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The red badge of courage how do henry's motivations change
Critical essay the red badge of courage
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“Is life in the army what Charley expected?” The book “ Soldier’s Heart” by Gary Paulsen features a fifteen year old boy by the name of Charley Goddard. His fantasy of war isn’t anywhere near the harsh reality the soldiers really have to live through. As the North begins to take the lead in the Civil War Charlie believes that he should join the Minnesota Volunteers because, ever since his father was killed by a fatal blow to the chest by a horse, he feels like he has to be the man of the house.
The American Revolution marked the history of many heroic events that immaculately stand as true inspirations for the generations to come in the United States. Even today, the gallantry of a few soldiers that won independence for the country is not only kept in the hearts of the people but run in the American blood to demonstrate acts of valor at times of war and hardships. One such story recorded in the history dates back to 1776, about a sixteen-year old juvenile, Joseph Plumb Martin, joined the Rebel Infantry and recorded his tribulations about forty-seven years in a memoir titled as “A Narrative of a Revolutionary Soldier”. The book mainly focuses on the sufferings through the tough situation he went through.
In “Red Badge of Courage” young union soldier Henry, bravely fights alongside his fellow soldiers in his first battle. However once the second battle starts he flees. Through the first four chapters, leading up to the battle, you can see Henry’s apprehension slowly rise. The army is constantly moving, which makes him and his fellow soldiers uneasy. After his regiment is finally settled into one position, young Henry’s first battle begins.
Jeff Shaara did a outstanding job of portraying the generals’ thoughts and feelings. It was so well written that I felt more connected to the characters and understood them more because I read about the events of the Civil War through their point of view. I would definitely recommend this book to a friend, especially if they want a glimpse of the American Civil War and its heroic
On his way back to the base he comes across a column of wounded soldiers. Specifically, a tattered man who has been shot twice and speaks proudly of the fact. Feeling envious, Henry wishes “…that he, too, had a wound, a red badge of courage” (Crane, p.67) that he could claim. He and the tattered man together try find their way back to base. He starts to question Henry about how he found his way so far from the rest and his ‘injuries’.
The captain of the youth’s company had been killed in an early part of the action. His body lay stretched out in the position of a tired man resting, but upon his face there was an astonished and sorrowful look, as if he thought some friend had done him an ill turn" (Crane) War is violent. This is not a reason to ban The Red Badge of Courage because violence is expected in a war
In battle, there are many ways to be put in the wrong position. A few erratic decisions can cause lifelong problems. In “The Red Badge of Courage” Stephan Crane shows the many situations in battle during the Civil War in 1860. Henry Fleming, also known as “The Youth,” made many notable decisions that would consider him a coward rather than a hero. Henry demonstrates a coward because he ran during the battle, deserted the tattered soldier, and lied to the other soldiers.
In the book, The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane, Henry Fleming enlists in the military against his mother's wishes to fight in the civil war. As a young man with visions of glory, he heads off to war. He is assigned to a regiment and after a space of time, they head out for battle. Henry thinks about the fight
The Red Badge of Courage In the novella, The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane follows the story of a youthful warrior, Henry Fleming, amid the Civil War. Henry wished to battle for the Union. He had enlisted thinking that his job would be all smooth sailing, however, he quickly realized that he had made a mistake. He had enrolled in a time of war, famine, and chaos.
In Greek mythology war is represented as a glorious or a very heroic way to either die or become a man. War then was viewed in a very poetic, beautiful, and romantic way. “ not for what they tell us about the Civil War but rather for what they fail or refuse to tell us about it, what they “write out” of the history of war: the actual violence of war itself”(Adam H. Wood). This one of the main themes Stephen Crane has in his literary works, is how heroism isn't as glorious as people wanted to believe. The second theme is nature and how it contrasts man's actions.
In The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane, the quote has significance because it represents the loss of fear and innocence in Henry and “the youth”. Henry is a soldier that had wanted to be a war hero, but when he came to the time of battle he became a coward. He was ashamed of how he had acted and lied about his actions to protect his reputation. In the following battle he was no longer himself, he had fallen asleep and woken up a knight (chapter 19). In the book, Henry represents the youth everywhere while they are in a scary situation.
The main character in Stephen Crane’s “A Mystery of Heroism”, Fred Collins, changes by the end of the short story. He shows bravery, but recklessness at the beginning of the story when he says that “I wisht I had a drink.” He wanted to go get a drink from the well, but the rest of his regiment believes it to be too dangerous, from this we can see that this is proving his recklessness for a selfish need. Fred proceeds to get permission to get a drink from the well, now determined to prove his regiment wrong that it was dangerous, but only succeeding in proving them right.
Courage is an ideal created in one’s mind that can only be gained through self-acceptance. Courage can be a trait others see, however the question is whether or not one sees it in oneself. Stephen Crane’s artfully crafted novel, The Red Badge of Courage, depicts this inner conflict through a young solider in search of glory on the battlefield, Henry Fleming. Set during the Battle of Chancellorsville (1863), the raging Civil War provides the perfect backdrop for the novel. Stephen Crane published The Red Badge of Courage in October 1895 and masterfully portrayed his ‘Youths’ internal struggle.
Stephen Crane once quoted, “Sometimes the most profound of awakenings come wrapped in the quietest moments.” I find this quote to be very true in the way Crane lived his short but remarkable life. Stephen Crane was a prolific writer of fiction and poetry, whose realistic style influenced American literature for many years after his death (“Stephen Crane” 123HelpMe.com). His life was considered spontaneous, adventurous, and spunky compared to other famous American authors. He was able to change the face of literature forever through his works on Maggie and The Red Badge of Courage.
They spout enough of what they did, but they're as emotionless as rocks” ("Critical Reception: Early Reviews," 2014). This idea majorly influenced the writing of his greatest work, The Red Badge of Courage. Crane made it his mission to focus less on battle, and more on a soldier’s psyche and responses to war. He constructs a novel depicting the young Henry Fleming, who must overcome many emotions and feelings of which he is guilty. For example, Henry has a very important decision to make: he can either be known as a coward and escape death, or risk death as an honorable soldier (Shmoop Editorial Team, 2008).
