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Comparison Of Courage And Narrative Of The Life Of Fredrick Douglass

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There have been many wars in American history, some for independence and some for others; however, freedom is worth fighting or dying for. The text, “ Narrative of the life of Fredrick Douglass, an American slave” by Fredrick Douglass visualizes the freedom he fights for from his owner. Douglass provided readers with firsthand accounts of the suffering, brutality, and humiliation experienced by slaves in his narrative. John
Huston, the screenwriter of the film, The Red Badge of Courage is a classic story of a young man’s battle with dread in the face of war’s reality. Henry Flemming, the main character, depicts the horror of combat as well as shows courage. No matter how big the battle is, both authors show courage in each of their literary …show more content…

In The
Red Badge of Courage, a young soldier struggles to find his place during a chaotic and terrifying war. The protagonist is forced to confront his own fears and anxieties as he struggles to distinguish himself from a sea of faceless men. On the other hand,
Douglass’ work details his experiences as an African- American slave living in 19th century America. By sharing stories about his time on Edward Covey’s plantation,
Douglass reveals how physical brutality could lead to psychological torment for slaves trying to retain their dignity under oppressive conditions. Both works highlight how individuals can be psychologically impacted when faced with difficult circumstances such as these. Yet, they do so through fundamentally different lenses: while The Red
Badge of Courage focuses on one individual’s courage and self-discovery, Douglass shines a light on symmetric oppression that left many without hope or agency whatsoever. While both literary works provide readers with insight into what it means to confront harsh realities head-on with mental courage.
The Red Badge of Courage and the narrative of the “Life of Fredrick …show more content…

Through first-hand accounts detailing beatings and other forms of abuse suffered at the hands of slave owners, readers understand how these individuals were able to preserve through terror and violence; moreover, this narrative conveys how those same individuals then utilized their experiences as motivation for a quest for liberty. Both works provide insightful examples of why strength and bravery can be found in even the most oppressive conditions; however, human liberty can never truly be oppressed when individuals possess such immense courage and how it is implied to the characters.
By examining the bravery of both characters in The Red Badge of Courage and the slave narrative, it is clear that courage takes many forms one of them being ethical courage. In John Huston’s movie, the protagonist Henry Fleming confronts tremendous odds as he attempts to prove his valor as a soldier in the Union Army during the Civil war. Despite his fear and anxiety, he finds strength within himself to carry on despite the constant threats posed by enemies. Similarly, Frederick Douglass shows

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