Summary Of The Red Badge Of Courage

Novel Analysis Assignment

The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane

Plot and Conflict

The Red Badge of Courage is a Civil War era novel where the protagonist, Henry Fleming, fights a battle not only against the Confederates, but against his own cowardice. Henry and his friend Jim Conklin are part of the 304th New York Regiment. The main plot and conflict of this story is Henry’s battle with cowardice and how he overtakes it. At the beginning of the novel Jim overhears a battle plan from an opposing Confederate regiment. The soldiers of the 304 debate whether or not to believe Jim. Regardless, thinking about how war may be fought the next day, makes Henry remember about why he joined the army; to show that even though men are civilized,

Because of how he helps boost Henry self worth by recognizing the important roles he and Wilson play in the last few battles. He is youthful officer that commands Henry and encourages the rest of the men to continue fighting. He is more protagonist than antagonist, but still not the main character. "'Mr. Hasbrouck!' he ses, 'by th' way, who was that lad what carried th' flag?' he ses. There, Flemin', what d' yeh think 'a that? 'Who was th' lad what carried th' flag?' he ses, an' th' lieutenant, he speaks up right away: 'That's Flemin', an' he's a jimhickey,' he ses, right away. … and th' colonel, he ses: 'Ahem! ahem! he is, indeed, a very good man t' have, ahem! He kep' th' flag 'way t' th' front. I saw 'im. He's a good un,' ses th' colonel. 'You bet,' ses th' lieutenant, 'he an' a feller named Wilson was at th' head 'a th' charge … He ses: 'Well, well, well,' he ses. 'They deserve t' be major-generals'" (211). To show off to his lieutenant he willfully takes the flag, which is the most dangerous job because you cannot hold a weapon. This shows how the lieutenant has inspired him to become a better soldier. The lieutenant does not change throughout the novel making him a flat and static

He is the protagonist of the story. During the climax of the story, Mary Warren sets up his wife to be convicted as a witch by giving her a voodoo doll as a present. The police go investigate some getting punctured by a needle in the chest and find that the doll that Mary gave her had a needle in it. They arrest Elizabeth and she is put on trial. Out of anger, John rips up the warrant they have to stop the arrest of his wife. Later, John successfully gets Marry to agree to admit to the court what she has done. But when she doesn’t do it in court, as a last resort, John shows tells of his affair with Abigail leading to his arrest. The police talk him into signing an open confession until he realizes that it will not only his name, but his wife and children. “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” (147) He face internal conflict as he wants to expose that Abigail is a deceiver, but is afraid that his secret of having an affair with him may get exposed. He is a round and complex character because of how he is described in the play, being the protagonist, and how in the end he stops being a coward and admits his affair with Abigail and also does not ruin his family name and instead