Henry Fleming: Brave Hero Or Mere Man?

What is the definition of hero? Is it a person who performs a courageous act? Some may say that this is so, but what if the act was done out of fear? What if it was done because of an instinct? Would one still be considered a hero? These are a few of many questions that we can apply to the novel, Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane. Henry Fleming, the main character in the novel, undergoes some drastic mental and emotional changes throughout the book. He overcomes fears, and seems to be courageous, but has Henry really become a Hero? Before Henry enlisted into the Army, he thought that war was full of glory and glamour and was too naïve to even think about the gruesome and grotesque part of war. When Henry informed his mother about his interest in enlisting in the Army, she gave him several reasons why he should stay there on the farm rather than go to war. After a lecture from his mother, Henry was selfish and still enlisted in the army thinking that when he came back from war, everyone would see him as a hero. As soon as he gets to their camp, he begins to doubt his courage. He begins to become very nervous and asks himself if he would run. This shows that Henry is very immature and never realized before that all the glory and glamour will not come easily without a long and tiring fight. During the first battle of the war, Henry does run and begins to think deeply about what he has done. He tries to convince himself that what he did was the "smart" thing to do, when he truly is a coward. One blatant example of him trying to convince himself that what he did was right was when he encountered a squirrel. He threw a pinecone at the squirrel and of course it ran away. He compared his actions to the squirrel's actions and came to the conclusion that any animal or thing that encounters danger will run. This shows that Henry is still immature by making excuses and will not take responsibility for his actions like a man.

Later, when Henry finally found his regiment