Compare And Contrast Soldier's Heart And Red Badge Of Courage

Soldier’s Heart and Red Badge of Courage are works that seem to reflect off one another. The two stories have such a minor amount of difference that it can be difficult to discern between the two. On the other hand, these works have numerous similarities, which would lead one would to believe that they were made with the identical idea in mind. Overall, two works have few differences but various comparisons.
To begin, variances in the two are so few that it could be they stole each other’s idea. One the most noticeable of differences is that the main characters are from different states. Charley, from Soldier’s Heart, is from Minnesota, while Henry, from Red Badge of Courage, is from New York. Another difference is the way they handle the war. For example, Charley stays and fights through all his battles in the war, and Henry runs from his first battle and becomes a deserter. Finally, one of the big differences is that we get to see Charley after the war. Soldier’s Heart allows us to see how Charley struggles with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after the fighting ends. However, in Red Badge of Courage, we never get to see how the fighting affects Henry. These alterations show that even if the works are closely tied together, they are still different.

Furthermore, the amount of similarities in these two stories are so closely connected that the plots could have been copied.

First, both men volunteer to fight in the war. Charley lies about his age so he could volunteer to fight and Henry volunteered when he turns eighteen. Additionally, both Henry and Charley are from the North. Both men fight for the Union in the Civil War. Finally, both get injured while fighting. Charley is stabbed by a Bayonet while fighting the Rebels, and Henry is hit in the head with the butt of a gun while trying to find his regiment. The resemblances of the two works allow us to see how they both were made to illustrate the actual events of the Civil

War.
With the comparisons in mind, it could also be that Soldier’s Heart and Red Badge of Courage were made to show the difference in the experience, depending on the person’s age and personality. First, Charley goes into the war to get paid so he could help his mother. However, Henry joins the war to get glory. Furthermore, both protagonists look back on happier times. Charley uses this as a way to push forward through the war, while Henry sees it as a mistake on his part to join. Finally, they both watch friends die in battle. While Charley tries to comfort his friend as he dies, Henry just follows his as he continues to attempt to get him to the hospital. The two stories allow you to see how the war affected different people.
Soldier’s Heart and Red Badge of Courage are both works with numerous resemblances and scarce differences. With so rare variances the two stories could be considered to have the same plot. In contrast, the connections of the works are so close it is difficult to believe that they are made by different people. They also seemingly connect with the battles that Henry and Charley fought in. In the end, both works have their differences and similarities that make them connect to the audience and teach the message both authors desired.