Red Badge Of Courage

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The Heroic Coward Throughout the story The Red Badge of Courage by Stephan Crane, the actions and attitude of the protagonist, Private Henry Fleming constantly change. In the beginning of the book Henry would be considered a hero for enlisting in the army. In the middle and the end of the book Henry changes from a hero to a coward. He continuously ran away during the battles and he also fakes an injury in the attempt to receive a Red Badge of Courage. First Henry decides to enlist into the army which takes place in the first chapter of the book. "Ma, I'm going to enlist (Pg. 5)." Henry believes that if he goes into the army he will return home a better, new and improved Henry, but his mother disapproves of his decision. "Henry don't be a fool (5)." These are the first words that Henry's mother speaks to him after Henry tells her he has enlisted. His mother tries over and over again to convince him to stay home with her but nothing she says can change Henry's mind. "Lord's will be don't Henry (5)." His mother is obviously not happy that Henry will no longer be there with her because he has enlisted, but she accepts the fact that she can do nothing. She sheds some tears and tells Henry that if he gets any holes in his clothes to send them right back to her to fix. Having longed for the glory and adventure battle brings since childhood, Henry couldn't wait to find himself in the heat of combat in the battles to come. After the first few chapters, Henry's courageous, heroic side begins to fade away and cowardly side quickly takes over. After Henry left his home, he comes to the regiment he was assigned to. He meets the men as they talk to each other about running away when battle comes. Henry spends the rest of his time in his regiment pondering over the idea other men have given him. ‘Will he run away?’ “For some moments he could not flee no more

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