Significance Of Henry In The Red Badge Of Courage

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The Red Badge of Coward
Henry lay in the grass thinking, “He told himself that he was not formed for a soldier. And he mused seriously upon the radical differences between himself and the men who were dodging implike around the fires.” (Crane 17) The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane is a story taking place during the Civil War. Henry Fleming is a sixteen year old boy who enlists in the army against his mother’s wishes. He learns valuable lessons and meets a few interesting friends along the way. Some readers consider Henry to be heroic, while others think he is a coward. Henry is proven to be a coward because he runs from battle, abandons the tattered soldier, and lied about how he gets his wound. During the first battle his regiment participates in, Henry runs. Before combat starts, he is afraid and does not know what he will do when the enemy begins firing. Henry, trying to make himself feel better, begins asking other men what they will do when the attack commences. Henry’s friend Wilson says he will for sure stay and fight, …show more content…
Some readers think Henry is a hero, while others think he shows qualities of a coward. Henry is portrayed as a coward when he flees from the first battle. He lies to Wilson about how he gets his head wound and convinces him that he never ran away. Henry also abandons the tattered soldier when he is going to die. “The commands to make way had the ring of a great importance in them. The men were going forward to the heart of the din. They were to confront the eager rush of the enemy. They felt the pride of their onward movement when the remainder of the army seemed trying to dribble down this road. They tumbled teams about with a fine feeling that it was no matter so long as their column got to the front intime. This importance made their faces grave and stern. And the backs of the officers were very rigid. (Crane
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