How To Write An Essay On The Red Badge Of Courage

Red Badge of Courage essay. In Stephen Crane’s novel The Red Badge of Courage, Henry--the main character-- exemplifies all of the changes that soldiers go through during war; both mental and physical. Through his development of characters, scenery and situations, Crane provides a window into the hardships of battle. Soldiers face difficulties in many forms during war, but holding onto their humanity presents the most challenges. Often, as a coping mechanism, soldiers shut down: leaving just a shell if what themselves before. People who lose their emotional grasp on the world become automatic and programmed. Crane’s comparison of man and machine and the progression of that with the novel serves to represent the long term changes war has on
Whereas Henry’s comparing of the enemy to a machine brimmed with admiration, the same traits applied to the people around him became less than understandable. Rather than admire the effectiveness when they became ‘Machine-like’, Henry regarded his comrades as ‘fools’, and ‘methodical idiots’(Crane 48). Henry’s confusion toward war intensifies when he sees the people stood around him--not just the enemy-- acting like unemotional, unyielding machines; a stark contrast to the overwhelming rush of emotions he feels in the same situation. Whereas Henry (a relatively new soldier) acts in the interest of self preservation, more experienced members of his regiment seem numb to the trials of war. Yet (without his knowledge) Henry too slowly becomes less human and more mechanical throughout the battle. Although he can still feel the fears of battle, his actions become instinct. For example he ‘[works] at his weapon like an automatic affair’ (Crane 38). Despite the fact he has no idea what to do most of the time, Henry acts like the monstrous machine he sees in the people around him. Henry has begun to transition into one of the cold, emotionless killing machines that confuse