The Red Badge of Courage
(Stephen Crane)

Courage

During the novel, Henry measures himself and others by noting how courageous or cowardly they are. His greatest fear is that he will turn out to be a coward when it is time to battle, and, although he runs away once he faces his fears the next and day turns his cowardice into heroism. Ironically, the only time Henry loses himself enough to stop actively thinking about being courageous is when he discovers that he is capable of it. After everything, he is able to admit that he was not courageous all the time, but that is part of war.

Maturation and Manliness

At its center, Red Badge of Courage is about a boy maturing from an anxious youth into a more confident man. This theme is emphasized by the author never referring to Henry by his name but only as "the youth". Part of the reason Henry is so obsessed with the idea of courage is that having courage would automatically make him manly. In the regiment, Henry is convinced that any weakness seen will be laughed at and mocked continuously. By the end of the story, Henry has a quiet manliness that will stay with him after the battle.

Romanticism vs. Brutality of War

There is a strong disconnect between what Henry's idea of war and how a battle actually is. He joined the army because he wanted to take part in something glorious and heroic, that people would write tales about and be awestruck by. The reality he finds is just the opposite - it is brutal, bloody and dehumanizing. Even heroic acts are done in moments of desperation. Eventually, Henry realizes that there is no such thing as a romantic view of war, because it will always be tainted by the dehumanizing and traumatizing effects.

The Impartiality of Nature

Throughout Red Badge of Courage, Henry almost constantly notices the state of nature around him. He records the way the sky and trees look, as well as the way the animals sound. In the brief respites between battles, he is utterly surprised that nature can look so calm compared to the chaos of war. He comes to the conclusion that nature cares nothing for the human race, and admires its beauty because of that. The final paragraph of the novel focuses on the indifferent yet beautiful sky.

Survival

Henry's struggle with courage hinges on the fact that he wants to survive. When he runs away from the enemy charge, it is because he is certain that he is going to die. It was a instinctual reaction to physical combat, one that Henry tries to rationalize by looking around at nature and seeing how other creatures put their survival first. Ultimately, however, his view changes after he experiences his first battle rage, when he finds out that fighting and not just surviving is also part of his nature.

Wounds

One of the more significant parts in the novel happens when Henry wishes for a wound, a "red badge of courage" to show his bravery in battle. This shows what lengths Henry will go to in order to try and make himself look better and more courageous. Henry does get a wound, but it is not during battle. He is injured by the rifle of a fleeing soldier on his own side, making his wound the opposite of courageous. His friend Wilson tends to Henry's wound, and Henry is so ashamed he lies and says it was from a gunshot.

Death

The inevitable consequence of war and getting wounded is dying, and during his time in the army Henry comes across death several times. The first time he sees a corpse he wishes he could stop and examine it. Since he has not been in battle, he almost doesn't view it as real. After his first battle, however, when he runs into the decaying soldier in the woods, he is shaken to his soul. He sees more than he wants to and is afraid. Later, when he watches his comrade Jim die and leaves the tattered man, death become even more real for him. When he comes out of battle alive, he is overcome with thankfulness for the opportunity to live.

Human Consciousness

In many ways, Red Badge of Courage is an in depth psychological study of the consciousness of one young man. Because of this, it was unlike any other war novel ever released. Much of the action takes place exclusively in the mind of the main character, and his thoughts and feelings change drastically from one sentence to the next, often contradicting each other in the same paragraph. Through the single character of Henry Fleming, aspects of the human mind common to all people are explored.

Friendship and Bonds of War

The relationships formed between soldiers during combat are often intense because of the constant tension and danger surrounding them. During his time in battle, Henry Fleming gains and loses several friends. At first he feels cut off from everyone else in his regiment. After battling with the other men, however, Henry feels strong bonds form between him and his comrades. He is helped by strangers and by his friend Wilson, who he develops a distinctive bond with.

Sound and Silence

Throughout the narrative, special attention is given to the sounds or lack thereof in the setting. While in combat, the noise is in the form of musket and cannon fire. In the woods, animals and wind. On rare occasions, there are no sounds, resulting in the effect of a pause on the page. By focusing so intently on sounds, Crane keeps the focus on the inner mind of Henry Fleming rather than the external situation visuals would provide.