Analysis Of Stephen Crane's The Red Badge Of Courage

At twenty years old and with no experience to draw from, Stephen Crane writes an epic novel about war and the extreme experiences and emotions encountered on the battlefield. When this book was written, The Red Badge of Courage was unpopular because of the naturalist point of view Crane took when writing it. At the time, people were not used to thinking about, let alone reading about the brutal realities of war. By focusing on portraying lifelike scenarios, Crane takes us on a journey with the young Union soldier, Henry Fleming. During a very heated battle between the Union and Confederate armies, we follow Henry’s path to overcoming his fears and cowardice. We watch him grow from the youth who dreams of battle, glory and honor even though he is unsure of his courage; into “a quiet manhood, nonassertive but of sturdy and strong blood.” (Chapter 24) As the story begins Henry reflects on his life before enlisting. Henry’s view of battle at this time is very juvenile and plays out like stories told in children’s books. “He had… dreamed of battles all his life- of vague and bloody conflicts… In visions he had seen himself in struggles. He had imagined peoples secure in the shadow of his eagle-eyed prowess… he had regarded battles as crimson blotches …show more content…
By taking us on Henry Fleming’s journey Crane helped us understand that many outside factors can drive the decisions and choices we make without us even knowing it. Through Henry’s tale we learn the ugly truth about war and the consequences it has on a person mentally, physically and emotionally. In the end Henry found strength in the flag and what it represents to the soldiers. “It was a creation of beauty and invulnerability. It was a goddess, radiant, that bended its form with an imperious gesture… It was a woman, red and white, hating and loving, that called… with the voice of… hopes… it could be a saver of lives.” (Chapter