The Theme Of War In Stephen Crane's The Red Badge Of Courage

What made Stephen Crane’s The Red Badge of Courage become an unforgettable original surpassing other war novels is its depiction of the cruelty of the battlefield through the young soldier’s eyes. During the story’s timeline, Henry undergoes a subtle change in his attitude towards war. Starting as being self-centered and delusional,the youth becomes doubtful of his own self as well as his perceptions of war, afterwards finally matures into a man. This change has contributed greatly to the message of war which the novel conveys.

The youth, naive at first, believes in the glory and reputation of war. He romanticizes the idea of fighting in a battle to be filled with admiration and respect from others. Just like the Greek tradition to commemorate

the fallen, he too wishes to return “with his shield or on it”. He also “privately primed himself for a beautiful scene,” a scene in which he is a hero. This crave for appreciation reveals an immature side of the youth: he wants to be known, to be remembered, to be praised. He holds onto unsubstantiated promises of fame and therefore enlists. Once done, his beliefs are strengthen again as his schoolmates “thronged about him with wonder and admiration,” which makes him “swelled with calm pride.” The youth becomes convinced that being “donned blue” is to be “overwhelmed with privileges.” His regiment is “fed and caressed,” which leads to Henry’s misconception: “he must be a hero” and he deserves all the “lavish expenditure” on the way to Washington. His gullibility is clearly demonstrated and
In the camp, however, the previously held beliefs are shaken and he becomes doubtful about his perceptions of not only life in war, but also himself. After “months of monotonous life in a camp,” a growing sense of suspicion rises within his mind. Henry “could not tell how much might be lies” when hearing the veterans’ tales of “smoke, fire, and blood,” because recruits like him “were their prey.” They are “in no wise to be trusted.” Images of sublime battles in the youth’s thoughts become surreal
Henry’s transformation into a true man is described thoroughly when he engages in battle. There was a “temporary but sublime absence of selfishness.” Leaving out the desire to gain admiration and recognition, he fight with other men, not as an individual, but as a whole. He integrates himself into the regiment: “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.” This proves that he is able to brush off the selfish thoughts which preoccupies him, and is starting to write out his new “laws of life”
In conclusion, readers get to witness Henry’s worst and best moments during the war, which represents his change in personality. From naive to doubtful, from doubtful to dutiful, this change also results in his different perspective of war.