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The Red Badge of Courage
One of the greatest war novels of all time, this is the story of the Civil War through the eyes of Henry Fleming, an ordinary farm boy turned soldier. Marks a departure from the traditional treatment of war in fiction as it captures the sights and sounds of war while creating the intricate inner world of Henry. Probes the personal reactions of unknown foot soldiers fighting unknown enemies. Henry Fleming is motivated not by courage or patriotism but by cowardice, fear, and finally egoism, and events are filtered through his consciousness.
160 pages, ebook
Published September 21, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
April 5, 2019
The plot and the story were well written. Also, the writing was so descriptive, that it made you feel as if you were in the characters shoes yourself.
April 27, 2012
All I can say is, I'm glad that's over. Thank heaven it was short.
You'll love this book if: You like books with lots of reflection and philosophy on the human mind. If you like really whiny, pride-driven, and/or long-winded MC's. If you like to read how war affects human tendencies. If you like war stories period. If you like a small part of the action and the view of the first person in a huge conflict that you never come to understand. If bad language and screwed up English is your cup o' tea.
You'll hate this book if: You are an action-driven reader. If justification and snideness drive you insane. If you like a general view of the story. If you just want a story or entertainment rather than a treatise on how good one person is when compared to his fellows. If language deliberately written to sound illiterate gives you hives. If strutting and boasting makes you roll your eyes. If the entire sequence of events in the entire book happens in sporadic bursts interspersed with philosophizing.
This is not a war story of glory and vindication. This is not a war story of grand, sweeping events. This is not a war story that praises genius and invention. This is not a story for everyone. It's a story about war. Real war. Not the kind of grand battle you read about, but the red monster that could consume us all.
This is a story of how war makes children grow up too quickly. This is a story about the difference between the adolescent mind and the adult mind and how twenty-four hours can make that change, can mature a mind and reason, but in ways that may be harmful to the soul of the man. This is a story about cowardice and victories that don't mean anything. This is a small glimpse of what happened to those involved in one of the bloodiest wars in history.
I didn't particularly enjoy this glimpse. It was chaotic, impersonal, blusterous, and glaring. And I think that's what makes it a classic. One I didn't really like, but a classic none the less.
A kid leaves home, joins the army, fights in two battles, and marches off into the sunset. That's the entirety of the action of this book. The kid's name is mentioned half-a-dozen times. His friends' names are mentioned even less. Instead, they are given descriptions that are supposed to make a statement on who they are. The youth. The tall soldier. The loud soldier. The spectral soldier. The tattered soldier. The fat general. The youthful lieutenant. There's very little conversation and what little conversation there is, is in redneck English and profanity. More than half the action that propels the story forward you don't read about. The entire book, you don't know if they're winning the battle or loosing, and the interesting thing is, it doesn't matter, even though that is entirely what war is about.
Then there is the red badge. A badge that proves to everyone around you that you are courageous, that you have what it takes, that you are someone to respected. It's a badge to envy, to lust after, to lie about. It is the proof to everyone around you that you are bigger than you know you are. And yet it's a badge that can kill you. What's the good in glory and respect of your fellows if you're dead?
This story drove me nuts. The kid thinks he's better than everyone around him, that he has a higher mind, that he has better notions than his leaders and his fellows. He is constantly looking down his nose at people. At one point he knows something, "shameful" about one of his friends and determines to hold it over the boy so his friend won't discover the truly shameful thing he, himself has done. He goes around strutting and trying to bring attention to himself, yet cringing from the lime light at the same time just in case somebody reads his mind and discovers what he's done. Supposedly, by the end of the story he's no longer the strutting peacock of a boy, but a man.
If that's what makes you a man, I'm glad I'm a woman. I've read this book once and gotten through it. I don't think I could swallow it again.
You'll love this book if: You like books with lots of reflection and philosophy on the human mind. If you like really whiny, pride-driven, and/or long-winded MC's. If you like to read how war affects human tendencies. If you like war stories period. If you like a small part of the action and the view of the first person in a huge conflict that you never come to understand. If bad language and screwed up English is your cup o' tea.
