Red Badge Of Courage 4 Essay Research

Red Badge Of Courage 4 Essay, Research Paper

The Red Badge of Courage depicts the evolution of the childish, Henry Fleming, into a grown hero. Like Simba in The Lion King, Henry must conquer a psychological obstacle. Simba had to retrieve his kingdom from his corrupt uncle who convinced him that Simba was responsible for his father’s death and forced Simba to abandon the Pride Lands. Simba ran from the shame and repentance of his self-made situation. Similarly, Henry’s fate was self-made. Henry, too, had to confront cowardliness: would he run. Henry Fleming began his journey into adulthood, as a youthful coward, who, through many trials, matured into a hero.

Henry’s youthful cowardliness began when “he burned to enlist”(Babusci 577). His motive was an attempt to achieve adulthood and heroism. From birth, Henry was subject to the guidance of his mother; however, her guidance was more dictation than recommendation. For instance, when he initially informed her of his desire to enlist, she heartlessly discouraged him, urging him not to be a fool. Once Henry departed his diminutive hometown, he arrived in Washington with great expectations. Henry believed enlisting instantaneously classified him as a hero. More than anything, Henry relied on his imagination to define war and its glorious battles, as Greek epics did. He often compared the enemy to beasts and dragons; he felt if he could conquer those savages of the South, he too could be a hero.

The hero within Henry began as a desperate attempt for the approval of his comrades. Throughout the novel, Henry illustrates this desire, determining to save himself from mockery. “Henry does not want his fellows to regard him scornfully”(Gibson 46). Trying to obtain some sense of relief, he asked the others if they would run. Eventually, Henry ran “like a proverbial chicken”(Babusci 599). Over time, Henry tormented himself with the fear of rejection, so he exaggerated the blow to his head by a rifle to a gunshot wound as a disguise to fleeing. Therefore, Henry sensed the immense burden of resentment rise from his shoulders because he had fooled the entire regiment. However, Henry soon felt his conscience surfacing and his guilt burdening him. Henry must prove himself a hero; he must repent his sins of lying, abandoning and fleeing. During the last encounter, Henry conquered the flag bearer position, which is in the most perilous position of the battle; nevertheless, Henry believed he must lead the regiment. Moreover, when Henry turned back pursuing the approval of the regiment’s remainder, he found they were all dead or wounded. Henry now realizes his previous fear as ridiculous; it was Henry’s view of reality.

Henry’s view of reality was primarily emotional. Henry feels, yet he does not think. To cite an instance, Henry deemed himself as a hero the moment he reached Washington, ” his spirit had soared until the youth believed that he must be a hero”(Babusci 580). In Washington, Henry was “fed and caressed” with an abundance of delicious delights. There were all sorts of pickles and cheeses, breads and cold meats, the coffee and the elegant enchanting smile upon each girl’s face he witnessed. Henry felt as bold as a hero did, for this fete was anything but banal. However, Henry never understood the definition of a hero, not the deeds, nor the obstacles he must defeat. He felt the praise of being a soldier.

Initially the young soldier, Henry Fleming, imagined himself as a victim through only his imagination. Universally, Henry intimidated himself with “a little panic-fear”(Babusci 581); he began to ponder the possibilities of running. Running caused Henry to become even more fearful; he was more afraid of death coming from behind him than from in front (Babusci 599). Henry’s imagination confined him to remain in the regiment’s rear as part of the “blue demonstration.” Henry alluded the enemy as advancing “dragons” and slow crawling “serpents,” another aspect of his victimizing imagination. Although Henry must overpower his imagination that is, perhaps, his greatest obstacle, Henry captures the treacherous effects of war. Before he enlisted, Henry had no suspicions that he might be fearful. As he imagined it, war carried no threats to life or other significant dangers”(Gibson 21); he believed war encompassed only “heavy crowns and high castles”(Babusci 577).

War imposed a tremendous amount of fear into the bloodstream of Henry. In the opening of the novel after Henry received a great deal of information concerning the upcoming attack, Henry was afraid. Henry was afraid of death, of finally facing his torment, and finally concluding whether or not he would run. Henry departed the small group of quarreling soldiers, returning to his “dwelling” to hide. Henry reacted cowardly. In the end, Henry feels the need to prove himself. Henry begins to overcome his fear of the battlefield and of peer rejection via positioning himself as the flag bearer, which is in the most dangerous situation of the entire regiment. Henry is in the front line, unarmed and in complete view; he is a faultless target (Gibson 32). With the “red rage” rushing through his body, Henry finally excelled as the flag bearer; it was as if he temporarily put aside his fears to prove to himself that he was not a coward.

Amid the mounds of men, Henry discovered himself within one of the treacherous effects of war. Surrounding him were