"They gazed about them with looks of uplifted pride, feeling new trust in the grim, always confident weapons in their hands. And they were men" (85). Throughout people's lives, different experiences impact and change their bodies and minds. One of the most dramatic changes can happen to a person when in combat. War causes people to do and see horrific things, and death becomes commonplace. To get through this, a person must adapt. No person can come out of war the same as he went in. This holds true for Henry Fleming, the main character in Stephen Crane's novel, The Red Badge of Courage, as well as for the other men who fight alongside him. Henry went to war with hopes of being a hero, but his time in battle changes him. Although Henry learns to take risks and fight bravely, he cannot be described as a hero, for he grows past these thoughts of glorified war. His evolution during the novel contradicts the traditional views of courage in society. …show more content…
Courage can be synonymous with strength, for one needs strength to push through times of courage. Any person can nonchalantly picture courage: a soldier, bravely taking a risk to protect his country; a man, leaving home and never looking back; a wounded warrior, giving his all until his very last breath. Henry even states that he had "dreamed of battles all his life", yet he claims to know that war appears glorified (3). This shows the traditional view of courage and illustrates that even cynicism towards an erroneous idea does not discourage a belief in that idea. A hero still appears as someone who gives up his own life valiantly to save others. However, courage does not necessarily mean fearlessness, and this applies directly to