The Red Badge Of Courage Conflict Analysis

Conflict is one of the most basic elements of natural human behavior. Conflict, from a literary standpoint, serves its purpose to create tension within a story, which as a result keeps readers interested and engaged. Whether the conflict is with another person, with nature, or within yourself, it is ubiquitous and unavoidable. In Stephen Crane’s The Red Badge of Courage, the struggles that Henry faces help to give depth and meaning to the story, as well as develop Henry as a character. In the novel, conflict is used to show the reality of war and the effect it can have on a person. Throughout the length of the story, Henry deals with conflicts that relate to nature, other men, and even some in particular that lie within his own person. These

Henry has both triumphs and defeats which serves to add layers to his complex character. Conflict plagues him throughout every moment in the story, and it follows him through his progression as a soldier in the Civil War and as a person. Quite possibly the most glaring demonstration of conflict from the very beginning of the novel is Man versus Man conflict. It’s difficult to place a story in one of the most famous wars fought in American history without the violence and brutality that comes along with it. The type of conflict used in this novel to add depth and complexity to the story as well as the character of Henry Fleming is Man versus Self. This is shown through his issues with masculinity, courage, and self image. Lastly, and decidedly the hardest to detect conflict in the novel is Man versus Nature. Nature is used not the conventional way, but to show the power human nature has on a person’s thoughts and actions. In Stephen Crane’s The Red Badge of Courage, conflict is shown through man versus man, man versus nature, and man versus self to show the harsh realities of the civil