The Red Badge of Courage

The Red Badge of Courage

THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE

By Stephen Crane

THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE seems to be a story of

adventure, of action, just another war story that is heavy on plot rather than on character, theme, mood.



But first impressions can be deceiving.



But first impressions can be deceiving.

one of the most difficult novels most students have read.

deeply psychological story


takes us inside the mind of the central character


takes us inside the mind of the central character

what goes on with a man who faces death for the first time.

Employs a writing style that is sometimes difficult to read


His imagery is sometimes very vivid, extremely memorable



Refrains for the most part in indentifying any of his characters by name.



Refrains for the most part in indentifying any of his characters by name. The loud soldier



Refrains for the most part in indentifying any of his characters by name. The loud soldier The friend



Refrains for the most part in indentifying any of his characters by name. The loud soldier The friend The tall soldier



Refrains for the most part in indentifying any of his characters by name. The loud soldier The friend The tall soldier The tattered man



Refrains for the most part in indentifying any of his characters by name. The loud soldier The friend The tall soldier The tattered man The lieutenant



Refrains for the most part in indentifying any of his characters by name. The loud soldier The friend The tall soldier The tattered man The lieutenant The Colonel



Refrains for the most part in indentifying any of his characters by name. The loud soldier The friend The tall soldier The tattered man The lieutenant The Colonel

Further difficulties arise trying to keep straight all the military skirmishes.


Conflicts are both physical and psychological


Conflicts are both physical and psychological Physical conflict between the Union

and Confederate Armies is merely incidental




Used as a backdrop for the main conflict




Used as a backdrop for the main conflict

Main conflict is in the mind of Henry Fleming, the youth

Henry wonders if he will be a hero or a coward.

Henry wonders if he will be a hero or a coward. Henry must learn what type of man he

is


is It is a man against himself conflict


is It is a man against himself conflict Is he a man in the true sense of the

word?


is It is a man against himself conflict Is he a man in the true sense of the

word? Is he courageous or cowardly?

Early in the Novel, Henry has lofty ideas, but that is what they are, ideas.

Early in the Novel, Henry has lofty ideas, but that is what they are, ideas. He has no experience with war

Early in the Novel, Henry has lofty ideas, but that is what they are, ideas. He has no experience with war Views war as a great affair

Early in the Novel, Henry has lofty ideas, but that is what they are, ideas. He has no experience with war Views war as a great affair Sees it in terms of Greek-like struggles

Early in the Novel, Henry has lofty ideas, but that is what they are, ideas. He has no experience with war Views war as a great affair Sees it in terms of Greek-like struggles Classical warriors as depicted by

Homer.

Waiting for his first test under fire, he wonders whether he will be heroic.

Waiting for his first test under fire, he wonders whether he will be heroic. He tries to use mathematics to prove

he would not run


he would not run Math nor logic have nothing to do with

the emotional experience of fighting a war


he would not run Math nor logic have nothing to do with

the emotional experience of fighting a war

Henry resorts to Mathematics, logic, to help develop some kind of confidence.

In the first series of battles, Henry proves nothing.

In the first series of battles, Henry proves nothing. It is true that during his first assult, he

stands his ground and fires his rifle.


stands his ground and fires his rifle. He does what he is directed to do.


stands his ground and fires his rifle. He does what he is directed to do. That does not make him a HERO

In the next assault, he drops his rifle and runs

In the next assault, he drops his rifle and runs Does so because others are around him

also are retreating


also are retreating It seems the only sensible thing to do.


also are retreating It seems the only sensible thing to do. That does not make him a COWARD


also are retreating It seems the only sensible thing to do. That does not make him a COWARD But he thinks of himself as a coward.


also are retreating It seems the only sensible thing to do. That does not make him a COWARD But he thinks of himself as a coward. He wanders about the battlefield in



Confusion



Confusion Unarmed



Confusion Unarmed Unwounded



Confusion Unarmed Unwounded Lost

He tries to resolve in his own mind whether he is guilty of cowardice


This is a story of a young man who must overcome EGOISM


This is a story of a young man who must overcome EGOISM An excessive concern for himself


This is a story of a young man who must overcome EGOISM An excessive concern for himself A way to look at a world that is too self-

centered.