You'll hate this book if: You are an action-driven reader. If justification and snideness drive you insane. If you like a general view of the story. If you just want a story or entertainment rather than a treatise on how good one person is when compared to his fellows. If language deliberately written to sound illiterate gives you hives. If strutting and boasting makes you roll your eyes. If the entire sequence of events in the entire book happens in sporadic bursts interspersed with philosophizing.
This is not a war story of glory and vindication. This is not a war story of grand, sweeping events. This is not a war story that praises genius and invention. This is not a story for everyone. It's a story about war. Real war. Not the kind of grand battle you read about, but the red monster that could consume us all.
This is a story of how war makes children grow up too quickly. This is a story about the difference between the adolescent mind and the adult mind and how twenty-four hours can make that change, can mature a mind and reason, but in ways that may be harmful to the soul of the man. This is a story about cowardice and victories that don't mean anything. This is a small glimpse of what happened to those involved in one of the bloodiest wars in history.
I didn't particularly enjoy this glimpse. It was chaotic, impersonal, blusterous, and glaring. And I think that's what makes it a classic. One I didn't really like, but a classic none the less.
A kid leaves home, joins the army, fights in two battles, and marches off into the sunset. That's the entirety of the action of this book. The kid's name is mentioned half-a-dozen times. His friends' names are mentioned even less. Instead, they are given descriptions that are supposed to make a statement on who they are. The youth. The tall soldier. The loud soldier. The spectral soldier. The tattered soldier. The fat general. The youthful lieutenant. There's very little conversation and what little conversation there is, is in redneck English and profanity. More than half the action that propels the story forward you don't read about. The entire book, you don't know if they're winning the battle or loosing, and the interesting thing is, it doesn't matter, even though that is entirely what war is about.
Then there is the red badge. A badge that proves to everyone around you that you are courageous, that you have what it takes, that you are someone to respected. It's a badge to envy, to lust after, to lie about. It is the proof to everyone around you that you are bigger than you know you are. And yet it's a badge that can kill you. What's the good in glory and respect of your fellows if you're dead?
This story drove me nuts. The kid thinks he's better than everyone around him, that he has a higher mind, that he has better notions than his leaders and his fellows. He is constantly looking down his nose at people. At one point he knows something, "shameful" about one of his friends and determines to hold it over the boy so his friend won't discover the truly shameful thing he, himself has done. He goes around strutting and trying to bring attention to himself, yet cringing from the lime light at the same time just in case somebody reads his mind and discovers what he's done. Supposedly, by the end of the story he's no longer the strutting peacock of a boy, but a man.
He had been to touch the great death, and found that, after all, it was but the great death. He was a man.
If that's what makes you a man, I'm glad I'm a woman. I've read this book once and gotten through it. I don't think I could swallow it again.
March 19, 2013
I've been fixated on the Civil War since watching Ken Burns' PBS Series which also resulted in my having a huge crush on Shelby Foote. But anyway - I've done a ton of fiction and non-fiction reading on the subject and somehow had escaped (or missed) reading this until now. So - here we are in the 21st century reading a turn of the 20th century writer. What a difference 100 years makes. This isn't easy to read in terms of finding a rhythm - the writing is just simply different. The lapses into dialogue actually didn't bother me - I found it fascinating to read. What I didn't like was that Stephen Crane calls Henry "the youth" and writes him in the 3rd person - never actually calling him Henry (unless some other character does). What this did was distance the main character from the reader and so I was never able to get any real emotional connection to Henry so never cared about his struggle or the horrors of the war he experienced. I've actually wondered if this was done on purpose, because while the book was written 35-40 years after the beginning of the war, perhaps the scars of such a war had not healed in the general public - and so by creating that distance between the main character and the reader made it easier to read. It may have worked 100 years ago but it didn't really work now. Another reviewer said that there are probably better examples of Civil War-based historical fiction these days and I'd have to say I agree. But read this anyway -- it's short.
September 17, 2011
It’s only a novella, so it didn’t take long to read, and as a study of fear, bravery and accidental heroism it made an interesting coda to my listening of Faulks on Fiction in which Faulks discusses the way fictional heroes soon abandoned the old notions of the mythical hero as good and noble by default.
