The Red Badge Of Courage Character Analysis

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War has the capability of allowing a man’s character to be questioned by not only himself, but by the men around him also. In Stephen Crane’s The Red Badge of Courage, the protagonist questions his ability to hold his ground in an actual battle. Throughout the story, Crane uses devices such as inner dialogue to help us go through his journey of finding peace he desires and awareness he needs for the sake of staying alive. In the beginning of the book Henry’s self assurance is almost nonexistent. Being a new recruit in the regiment and knowing little to none about the actual war, Henry questions himself. His former assumption that he would remain in battle dwindles. When asking other soldiers if they feel the same, they always respond with a defensive negative. As a result Henry panics, hoping to maybe find in their faces a hint of fear about the battle slowly approaching. Eventually, Henry’s mind wouldn't rest he …show more content…
He runs from battle and joins the wounded until the tattered soldier asks what his wound happened to be. He envies the wounded and thinks he will never be a wartime hero. His sorrow shown as he states “He could never be like them”. (Crane 61). Shame and guilt override his senses and he wishes for a moment that he could be among the wounded with his “red badge of courage.” Even though now Henry has his understanding of war through running and seeing death, he still searches for peace. He regains the regiment and fights valiantly to find his peace. Upon finding it, he states “So it came to pass that as he trudged from the place of blood and wrath his soul changed. He came from hot plow-shares to prospects of clover tranquillity, and it was as if hot plowshares were not. Scars faded as flowers”(Crane 127). His heart changed as well as his would in the last battle. Finally, the young soldier had received his understanding, peace, and his