A Transformation from Within

A TRANSFORMATION FROM WITHIN

In the Red Badge of Courage, although Henry Fleming feels independent in his decision-making, he is in fact lost and confused through the novel and through confusion and immersion into the war, he discovers himself through it all and towards the end, he views life in a totally different lens from before. On the other hand,nature is portrayed almost all through the novel and it is most of the time "indifferent" to man, Henry in particular. Nature in the novel consist of human nature and the cosmos, both playing a big role in Henry's life. In the Red Badge of Courage, Stephen Crane shows Henry Fleming's growth from ignorance to self-awareness through the war and nature.

Henry Fleming wants to join the army so badly but for self-centered, ignorant reasons.He "burned several times to enlist" when he wasn't the fighting type. The novel does point out that Henry "...long despaired of witnessing a Greek-like struggle"(5). "He had of course, dreamed of battles all his life- of vague and bloody conflicts that had thrilled him without their sweep and fire..."(5). The Youth thinks of himself a hero.He imagines himself in "many struggles" as the hero of the battle: "he imagined people's secure in the shadow of his eagle-eyed prowess"(5). Henry Fleming compares war to the Homeric view(5). where man "is not for himself but for the group" and sees glory in battle. Glory and honor define heroes. Attaining this glory is an easy way to gain respect and a title. Henry Fleming is seeking this glory that many-had-come looked for but in true essence had no idea of what they were up against. He doesn't want to miss out on a chance of being what most desire to become and now more than ever when the war is in their "favor" according to the news being published.

Henry goes off after his mother accepts her son's fate saying that "the Lord's will be done..." and sends him off in abundance of socks. Nature on the other hand shows Henry Fleming that war isn't what it seems to be. The glories spoken of in "the newspapers, the gossip of the village his own picturings had aroused him to uncheckable degree"(6). The news being passed around are all but propaganda to recruit more members into the army. News is made to look great to those not in battle. Henry was made to believe that " they were in truth fighting finely down there"(6). But his mother points out the stark-naked truth that he is one among many and he should stop being a "fool". War is unkind and his mother is devastated that her son is off to battle and she can't convince him otherwise when his mind is all made up.

He was expecting his mother to give him a farewell speech saying at least should he come back, bring a shield with him.None of what he heard gave him confidence because his mother was still disappointed that he was leaving and she described a mother's pain and Henry's disability to see it. Henry is "impatient under this ordeal" and "irritated" too. He goes off into town and bids his friends goodbye. "They thronged about him with and admiration and wonder"(8). He and his regiment goes off into the war and are "fed and caresses station after station"(8).

Henry and his regiment arrived in camp and there is no more of the pomp and glory. Then follows a period where they wait for orders from the generals. This become moments of "keeping warm and being still". He befriends veterans who tell tales of the war and he doesn't seem to believe what they say. All the war's glory is beginning to fade on him.In this moments of "keeping warm and being still", Henry gets frigtened and ponders on the fact that he might run away from the fighting. The reality of war dawns on him yet, he comprehends it not yet. The stark-naked truth is; will he have the courage not to run from the war?

The regiment is given orders to and begins to march. He grows in his regards of himself as merely a part of the "vast blue demonstration". The battle starts the following day. In the course of it all, soldiers lose their morale and many start cursing and blame their leaders of incompetence. The enemies attack and Henry is filled with the conviction to run away in order to save himself. His individuality doesn't count and he believes he's just "a cog in the machine". The lieutenant hits someone who wants to escape. Henry does keep on fighting and hopes that he survives and he does. The wounded soldier pesters Henry and constantly asks where did he get hurt while bravely showing Henry his wound; his "badge of