Henry is a young Yankee farmboy who enlists in the Civil War against his mother’s will, but her only advice is to him is to keep away from bad influences and ‘do what’s right’. Other reactions, however, conspire to make him believe in his own heroism: having made a triumphant farewell to his classmates at school, his regiment is ‘caressed and fed at station after station’ en route to Washington and he is ‘patted and complimented by the old men’.
And so he waits impatiently for the excitement of battle, frustrated by constant rumours that there is about to be action at last. But as time goes by his ideas about ‘Greeklike’ struggles-to-the-death fade in the monotony of camp life and its endless drills. In their place comes self-doubt: what if in panic he runs?
To see the rest of my review please visit http://anzlitlovers.wordpress.com/201...
Henry is a young Yankee farmboy who enlists in the Civil War against his mother’s will, but her only advice is to him is to keep away from bad influences and ‘do what’s right’. Other reactions, however, conspire to make him believe in his own heroism: having made a triumphant farewell to his classmates at school, his regiment is ‘caressed and fed at station after station’ en route to Washington and he is ‘patted and complimented by the old men’.
And so he waits impatiently for the excitement of battle, frustrated by constant rumours that there is about to be action at last. But as time goes by his ideas about ‘Greeklike’ struggles-to-the-death fade in the monotony of camp life and its endless drills. In their place comes self-doubt: what if in panic he runs?
To see the rest of my review please visit http://anzlitlovers.wordpress.com/201...
December 31, 2010
I somehow had never read this, in spite of its status as one of the contenders for "Great American Novel." I'm not sure what I expected -- I had a vague impression it was about who a soldier who chickened out in the Civil War and was haunted ever after by his failure, but actually that's more "Lord Jim" than "Red Badge." What "Red Badge" turned out to be a is a very short tale of a young boy enlisted in the Union Army and dreaming of glory, and a minute recounting of his experiences before, during, and after his first battle.
I have never, obviously, been in a war, but surely it must be very much like this. None of the infantry has any real idea what's going on, the officers spend their time irritably chivvying the troops around and trying to get them where they're supposed to be, it's noisy and chaotic and boring as often as it is terrifying. The boy does funk his first encounter in understandable circumstances, but there's so much more to it. The description of the battle itself, and the landscape in which it takes place, is masterful, and the boy's psychology is utterly plausible -- his shame and self-justification, his self-consciousness, his naivete and how it is lost.
I have never, obviously, been in a war, but surely it must be very much like this. None of the infantry has any real idea what's going on, the officers spend their time irritably chivvying the troops around and trying to get them where they're supposed to be, it's noisy and chaotic and boring as often as it is terrifying. The boy does funk his first encounter in understandable circumstances, but there's so much more to it. The description of the battle itself, and the landscape in which it takes place, is masterful, and the boy's psychology is utterly plausible -- his shame and self-justification, his self-consciousness, his naivete and how it is lost.
October 6, 2012
A powerful work of American combat fiction. Perhaps the first of its kind in describing the feelings and emotions of a soldier "in the trenches" during the American Civil War. It is a very short work of fiction, but don't judge it's relative size by the gut-wrenching force it can pack at times. It is both emotional and gruesome, which for a combat novel of its day would make it well ahead of its time. In fact, I would say that most of the modern writers of combat--both fiction and non-fiction--were very influenced by this novel and would bet that many of them have worn, dog-eared copies someplace in their collection.
August 29, 2014
This was a fantastic read that focused on an American soldier in the trenches during the Civil War. This book created way more interest in me that i thought that it would, and it brought me into the past. This book showed me what it was like during the Civil War, vividly showed the emotions that soldiers carried around with them, and the desire that some carried to get out of battle. Through the main characters actions in the book, all the emotions and feelings that Henry goes through leads you into a new perspective of what soldiers went through during a great American tragedy.
February 13, 2022
A short classic well worth your time
I hadn’t read this book in 50 years when I picked it up again recently. It’s brilliant, vividly written, and thought-provoking. Crane adroitly develops several themes, such as the madness of crowds; the way ego manipulates thinking; and the thin line between what we think of as “heroism” and what we think of as “cowardice.” It’s hard to fathom how a writer that young had such wisdom.
