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Heroism in the red badge of courage
Heroism in the red badge of courage
What is the symbolism behind crane's red badge of courage
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The book, “The Red Badge of Courage” is a historical fiction book based off of the American Civil War battle fought by a young man by the name of Henry Fleming. This book has a detailed description on the intense effects of a deadly battle. It covers everything that has happened in the few days of a strong heated battle between the Confederates and the Union soldiers. This book was written by Stephen Crane a twenty-two year old that never has been to a war. Like every other book “The Red Badge of Courage” has plot stages. The plot stages include, exposition, rising action, conflict, falling action, and at last falling action. The exposition is Henry is waiting to be called and goes back to the time when he finally told his mother he was joining …show more content…
Don’t think you can beat the whole rebel army at the start, because you can’t…” Next, the rising action is when Henry goes to his first battle, when it's time for the second battle he loses his courage, and confidence and takes the run for it. In the story on it states, “He began to speed toward the rear in great leaps. His rifle and cap were gone. His open coat flew in the wind. The canteen was swinging out behind him. His terror was displayed on his face as he imagined what war would be like. He ran like a blind man.” After that, comes conflict. The conflict is when Henry goes on his final battle the brigade is sent out and Henry and Wilson try to get their enemy’s flag. In the story on page 122 it states, “Over his face was the look of death, but upon it were the hard lines of determined purpose. He held his precious flag close to him and was struggling to go the way that led to safety for it.” Then, the falling action occurs when they get the flag and the entire brigade regrouped. In the story on page 122 it states, “The youth’s friend …show more content…
It is based off of historical context, that took place during a battle. It is part of the American Civil War. The theme of this book, is established from courage. This book inspires young readers like me to do what we are able to do to protect the world from danger. I think the author has succeeded in making his point to the audience of his book. The author writes in a very descriptive manner, he gives a thorough description on what is happening during the war. The book is very effective, and it’s elements attracts readers of all age. I would rate this book a 9/10, but for those history lovers it's a total 10/10. I can connect this book to another book called, “The Last Brother”, this book is also written from the American Civil War, and its about a young boy with a family back at home, and he puts his life on the line for the sake of his country, just like in “The Red Badge of
In The Red Badge of Courage, Henry Fleming was drawn to enlist by his boyhood dreams. His highly romanticized notion of war was eclectic, borrowing from various classical and medieval sources. Nevertheless, his exalted, almost deified, conception of the life of a soldier at rest and in combat began to deflate before the even the ink had dried on his enlistment signature. Soon the army ceased to possess any personal characteristics Henry had once envisioned, becoming an unthinking, dispas...
To support his thesis he uses firsthand accounts on forms of diaries letters that were sent to the soldiers from home. He wanted to make sure that the readers would know exactly what the soldiers were feeling at that exact moment. He thoroughly illustrates what the common soldier was feeling and thinking as they fought the battle of the Civil War. One of the hardest and most important battles for America. I would totally recommend this book to another that is a must read for historian and avid
Henry is worried about how he will do in this first battle. He isn't. sure if he will run or not, and he is scared that he might. He doesn't. want to look like a fool and run, but he is also scared of getting killed.
The first time Henry's flaw gets him in trouble is in chapter 10 and when he gets his chance to go into battle he flees. He at first thinks the war is boring but he soon learns that war is very frightening. When Henry flees he also shows insecurity when he tries to make up an excuse for why he wasn't with the rest of the regiment. Henry thinks very poorly of himself at this point and really anyone would run from a war, I don't think he was ready.
Crane, Stephen. The Red Badge of Courage. United States of America, Chatham River Press, 1984. Print.
Tomorrow When The War Began explores some heavy themes; good vs evil, death, conflict, war. In such a stressful and sudden situation, it would be easy to try and ignore these extra topics. It is courageous for the characters to take in and think about these things head on. Through all the pressure and constant fear, the characters persevere and continue their journey with a need to survive. They think about the horrors around them and learn. That is true courage. To stop resenting things and be honest with yourself. It gives them the strength they need to fight back against the invaders and gain their own little victory over
For example, Henry’s actions in the second battle convey his initial cowardice. In response to the enemy coming back to fight, Henry “ran like blind man” (Crane 57). Henry’s actions illustrate his cowardice since he is afraid to stay and fight and flees instead. However, as Henry matures throughout the novel, he learns to control his fears and show courage through his fighting. For instance, in the battle after Henry rejoins the regiment, Henry “had not deemed it possible that his army could that day succeed, and from this he felt the ability to fight harder” (Crane 133). Henry portrays bravery in this battle, since he still fights with all of his strength, when he believes the enemy would win. Henry’s change from cowardice to bravery is conveyed through his act of running away from battle, to fighting courageously in
In the Red Badge of Courage, the protagonist Henry, is a young boy who yearns to be a Great War hero, even though he has never experienced war himself. Anxious for battle, Henry wonders if he truly is courageous, and stories of soldiers running make him uncomfortable. He struggles with his fantasies of courage and glory, and the truth that he is about to experience. He ends up running away in his second battle. Henry is somewhat nave, he dreams of glory, but doesn't think much of the duty that follows.
