Use Of Bravery In The Red Badge Of Courage By Stephen Crane

War revolves around men who are brave, and are willing to take a bullet in the brain fighting for what they believe is right. They risk their lives, and kill other sorry men who are fighting against them. However, enlisting in the army and actually fighting for them are two different things, and only one of them requires real bravery. This type of Bravery is not found in Henry's heart throughout The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane. Crane portrays Henry's cowardice through the use of plot, characterization, and dialogue. Crane uses the storyline to expose Henry to the harsh realities of war, which requires bravery he does not posses. Henry knows that the regiment is marching in Virginia, home ground for the Confederates, and they

At the beginning of the book, Henry is still wondering what battle may look like, and this uncertainty starts an emotional battle that will last throughout the entire book. Consequently, Henry starts second guesses himself about leaving his parents, and enlisting. Now here he is, deciding what to do with himself. He thinks that “perhaps in battle he might run” (Crane 8), or maybe he will stay and fight, but he is too unsure of himself to know his fate. This proves him cowardly because a brave man would have known that they would do whatever it takes to annihilate the people who aren’t wearing blue, no matter the circumstance, but then again, Henry has obviously proven that he is not that type of person. Later in the novel, Henry actually starts running away from battles because he is afraid to be killed or injured. After running from the battle, he hears the cheers of victory, and begins to realize that he had done something cowardly. “He turned away amazed and angry. He felt he had been wronged” (Crane 43). He feels regretful for his actions on that day, and this builds Henry as a person who should not be fighting a war. Furthermore, Crane characterizes Henry in a way that shows cowardice. However, Crane could not use characterization to completely describe Henry, but he also uses what Henry says, and how Henry says

Towards the beginning of the novel, Henry is just wandering around camp wondering if war is really all it has lived up to be. Therefore, he begins to question not only himself, but the other soldiers in his regiment if they would run. Henry needed a way to ease his own guilt so Henry asks the loud soldier, “‘How do you know you won’t run when the time comes?’” (Crane 17). Henry is attempting to ease his own guilt for wanting to take off and go back to his parents. Henry demonstrates cowardice because he knows he is afraid of war, but he doesn’t want to tell the other soldiers how he truly feels, or he will be scolded or rejected by the men who are here to fight. After the first sight of war is seen by Henry and he flees, he then meets a soldier who is called, the tattered man. The tattered man tries to speak wisely, as if he knows Henry is having trouble surviving the devastating conflict. Henry, who probably is aware that the tattered man saw him flee, continues to deny him anyway. The tattered man asks Henry, “Where ya hit?” (Crane 51), Henry furiously ignores the tattered man, and abandons him. This further supports Henry’s cowardice because Henry is afraid of telling anyone who he truly is, a schoolboy who is afraid of death. All in all, Crane purposely made Henry react to the tattered man’s