Friday, August 2, 2019
Red Badge Of Courage Essay -- essays research papers
     The Red Badge of Courage by Stephan Crane traces the effects of war on a Union Soldier, Henry Fleming, from his dreams of soldiering, to his actual enlistment, and 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 be praised and honored for his glorious 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 exciting battles of war and the thrill of marching. He didn't want to stay on the farm living his benign life making rounds and completing chores. He made the final decision to enlist. Once enlisted though, Henry learns the truths of war: its dreary, tiring, gruesome, and well, boring. He finds he spends most of his days with simply nothing to do. He manages to make friends with two other soldiers, John Wilson and Jim Conklin. John Wilson is a soldier who protrudes a boastful, and pragmatic attitude, though he quickly falls to become a soldier of compassion after realizing his own mortality in battle. Wilson was as excited about going to war as Henry, while Jim, the â€Å"Tall Soldier,†was confident about the success of the new regiment. Jim, portrays the tall, confident, veteran soldier, experienced and shows no fear. The death of Jim leads to the downfall of Wilson, having seen that such a wise soldier can be killed, then certainly the same fate awaited each and every other.                               After a few days in the regiment, Henry started to realize, that their regiment was just wandering aimlessly, going in circles, like a vast blue demonstration. They kept marching on without purpose, direction, and without fighting. Through time Henry started to think about the battles in a different way, a more close and experienced way, he started to become afraid that he might run from battle when duty calls. He felt like a servant 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... ...ens almost every day in every country. Some men are like Henry, lost, almost bored looking for something more that will give meaning to their life. Some are like Wilson, ready to fight for their country, overcome with political pride. Yet again, some are like Jim, older, wiser, and maybe following paternal footsteps. No matter what the situation, no matter what the era or century, no matter who the soldier, you gain an experience not unlike that of Henry. This book may not contain the surrender of Robert E. Lee, and may not have been written in the 1860’s, but it doesn’t take dates and legalities to portray the emotion and truth of the Civil War. Stephen Crane did just that and whether or not you are heading off to battle, I recommend this book to teach you how to look inside to your own immortality and your own fears and strengths- they’re all there, they just need to be realized.                                                 Â
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