There are four main themes to me in “The Red Badge of Courage.” These themes are courage, personal growth and maturity, self-preservation, and nature. The theme of courage is what this story is all about really. What is courage? Who has courage? I want courage. How does one obtain courage? This is what Henry wonders and eventually figures out after having a misunderstanding of what bravery and courage was to begin with though. “His self-pride was now entirely restored. In the shade of its flourishing growth he stood with braced and self-confident legs, and since nothing could now be discovered he did not shrink from an encounter with the eyes of judges, and allowed no thoughts of his own to keep him from an attitude of manfulness. He had performed his mistakes in the dark, so he was still a man” (Crane 78). Henry feels that because the other men are giving him praise, then he is right in his behavior. But is this courage? Absolutely not. As Henry marches from battle, the reader is led to believe
Not only was the war bloody and violent but also the soldier's had to deal with bad weather, poor clothing and malnutrition. This particular setting is important to "the red badge of courage" because the book is about courage and bravery. To fight in these harsh conditions you must be courageous and brave. Many times Henry wanted to back out and he did once he found courage in himself and he fought till the very end. Without Henry's courage he would not of been able to overcome this
In The Red Badge of Courage, readers are able to picture Henry, the main character, because of the descriptive details. Although the readers are given more information about him mentally, they are still given small details about his physical characteristics. Throughout the entire story, Henry is on a roller coaster dealing with his maturity. He is forced to mature rather quickly and because of his age he has to face many battles within himself.
The reaction of one soldier to another is the basis of war, as camaraderie is the methodology by which wars are won. Henry gave witness to the horrors of war, the atrocities of battle, the deaths of his friends, and later a life of victory. The ultimate transformation in Henry's character leading to a mature temperament was found by finding himself in the confusion of war and companionship.
...ther battle begins, but this time, Henry is prepared to fight. Henry's fighting tactics are extremely wild and is afterwards is congratulated by his lieutenant for a job well done. However,between battles, Henry and Wilson (his fellow soldier) overhear a general referring to their regiment as "mule drivers" and preparing to sacrifice them at the front line in the next battle (Crane Chapter 18). Henry accepted this challenge and thinks of it as an obstacle he desires to overcome. When the next battle starts, he and Wilson see the Union flag beginning fall. They both sprint to retrieve the flag and lead their comrades to their next fight. After the battle ended, the officers praise their courageous action (Crane Chapter 21). In the novel’s final battle, Henry captures the Confederate flag as well and helps lead the Union regiment to victory (Crane Chapter 23).
In the first part of the novel, Henry is a youth that is very inexperienced. His motives were impure. He was a very selfish and self-serving character. He enters the war not for the basis of serving his country, but for the attainment of glory and prestige. Henry wants to be a hero. This represents the natural human characteristic of selfishness. Humans have a want and a need to satisfy themselves. This was Henry's main motive throughout the first part of the novel. On more than one occasion Henry is resolved to that natural selfishness of human beings. After Henry realizes that the attainment of glory and heroism has a price on it. That price is by wounds or worse yet, death. Henry then becomes self-serving in the fact that he wants to survive for himself, not the Union army. There is many a time when Henry wants to justify his natural fear of death. He is at a point where he is questioning deserting the battle; in order to justify this, he asks Jim, the tall soldier, if he would run. Jim declared that he'd thought about it. Surely, thought Henry, if his companion ran, it would be alright if he himself ran. During the battle, when Henry actually did take flight, he justified this selfish deed—selfish in the fact that it did not help his regiment hold the Rebs—by natural instinct. He proclaimed to himself that if a squirrel took flight when a rock was thrown at it, it was alright that he ran when his life was on the line.
Gibson, Donald B. The Red Badge of Courage: Redefining the Hero. Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1988.