The text “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass” by Frederick Douglass and the film The Red Badge of Courage by John Huston focus on content related to being brave and having courage. Both authors aim to show the importance of having the courage to help others through the main characters. The characters in both stories try to run from what they fear, but along the way, they find their own symbols of courage that help them overcome the fears that once held them back. Douglass and Henry run from their own difficult situations, but this act of fear and cowardice makes them realize that nothing good will come from running away. In the slave narrative “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass,” Douglass lacks a great deal of courage at the beginning of the story. Douglass runs away in fear after a brutal beating from Mr. Covey. Douglass was so afraid and worried as to what might happen to him if he stays with Mr. Covey. In the film, The Red Badge of Courage, Henry has a similar experience. As Henry heads to the battlefield, fear overcomes him, he only had the courage to stay for the first leg of the battle because he soon flees the sight. Henry was too intimidated by the war and all of the other men to fight anymore. Both Douglass and Henry …show more content…
They both obtained great amounts of courage, and even though they were in different situations they had the courage to fight for themselves. Douglass had never been whipped again after his brawl with Mr. Covey. Henry was finally proud of himself and the soldier he had become. Once he had courage, it opened his eyes as to why he was there fighting for his country. Both men realized that running from their problems would not solve anything, they needed the courage to stand up for themselves and face their fears head-on. All Douglass and Henry needed to break free from the shackles of fear tying them down was their own unique symbol of