Stephen Crane's: The red badge of courage
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The Red Badge of Courage was written by Stephen Crane and published in 1895. It tells the story of a young boy named Henry Fleming, fighting for the Union, who enlists in the war because of his unrealistic desire to become a celebrated war hero. He is intrigued by war at first however, when he arrives at the battle field, Henry becomes agitated and fearful for what his fate may entail. He creates a special friendship with two soldiers from his regiment, Jim Conklin, and Wilson. They make him feel less uneasy about war however, that relieved feeling does not last for very long as Henry becomes so frightened that he runs away from the second attack on his regiment during the first day of battle. Henry runs until he finds wounded soldiers fighting for the Union as well. He encounters a tattered soldier who asks him repeatedly about his wounds. Henry feeling ashamed that he has no "red badge of courage", wanders away and recognizes Jim Conklin, who is badly wounded and stumbling around in a giant crowd of other wounded soldiers. Henry promises to take care of Jim but he runs off and collapses in the forest where Henry and the tattered soldier witness him die. Infuriated and unable to handle the annoying personality that the tattered soldier possesses, Henry abandons him and leaves him to die in the forest. Henry spots a Union regiment retreating and asks a soldier what had happened. Feeling that Henry is slowing him down, the soldier hits Henry on the head with his rifle, leaving a bloody gash on Henry's head. Henry meets up with a soldier later that day, who offers to lead him back to his regiment before nightfall. When Henry returns to his regiment, he meets up with Wilson who tends to his bloody head believing it was a bullet wound. The next day, the regiment finds itself in another battle. Henry, full of rage and anger as a result of Jim's death, fights like a "driven beast" and thoroughly impresses his entire regiment, including the lieutenant. Later that day, Henry and Wilson overhear an officer say that their regiment fights like "mule drivers". Infuriated and insulted, Henry fights with even more rage in order to prove the officer wrong. The regiment's colour bearer falls and Henry carries the flag proudly before his regiment. After the attack fails, the same officer tells the colonel that his regiment fights like "mud diggers", which further infuriates Henry. However, Henry and Wilson receive word that the colonel and the lieutenant consider them the best fighters of the regiment. At last, there is one final fight. Henry continues to carry the flag while Wilson retrieves the enemy's flag as they march proudly towards glory. Victory is obtained and Henry realizes that the war is over. He walks with Wilson back towards the river and feels guilty for his actions from the previous day, especially leaving the tattered soldier behind. However, he becomes incredibly content with how he fought in the war that day, and realizes he has come through the "red sickness" of battle. He looks forward into the beautiful scenery and finds a new peace and manhood within himself.