This is a story of a young man who must overcome EGOISM An excessive concern for himself A way to look at a world that is too self-

centered. This may be on of Cranes themes

It is true that Henry has only been concerned with himself


As he wanders about, he continues to ponder


As he wanders about, he continues to ponder His actions


As he wanders about, he continues to ponder His actions Personality


As he wanders about, he continues to ponder His actions Personality welfare

When he searches

When he searches for heroism

When he searches for heroism, self-respect,

When he searches for heroism, self-respect, for courage,

When he searches for heroism, self-respect, for courage, for manhood

When he searches for heroism, self-respect, for courage, for manhood He gets clubbed with the butt of a rifle

from one of his own men.


from one of his own men. He gets wounded—his Red BADGE OF

COURAGE



COURAGE And he lies saying he had been shot



COURAGE And he lies saying he had been shot Making him seem like a hero rather

than a deserter.



COURAGE And he lies saying he had been shot Making him seem like a hero rather

than a deserter.

THE NEXT DAY HE GETS A CHANCE TO PROVE HIMSELF.

One of the major turning points of the novel is in Chapter 17


Crane shows a stereotype of heroism.


Crane shows a stereotype of heroism. Henry appears to be a hero in

Chapter 17



Chapter 17 Crane says he is no hero at all



Chapter 17 Crane says he is no hero at all Henry develops a hatred for the

enemy




enemy He fights like a maniac shooting

and reloading feverishly.




enemy He fights like a maniac shooting

and reloading feverishly. Even continues after the attack has

been repulsed.

Crane makes it clear that Henry is no hero.

Crane makes it clear that Henry is no hero. Refers to Henry as a beast

Crane makes it clear that Henry is no hero. Refers to Henry as a beast Not a thinking human being

Crane makes it clear that Henry is no hero. Refers to Henry as a beast Not a thinking human being “He was not going to be badgered

all his life as a kitten chased by boys. It was not well to drive men into final quarters at those moments they could all develop teeth and claws.”



Says, “Henry’s teeth are set in a curl like snarl.”




“To the youth, the fighters resembled animals tossed for a death struggle in a dark pit.”





“The lion is curled like a snake stepped on.”






Henry charges forward like a dog






Henry charges forward like a dog The Lieutenant calls Henry and his

mates Wild Cats.






Henry charges forward like a dog The Lieutenant calls Henry and his

mates Wild Cats. Crane says Henry thought of

himself as a barbarian, a beast.

None of these reference as animals accidental


Neither was the references of Henry as a unthinking, unconscious automaton.


Neither was the references of Henry as a unthinking, unconscious automaton. “The youth was not conscious

when he was erect upon his feet.”



when he was erect upon his feet.” His rifle barrel grew so hot that

ordinarily he could not bear it upon his palms, but he kept stuffing cartridges into it, and pounding them in with his clanking bending ramrod.”





“He was so engrossed with his occupation that he was not aware of a lull.”






“He had not been aware of the process. He had slept, and awakening found himself a knight.”


Neither were the references of Henry as a unthinking, unconscious automaton. “The youth was not conscious




“He had not been aware of the process. He had slept, and awakening found himself a knight.”

Henry Fleming is not a hero at this point. He is a unthinking unintelligent animal.

And he is still very self-centered.

To Crane, the individual members of an army are not of much consequence.


They are like pawns on a chessboard


They are like pawns on a chessboard They are used and directed


They are like pawns on a chessboard They are used and directed They do not make decisions


They are like pawns on a chessboard They are used and directed They do not make decisions Do not do anything to directly affect

the outcome of the battle



the outcome of the battle The have no wills to exert



the outcome of the battle The have no wills to exert. Even the Generals directing each

campaign have very little control over the outcome of the war.

A change comes to Henry when the Color Bearer is killed

A change comes to Henry when the Color Bearer is killed. Henry takes up the flag and carries

it forward in battle


it forward in battle. He leads the way for his comrades.


it forward in battle. He leads the way for his comrades. The flag takes on meaning to him.


it forward in battle. He leads the way for his comrades. The flag takes on meaning to him. The other soldiers mean something

to him.



to him. His own life and importance begin

to mean less to him.




to mean less to him. The Cause is everything




to mean less to him. The Cause is everything. His own life means very little




to mean less to him. The Cause is everything. His own life means very little.

