A Literary Analysis of henry Flemming from the Red Badge of Courage

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War is a terrible thing, regardless of the cause people die. In every war there are young


soldiers who fight without knowing why and are merely concerned with their survival. In Stephen


Crane’s novel The Red Badge of Courage, the main character is a young soldier named Henry


Fleming who is full of mixed feelings. Although the novel spans nomore than a few weeks, Henry


Custom writing service can write essays on A Literary Analysis of henry Flemming from the Red Badge of Courage




undergoes a considerable amount of psychological development from his cliched views of war, to


his selfish acts throughout battle, and his final passage into maturity.


In the beginning of the novel, Henry has a very simple and romantic view that war is the


crucible that all heroes must go through. As he moves from one station to the next, Henry thought


he “must be a hero” since he is “basking in the smiles of...girls and was patted and complimented


by the old men...”(6). In order to feel secure with himself as a man, Henry occupies his thoughts


with the praise of women and being the envy of men. As a soldier he feels that he is distinguished


from other men and is now a real man in the eyes of his peers. Henry assumes the battle will be


that of the heroic Greeklike struggles that he has read about, and he will return from battle “with


his shield or on it”(4). Like the adolescent that he is Henry is not aware of what he has gotten


himself into, and is willing to sacrifice his life for glory. He misinterprets the war as an


opportunity of earning himself a reputation instead of fighting bravely for a cause. His simple


romantic views of war seem to edge him closer to thinking only of himself, than to bringing him


closer to becoming a true hero. Henry’s mother cares little of whether he comes back as a hero


her main concern is whether or not he is responsible and honest during battle. Henry thinks he is a


grown man but he still conveys childhood needs as he seeks his mother’s approval. Like a


disobedient child , Henry lacks the maturity to accept his mother’s advice and allows it to


discourage him. Henry allows himself to be influenced by the glory of war even before stepping


on to the battlefield, he has become a fake hero without even being aware of it.


Instead of fighting bravely like he intended, Henry selfishly becomes interested in his own


well-being. During the second battle, he runs for his life like a “proverbial chicken”(40). Henry


becomes somewhat of a hypocrite as well as a joke as he puts his desire for self preservation


before the well-being of his fellow soldiers. Henry wanted to become a hero and when he is finally


tested he runs away from his chance. Henry feels as if “nature had given him a sign” as he threw


a pine cone at the squirrel and saw him flee from danger (45). Henry gives himself an excuse for


his selfish behavior and keeps trying to convince himself that is was nature’s law to run from


danger and preserve oneself. He justifies his impulse to retreat with the excuse that if is for the


good of the army and that the world requires his survival. Henry subconsciously feels guilty for


his actions so the only way to accept what he has done is to cover up the fact that he is not a hero


at all. Henry abandons the tattered soldier before the truth of his wound can be discovered. He is


only concerned with being labeled as a deserter, so he avoided the tattered soldier when he should


have aided him in caring for his wounds. Henry becomes full of guilt as he realizes his selfishness


and the consequences as he tries to run away from his problems once more. Henry’s lack of


experience reveals the harsh reality that he has a lot to go through to become the hero that he


yearns to be.


Henry soon realizes that to become a man he must rely on courage instead of his previous


boyish beliefs of what war was. After his encounter with the squirrel, Henry discovers the corpse


of a soldier. With this one encounter henry realizes that he is only one of a whole battlefield of


soldiers and he begins to question the qualities of courage and honor. Staring death in the eye he


realizes that nature goes on regardless of whether men live and die with courage or without.


Henry soon returns to battle and inspires the regiment by picking up the flag and leading the


charge. He feels that he has betrayed his comrades so in an attempt to make up for his desertion


he charges into battle fearlessly and without concern for his own well-being. Henry’s peaceful


disposition becomes apparent as he becomes quieter and more reserved, he now feels secure and


has a sense of courage. As henry marches after his victory he felt “He had been to touch the great


death, and found that, after all, it was but the great death. He was a man” (10). Henry reflects


on his actions quietly, he is ashamed of his selfishness yet realizes that he will learn from his


experiences. He once assumed that death would stop the drama of war, but has grown to realize


that death was a necessary part of nature and regardless of courage or honor all human life meets


the same end. It is at his final march that Henry realizes that he has began his way onto the road


towards manhood.


Henry is now on the path towards manhood as he went from false views of the glory of


war, to becoming only concerned with his own well-being, and to his final steps toward maturity.


Henry Fleming, despite his cowardly acts, did eventually see the true reason to fight. After his


experience, he can now understand what his mother was trying to tell him, that it isn’t necessary


to be a hero in order to be a man, you only have to do what is right. Henry has yet to mature fully


but because of his experiences in the war, he is a few steps closer.











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