The Red Badge Of Courage Theme Essay

One of the many themes that can be found in The Red Badge of Courage, is the idea that Henry reaches a certain maturity by facing and dealing with the brutal realities of war. As the book begins we meet Henry, a young boy and soldier that fantasizes about battle and being a hero. It is by the end of the book that we see Henry’s character grow into a young man that has not only faced death, but found courage. On his first encounter with battle, Henry’s fears get the best of him. He realizes as they are facing the enemy ranks, that he is living a horrible nightmare. In chapter six of the book, it describes Henry as follows; “Into the youth’s eyes there came a look that one can see in the orbs of a jaded horse. His neck was quivering with nervous weakness and the muscles of his arm felt numb and bloodless… He waited in a… horrified, listening attitude.” It is at this time in the story that we see Henry realize that battle is not all that he dreamed it would be. While experiencing the fear of the other men around him, we see Henry give into his own fear and nervousness. As shown in chapter six, Henry runs.
After being berated and looked down on by the lieutenant, Henry decides to prove that he isn’t fodder, that he does have a purpose and place in the war. We experience this change in him as he runs through the regimental front encouraging the men to follow him and the lieutenant. We see it again in that same battle when Henry witnesses the death of the color sergeant. At this time, Henry picks up the flag and holds it high and steady for the other soldiers to see and follow. Henry knows that for these men the flag is “a creation of beauty and invulnerability… a goddess, radiant, that bended its form with an imperious gesture… It was a woman, red and white, hating and loving, that called with the voice of hopes… it was the saver of lives.” (Chapter