I hadn’t read this book in 50 years when I picked it up again recently. It’s brilliant, vividly written, and thought-provoking. Crane adroitly develops several themes, such as the madness of crowds; the way ego manipulates thinking; and the thin line between what we think of as “heroism” and what we think of as “cowardice.” It’s hard to fathom how a writer that young had such wisdom.
December 3, 2011
My friend introduced to me this book and told me to read it, so I borrowed his book and read it a year after. *insert big smile*
What really bothers me about this book was the point of view of the story. I keep on turning back the pages to see who was speaking, the author or the main character. I think that the book is a bit boring for my liking.
What really bothers me about this book was the point of view of the story. I keep on turning back the pages to see who was speaking, the author or the main character. I think that the book is a bit boring for my liking.
July 21, 2015
Totally not my thing. I skimmed a lot of the battle descriptions because I just didn't understand what was going on and I didn't think it was really that important. Unfortunately, not much else happened. I was glad it was a short book (and free).
July 21, 2017
What sets this book apart is its insight into the psyche of a fresh soldier and that the battle it is told from the private's clouded perspective.
October 20, 2012
While the style of writing was quite nice and rather enjoyable, war stories just aren't for me. Especially when war is literally all the whole book is about.
April 24, 2013
This book was alright. Just... too short :D Great lesson and storyplot though- just felt like the story is being rushed here.
Too bad- I was hoping to read the original copy
Too bad- I was hoping to read the original copy
August 23, 2013
The American school system is evil. It is predicated on muting the student's spirit enough that life will be accepted as a joyless march to the death. Also, it serves the grossest pizza. Middle school is the worst. There you were, swimming along with the same group of fat-faced idiots for six, seven years. You had your teacher and your classmates. Some years were tragic because you and your best bud, Danny Beerman had different teachers, but it wasn't the end of the world. There was always recess. You could catch up and laugh about the swears in "How to Kill a Mockingbird."
And then all of sudden, middle school shows up and you and Danny aren't even studying the same chapter in biology. There's different teachers for each subject and you are running around the school like a nervous cabbie. And you never have the good lunch period and your mom got you the gym shorts in "small" and Marsha Bloomfield has to open your locker because you just can't figure the thing out. It's still the first quarter of the game of Life when you realize it's going to be a long one.
And then you're walking home with Danny Beerman, kicking leaves and crunching them under your Keds. And he's talking about this awesome book with soldiers and battles and running and dudes getting killed. And you're stuck reading "Taming of the Shrew" like a jerk, debating with Shakespeare which one of you actually speaks English and which one is the dum-dum.
So why is this book a middle-school classic? Is it the gore factor? Probably not. It does have a "historical setting." However, Crane wasn't even old enough to fight the Civil War. It would be like a Gen Xer wrote a Vietnam novel. So that doesn't legitimize this book as a classic. And sure, it's well-written. But so is a Stephen King novel. I think it's real advantage is that it familiarizes a new generation to common scenarios and struggles that are familiar to an adult: Regret and Redemption. "Red Badge of Courage" is ultimately spinning two American classics: a) the young man who craves adventure and runs away from the farm (AKA the "Luke Skywalker"); and b) The young man who committed sins but seeks and attempts to redeem himself (AKA the "Han Solo").
If you read the Goodreads description (which is pretty much one big spoiler), the book tells the story of a young man's struggle to become a man in the midst of the Civil War. This story, minus the Civil War and insert anything, e.g., space war, World War II, divorce, death, zombie apocalypse, has been told in about a million different forms. There is probably a Tumblr devoted to covers of every "coming of age" book out there. And I'm not knocking it. I think the book is actually a great introduction to the genre and until it's replaced by the "Twilight" series as required reading, I hope it's taught to every middle school kid. Not just stupid-face Danny Beerman. (j/k Danny, j/k!)
And then all of sudden, middle school shows up and you and Danny aren't even studying the same chapter in biology. There's different teachers for each subject and you are running around the school like a nervous cabbie. And you never have the good lunch period and your mom got you the gym shorts in "small" and Marsha Bloomfield has to open your locker because you just can't figure the thing out. It's still the first quarter of the game of Life when you realize it's going to be a long one.
