Red Badge of Courage The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane follows the effects of war on a Union soldier, Henry Fleming, from his dreams of being a soldier, to his actual enlistment, and most interestingly through several battles of the Civil War. Henry Fleming was not happy with his boring life on the farm. He wanted to become a hero in war and have girls loving him for his great achievements in battle. He knew his mother would not like to see him go to war, but it was his decision to make. He dreamed of the exiting battles of war and the thrill of fighting glorious battles. He didn't want to stay on the farm with nothing to do, so he made the final decision, to enlist.
American author Stephen Crane; detail of a paintin...
The Red Badge of Courage (film)
First edition cover of The Red Badge of CourageAfter enlisting he finds himself just sitting around with nothing to do. He manages to make friends with two other soldiers, John Wilson and Jim Conklin. Wilson was as exited about going to war as Henry, while Jim was confident about the success of the new regiment. Henry started to realize after a few days of marching, that their regiment was just wandering without direction, going in circles. They kept marching on without purpose, direction, or any fighting. Through time Henry started to think about the battles in a different way, a more experienced way, he started to become afraid that he might run from battle when duty calls. He felt like a slave, doing whatever his superiors told him.
When the regiment finally discovers a battle-taking place, Jim gives Henry a little packet in a yellow envelope, telling Henry that this will be his first and last battle. The regiment managed to hold off the rebels for the first charge, but then the rebels came back like...