Character+Analysis-+Henry+Fleming

=Character Analysis: Henry Fleming=

Stephen Crane principally refers to Henry Fleming, the main character of The Red Badge of Courage, as “the youth” and “the young soldier.” At the beginning of the novel, Henry signs up to fight on the side of the Union in the American Civil War, initially because of the glory that he perceives is associated with fighting in a great war. “He had burned several times to enlist. Tales of great movements shook the land. They might not be distinctly Homeric, but there seemed to be much glory in them” (4). Henry wants to gain the reputation and honor of a warrior, and to be seen by other people as a great soldier and a courageous man. As he reflects on the nature of the Civil War, Henry believes that it will be quite different from the battles of ancient Greece; he feels that his war will be more civilized because he thinks that humanity has become more timid and less bloodthirsty.

Due to Henry’s young age, naiveté and inexperience, he is subjected to the teasing of the older soldiers. He is often called a “fresh fish” by the men in his regiment. The veteran soldiers, who are accustomed to war, revel in telling gruesome tales to Henry and boasting about their bravery in earlier battles. Henry realizes that he doesn’t know how he will react when he faces his first battle. He worries about whether he will act courageously in the heat of combat. To reassure himself, “he continually tried to measure himself by his comrades” (13). He tells himself that there are plenty of other soldiers in his position and that the strength of his character is equal to, if not better than, most.

The self-doubt Henry had been experiencing is alleviated during his first battle. “He suddenly lost concern for himself, and forgot to look at a menacing fate. He became not a man but a member” (40). As Henry fights alongside the other men in his regiment, he feels himself transformed into a component of a well-oiled machine. He is engrossed in the battle and feels a rage toward the enemy.

As a result of his performance in this first battle, Henry becomes very self-satisfied. He has little time to revel, however, as the opposing force soon surges to attack again. Henry and the other soldiers in his regiment sluggishly begin to prepare themselves for the renewed onslaught. Amidst the clamor of the exploding shells, some of Henry’s exhausted comrades begin running away and Henry follows them. Afterward, Henry discovers to his amazement that the Union forces successfully repelled the rebels and won the battle. In an attempt to justify his cowardice, Henry “told himself [he had fled] because annihilation approached. He had done a good part in saving himself, who was a little piece of the army” (54). In reassuring himself that he did the right and intelligent thing in fleeing, Henry becomes angry at his fellow soldiers who withstood the enemy’s blows and won the battle. He thinks that these men were foolish in their actions and should have seen the impossibility of the situation. At the same time, Henry dreads the derision these foolish men will heap on him for running away, and he pities himself.

Before reuniting with his regiment, Henry wanders around the forest and he encounters a group of Union soldiers marching. He begins to follow this group, and a wounded soldier in tattered clothing initiates a conversation. He asks Henry where he is hit, and Henry is taken aback. He soon realizes that this group of soldiers is seeking medical help for their wounds. Henry becomes jealous of the wounded soldiers, thinking that they have proved their courage by sacrificing themselves. “[Henry] wished that he, too, had a wound, a red badge of courage” (66).

Soon, Henry notices that his friend, Jim Conklin, is marching in the procession. Jim is spooked by the artillery fire and runs away from the group while Henry is trying to talk to him. Henry and the tattered soldier follow Jim, but they notice from a distance that Jim collapses and they realize that he is dead. Henry’s companion feels ill and starts to become delirious. Henry abandons this injured soldier, but then feels ashamed about his actions. Following this episode, Henry begins to walk back to the area where he had deserted his regiment. He contemplates how the other soldiers will react to his acts of cowardice. Suddenly he notices a fleeing soldier, and Henry grabs him by the arm. The soldier demands to be released. Henry refuses and the rebellious soldier hits Henry over the head with his rifle.

A kind soldier comes across the dazed Henry and helps him locate his regiment’s camp. When Henry’s corporal examines him, he concludes that Henry’s head wound was from a stray shell that grazed his head. Henry is cared for by the corporal and his friend, Wilson. Thinking back on his experiences Henry finds, “a faith in himself had secretly blossomed. There was a little flower of confidence growing within him. He was now a man of experience” (108). Henry rationalizes to himself that, while the other soldiers fled madly from battle, he had done so with discretion.

In his next battle, Henry proves himself. He fights with such concentration that he falls into a trance and continues to reload and fire, even after the enemy has retreated. “It was revealed to [Henry] that he had been a barbarian, a beast. He had fought like a pagan who defends his religion” (121). After a lull in the fighting, Henry’s regiment charges the enemy and engages in yet another battle. Henry spots his regiment’s color guard falling to his knees. Henry seizes the flag and raises it proudly, encouraging his men to fight. After this battle, Henry’s fellow soldiers admiringly approach him, which supplies a further boost to his self confidence.

In the final battle of the novel, Henry’s friend captures the enemy’s flag and four Confederate soldiers are taken prisoners by Henry’s comrades. With the success of this battle, Henry is finally able to distance himself the shame of his earlier acts of cowardice. Henry’s mettle has been tested and he has developed into a confident young soldier. (JS)