thesis
Being engaged and occupied in war can have dreadful effects on the human psyche that prove to be uncontrollable. Stephen Crane uses the protagonist, Henry Fleming, to depict the average human being who is mentally altered throughout their time on the battlefield. In Henry's case, his involvement in the war eventually transforms him psychologically, into the man that he previously dreamt of becoming, leading to the conclusion that Henry was positively shaped through overcoming the challenges of war.
This thesis is suitable and effective because altered perceptions and mentalities are present throughout the entire novel. War does really have an effect on the human mind and Stephen Crane does an amazing job expressing this idea over the duration of The Red Badge of Courage. This thesis also outlines the psychological process that Henry goes through in his transformation from a boy to a mature young man, which is the most expansive topic of discussion about the novel. Even though this may not be spoken about in the most direct form, the concept of Henry's transformation is ultimately triggered by the change in Henry's mental state of mind, which this thesis clearly outlines successfully.