Book Report Red Badge of Courage

Stephen Crane’s The Red Badge of Courage, executes the theme of Traditional versus realistic conceptions of courage through Henry Fleming. Henry is the protagonist as well as the narrator. In the beginning Henry aspires to enlist in the army all in hopes of gaining self recognition. He is not motivated by unselfish heroism but by fear, cowardice, and egotism. Through the pre battles, wounded soldiers, and the last battle he learns the true meaning of courage.

Henry’s cowardice is first seen in the opening chapters as Henry talks with his mother at home. Crane shows Henry’s thrill for the glory of military conflict before he enlists in the army. His mother discourages him from enlisting and believes Henry’s want is only based on fantasy. Henry enlists in order to achieve self recognition from others. As he prepares to journey to Washington, after enlisting, he looks “back from the gate, he had seen his mother kneeling among the potato parings. Her brown face, upraised, was stained with tears, and her spare form was quivering. He bowed his head and went on, feeling suddenly ashamed of his purposes” (5). On his journey to Washington, he begins to question how courageous he will be when faced with oncoming enemies. He wonders if he will attempt to escape or be courageous enough to stay and fight. “He was forced to admit that as far as war was concerned he knew nothing of himself” (6). Upon arrival in Washington, “he basked in the smiles of the girls and complimented by the old men, he had felt growing within him the strength to do might deeds of arms” (5). Once with his regiment, he began to look around in search of self doubt on any of his other comrades faces. In a time of feeling pity for himself, he asks Wilson if he could ever imagine running in time of battle. Wilson claims that he would stand strong, and never consider running which leaves Henry feeling more alone. Trying to cope with his own feelings, “he stared at the red, shivering reflection of a fire on the white wall of his tent until, exhausted and ill from the monotony of his suffering, he fell asleep” (14).

The first time Henry faced battle, “He suddenly lost concern for himself, and forgot to look at a menacing fate. He became not a man but a member. He felt that something of which he was a part—a regiment, an army, a cause, or a country—was in a crisis. He was welded into a common personality which was dominated by a single desire. For some moments he could not flee, no more than a little finger can commit a revolution from a hand” (25). This quote shows Henry’s brief period of not thinking about self recognition. At this time, he is more concerned with the fact that he believes his life is more valuable which leads to his fleeing. Henry tries convincing himself that he is right in running and trying to protect himself because his regiment could not have won. As Henry runs, he soon comes to find out that regiment restrained the enemy. Henry is ashamed of his fearfulness, and continues to run. All the while convincing himself that he is right in attempting to preserve his own life. As he is running, he runs into a column of wounded soldiers. Henry shows envy towards these men when he claims that a womb is proof of chivalry. He comes across