The Red Badge of Courage :: essays research papers

The Red Badge of valorThe main character in The Red Badge Of Courage is a young boy named Henry Fleming who experiences war for the first time during the obliging War. He is a Union soldier in the 304th New York. passim the book, Henry goes through a complete change of character as the war goes on. The three main stages Fleming goes through ar before he actually engages in combat, his second combat experience and the second daylight of battle.The entire reason Henry Fleming joined the army was to become a hero. He was completely blind to the Unions cause as a whole and was looking more for personal achievement and closely-being. This is interpret in the cite his province was to look out, as far as he could, for his personal comfort. Henrys plans of heroism and bravery are cut short when his regiment does not enter actual combat, only if rather continues to hear news and rumors of upcoming battle. During this time, Henry has a dance orchestra of time on his hands and does some serious thinking. He begins to concern up uncomfortable and wishes he were back home with his mother on their farm. Also, he starts to feel insecure about how he will react in battle. He fears that he will run away in bane when the fighting actually begins. He recalled his visions of broken-bladed glory, but in the shadow of the impending tumult he suspected them to be impossible pictures is a quote that shows Henrys insecurity about battle.Although filled with doubt, Fleming actually fights well during his first combat experience. It is during his second battle that his fear overcomes him. When the two soldiers on either side of him run, he is fraught with fear. This causes the youth to throw downhearted his gun and run away from the fighting. As he is running, he rationalizes his termination by telling himself that the regiment was about to wiped out, when in fact the line held and victory was achieved. It is now apparent that Henry is also extremely hydrophobic of bei ng teased by his fellow soldiers. During this period, Henry goes through a major change. The next day he is boastful about his acts of bravery and ignores his acts of cowardice.On this second day of battle, Henry also enters his third and last stage. When his regiment engages the enemy, Henry begins to act on instinct instead of rationalizing everything.