Red Badge Of Courage Conflict Analysis

Most of the time on T.V. when a character is faced with a major conflict, their time and thought is focused on fixing it. During the time of said conflict, interpersonal relationships might be neglected and the conflict is used as an excuse. In reality, conflict affecting interpersonal relationships is a problem within itself. In “Red Badge of Courage” by Stephen Crane and a series of Nick Adams stories by Ernest Hemingway, it is shown that conflict affects interpersonal relationships by causing strain upon the parties and the bonds through loss and lack of mental space, suggesting conflict desensitizes people. In the context of conflict, lack of mental space can make people feel trapped and push their relationships away to make space for conflict. This is shown when Nick Adams breaks up with Marjorie. He says in retrospect “‘I’m sorry as hell about her but what could I do?’ he said,’You know what her mother was like!’”(Hemingway, 9). Nick broke up with Marjorie to make room for his own conflict. His conflict being that he did not want to commit to a relationship that was so closely tied to Marjorie’s mother. That conflict caused Nick to shut Marjorie down and distance himself from her

Crane states “He took no share in the chatter of his comrades, nor did he look at them or know them, save when he felt sudden suspicion that they were seeing his thoughts and scrutinizing each detail of the scene with the tattered soldier”(Crane, 119). The conflict of war caused Henry to become traumatized and more aware of the reality of war. Being that he was traumatized during the act of war, he did not bond with other soldiers over the accomplishments of the battles. This situation also speaks to lack of mental space because he does not have the freedom to express his real feelings on war without being ostracized by his peers, forcing him to keep all his thoughts enclosed in his