Examples Of Heroism In The Red Badge Of Courage

Erica Gesner

Mr. Duca ELA 08

8-28-14

The Red Badge of Courage

In The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane a young man by the name of Henry Fleming also known as the youth enlists himself into the army for the Union during the Civil War. He learns the true meaning of courage and heroism and becomes a hero himself. Henry Fleming often thinks that he is a hero on multiple occasions. Here are a few examples that define him as a hero.

One example would be his first battle when he starts taking his first shots. He starts to feel as if he is part of his regiment and doesn’t feel as much concern for himself and it is stated, “He suddenly lost concern for himself, and forgot to look at the menacing fate. He became not a man but a member. He

felt that something of which he was a part-a regiment, an army, a cause, or a country-was in a crisis, he was welded into a common personality which was dominated by a single desire. For some moments he could not flee no more than a little finger can commit a revolution from a hand.” (p.25 Chapter 5) heroes lose concern for their own selves and fight for the other people around them like Henry did in this moment. That is one crucial part that you need to be a hero and it could define Henry as a hero in that moment. Henry also happened to be frozen with fear in this moment to the point that someone has to help him reload his rifle. He then continues to shoot afterward which shows him overcoming some of his fears. Heroes must overcome their fears to help with the task at hand therefore this can make Henry courageous which is something that every hero must be. This example shows how Henry overcomes fear with courage and fights for others and that helps to make him a hero in the long run.
Another example of him being a hero is the time that he fought after fleeing in the second battle and had to be told to stop shooting. It is stated that in a later battle that he is fighting with such a large hate for the enemy that he is so engrossed in battle to the point where he keeps moving forward and shooting till a comrade yells out, “Yeh internal fool, don’t yeh know enough t’ quit when there ain’t anything t’ shoot at? Good Gawd!” (p. 72 Chapter 17) This is an example of him being a hero since heroes fight with passion and courage like Henry did at this moment. This makes many admire him, which is also important to be a hero. The lieutenant even yells at him during this point in time and states that if he had ten thousand wild cats like Henry that he could easily win the war (p. 72 Chapter 17). This shows how admirably he fought which in Henry’s eyes is a very important aspect of becoming a hero. This also makes others view him as a hero and his comrades admire how he fought. This example shows how Henry fights like a barbaric warrior and in doing so makes him seem more like a hero.
Another example of Henry being heroic is when he picks up the flag after the flag bearer has fallen.

(p.81 Chapter 19). “Within him, as he hurled himself forward, was born a love, a despairing fondness for this flag which was near him. It was a creation of beauty and invulnerability. It was a goddess, radiant, that bended its form with an imperious gesture to him. It was a woman, red and white, hating and loving, that called him with the voices of his hopes. Because no harm could come to it he endowed it with power. He kept near, as if it could be a saver of lives, and an imploring cry went from his mind.” (p.81 Chapter 19) This expresses his loyalty, which is a trait that every hero needs. By expressing his loyalty to the union, his regiment, and the cause he can be seen as a true hero. Picking up the flag also symbolizes how he sees that there are even more things that are a part of the cause that are symbolic., which increases his loyalty. He finally sees that he and his comrades are only a small part of the war and there are other things that are symbolic during the war but are also of the same importance. At this moment he feels a newfound love for the Union. Picking up the flag symbolizes his newfound loyalty, which helps us perceive him as a

hero.
Henry Fleming is the main character of Stephen Crane’s The Red Badge of Courage. Henry fights with the Union and in doing so becomes a hero. The examples above when put together make Henry a true hero by showing traits that heroes must have including courage, loyalty, the will to fight for others, and in Henry’s eyes fighting admirably.