AS THE NOVEL ENDS, HENRY KNOWS HE HAS BECOME A MAN.

The final sentence of the novel reads:


“Over the river a golden ray of sun came through the hosts of leaden rain clouds.”



This sentence was not part of the original manuscript.



This sentence was not part of the original manuscript. Added by Crane just before going

to print.




to print. It seems clear that Crane was

trying to add some kind of symbolism to this sentence




to print. It seems clear that Crane was

trying to add some kind of symbolism to this sentence.

He implies that although Henry had achieved manhood, some measure of the “golden sun,” hardships, trials and tribulations were ahead like leaden rain clouds.

Another part that dealing heavily with symbolism occurs as Henry is wandering over the battlefield and comes across the dead soldier staring at him from a grove of trees.

Another part that dealing heavily with symbolism occurs as Henry is wandering over the battlefield and comes across the dead soldier staring at him from a grove of trees. Symbolizes for Henry all the horror

of war


of war All the fear he seems to have of

war



war It seems to accuse Henry of

cowardice.



war It seems to accuse Henry of

cowardice.

The grove of trees is called the chapel, adding to the feeling of solemn death, giving a funeral atmosphere to the place.

OTHER SYMBOLS IN THE BOOK

OTHER SYMBOLS IN THE BOOK Jim Conklin, the tall soldier had

been Henry’s friend since childhood.



When Henry finds Jim staggering along the road to his death, critics believed he represents a kind of Christ-figure



When Henry finds Jim staggering along the road to his death, critics believed he represents a kind of Christ-figure He has the same initials The wound in his side is similar to




the wound suffered by Christ at the crucifixion.




the wound suffered by Christ at the crucifixion.

Henry thinks of Jim as a devotee to some form or religion.

SYMBOLISM BY COLORS

SYMBOLISM BY COLORS Stephen Crane builds his novel

with colors.


with colors. Color is mentions 218 times in the

novel.



novel. Blue (the color of Henry’s uniform) is

mentioned 51 times




mentioned 51 times Red is mentioned 42 times




mentioned 51 times Red is mentioned 42 times Crimson ( synonym for red)is used 8

times.





times. He also mentions






Brown, green, black, purple, gold, yellow, white, gray, pink, silver, orange, amber tinted, brass colored, wine tinted, bronze colored, rose, iron colored, ebony, saffire.






Brown, green, black, purple, gold, yellow, white, gray, pink, silver, orange, amber tinted, brass colored, wine tinted, bronze colored, rose, iron colored, ebony, saffire.

The color yellow appears 16 times.

The color yellow appears 16 times.

Crane uses yellow to symbolism cowardice.

THE NOVEL AS ANANTI-WAR BOOK


The novel is definitely an anti-war novel, certainly not in favor of war.


The novel is definitely an anti-war novel, certainly not in favor of war. Crane shows readers the horrors of

war, the atrocities.



war, the atrocities. He disregards any notion of

glorifying war.




glorifying war. He talks about arms dangling by

shreds of skin and bone.





shreds of skin and bone. He shows ants swarming over the face

of the corpse.






of the corpse. He tells us Jim Conklin’s side looks as if

it had been chewed by wolves.






of the corpse. He tells us Jim Conklin’s side looks as if

it had been chewed by wolves.

THE POINT IS THAT CRANE IS NOT TRYING TO GLORIFY WAR, RATHER, HE SEEMS TO BE DEPICTING ITS HORRORS.

Stephen Crane is not concerned about the ideologies of the war.


It makes no difference to him which side will win or why each side is fighting.



We can tell the novel is the Civil war even though Crane never makes mention of the fact.



We can tell the novel is the Civil war even though Crane never makes mention of the fact.

Henry is a Union Soldier, but that dies not matter either. To Crane, he could have just as easily been a Confederate soldier.

The Red Badge of Courage is a nouvelle that takes the reader inside the mind of the main character, and allows the reader to see the psychological impact of war upon a single soldier.

The Red Badge of Courage

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