls loving him for his glorious achievements in battle. He knew his mother would not like to see him go to war, but it was his decision to make. He dreamed of the exiting battles of war and the thrill of fighting glorious battles. He didn’t want to stay on the farm with nothing to do, so he made the final decision to enlist.
After enlisting he finds himself just sitting around with nothing to do. He manages to make friends with two other soldiers, John Wilson and Jim Conklin. Wilson was as exited about going to war as Henry, while Jim was confident about the success of the new regiment. Henry started to realize after a few days of marching, that their regiment was just wandering aimlessly, going in circles, like a vast blue demonstration. They kept marching on without purpose, direction, or fighting. Through time Henry started to think about the battles in a different way, a more close and experienced way, he started to become afraid that he might run from battle when duty calls. He felt like a servant doing whatever his superiors told him. When the regiment finally discovers a battle taking place, Jim gives Henry a little packet in a yellow envelope, telling Henry that this will be his first and last battle. The regiment managed to hold off the rebels for the first charge, but then the rebels came back like machines of steel with re-enforcements, driving the regiment back.
One man started to flee, then another, and another still. Henry was scared, confused, and in a trance as he saw his forces depleting. He finally got up and started running like a proverbial chicken, which has lost the direction of safety. After running away, Henry started rationalizing his behavior after running from the enemy. At first he feels he was a stupid coward for running, then he feels he was just saving himself for later. He felt nature didn’t want him to die, even though his side...