Courage By Stephen Crane: A Literary Analysis

While I have owned this book for many years, this was my first time reading it. Afterward I can see why it is considered a great American text. The way in which Crane describes the experience of a young soldier is both haunting and beautiful. Crane dives into the inner working of the young soldiers mental journey form cowardice to courageous. In the beginning of the book the young soldier commits an act of cowardice and in a way rationalizes. He sees it as a brilliant action of self preservation of both himself and the regiment. He then moves on to envy those who were wounded. Though out the book he has an over hanging fear of his act being found out. Even when he becomes a courageous soldier recognized by the coronals his cowardice act staying