The badge of Courage by Stephen Crane

The Red Badge of Courage
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The Red Badge of Courage is one of the many novels written by the American, Crane Stephen with a lot of information concerning wars. He presents an interesting story about a young soldier, Henry Fleming, who is faced by the fear of dying in the American civil war and flees back from the ongoing bloody battle. However, he is overcome with shame and longs for something that will make him look like somebody who has been injured in the war. He needs this to counteract his unexpected cowardice decision. The wound is what the author gives the title, “a red badge of courage.” He runs away from the war after the general who led them announced their victory over their enemies. He feels ashamed and wants something to prove that he is among the victorious troupe that defeated the strong enemy. He is hit by a rifle on the head by one of the wounded soldiers whom he is with in the same side leaving him with a wound, which other soldiers thought he had received from the battle (Bloom, 1984). The essay is about war; therefore, one of the main themes, presented by the author, is courage.
When the novel starts, the comprehension of the protagonist, Henry, about courage is romantic and traditional, in the making. He has a belief that any war hero, like those he had read about on ancient Greek soldiers, a warrior has to return from battle with his weapon or on his weapon (Crane, 1900). According to Henry’s understanding of courage, his peers determine a lot concerning his courage rather than his internal character. His decision to use the wound he had received from the rifle hit by his fellow Union Army soldier in receiving treatment in the camp as among the soldiers who were injured in the war, confirms his belief in courage and bravery.
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