And then you're walking home with Danny Beerman, kicking leaves and crunching them under your Keds. And he's talking about this awesome book with soldiers and battles and running and dudes getting killed. And you're stuck reading "Taming of the Shrew" like a jerk, debating with Shakespeare which one of you actually speaks English and which one is the dum-dum.
So why is this book a middle-school classic? Is it the gore factor? Probably not. It does have a "historical setting." However, Crane wasn't even old enough to fight the Civil War. It would be like a Gen Xer wrote a Vietnam novel. So that doesn't legitimize this book as a classic. And sure, it's well-written. But so is a Stephen King novel. I think it's real advantage is that it familiarizes a new generation to common scenarios and struggles that are familiar to an adult: Regret and Redemption. "Red Badge of Courage" is ultimately spinning two American classics: a) the young man who craves adventure and runs away from the farm (AKA the "Luke Skywalker"); and b) The young man who committed sins but seeks and attempts to redeem himself (AKA the "Han Solo").
If you read the Goodreads description (which is pretty much one big spoiler), the book tells the story of a young man's struggle to become a man in the midst of the Civil War. This story, minus the Civil War and insert anything, e.g., space war, World War II, divorce, death, zombie apocalypse, has been told in about a million different forms. There is probably a Tumblr devoted to covers of every "coming of age" book out there. And I'm not knocking it. I think the book is actually a great introduction to the genre and until it's replaced by the "Twilight" series as required reading, I hope it's taught to every middle school kid. Not just stupid-face Danny Beerman. (j/k Danny, j/k!)
October 9, 2018
Henry Flemming is a soldier in the Union army during the Civil War in the United States of America. When he finally gets put in the army he has an issue where he does not know if he will flee from battle or not. He decides, after talking to another member about running away from battle, that he probably would not run. Once he gets in his first skirmish with Confederate troops, some of his troop members start to run, and so he does too. After realizing the terrible mistake that he had made he tries to find a way back to his troop. After trying to get back with his troop by faking an injury, he eventually gets back with his troop and after a battle, he and one of his friends overheard a general and their commander speaking badly of his troop. Henry and that same friend, Willson, helps lead a charge and Henry overcomes his fears.
I was able to connect with Henry because if I were in his shoes, I probably would have had the same fears as him and probably would have tried or done some of the exact same things that he did. When Henry first went into battle, he was nervous and when it seemed like his side was losing, he ran away, which is something I feel that I would have done. Once he realized that his side won, he tried to get back with his troop to seem like he had been only separated instead of ran away. If I had ran away and then realized that still would have been safe, I would have also tried to get back to my same group. This still might happen nowadays but if it did, there probably would be a few more consequences, such as a discharge, instead of what happened to Henry.
What I liked about this book was that it was quite easy to follow what was happening at what point and that if you stopped reading for a while you would know what was happening at that point in the story. I also liked how it described the scenery around it and that once reading that it was easy to formulate a picture in your mind. Something that could have been better is the author could have done better is if he could have used a little stronger wording in a few of the sections, but overall it was an excellent read. Overall if you are looking for an easy yet exciting read, I would definitely recommend this book.
I was able to connect with Henry because if I were in his shoes, I probably would have had the same fears as him and probably would have tried or done some of the exact same things that he did. When Henry first went into battle, he was nervous and when it seemed like his side was losing, he ran away, which is something I feel that I would have done. Once he realized that his side won, he tried to get back with his troop to seem like he had been only separated instead of ran away. If I had ran away and then realized that still would have been safe, I would have also tried to get back to my same group. This still might happen nowadays but if it did, there probably would be a few more consequences, such as a discharge, instead of what happened to Henry.
What I liked about this book was that it was quite easy to follow what was happening at what point and that if you stopped reading for a while you would know what was happening at that point in the story. I also liked how it described the scenery around it and that once reading that it was easy to formulate a picture in your mind. Something that could have been better is the author could have done better is if he could have used a little stronger wording in a few of the sections, but overall it was an excellent read. Overall if you are looking for an easy yet exciting read, I would definitely recommend this book.
November 14, 2020
Read this book aloud to Daniel (6th grade) We have read several books in the Classic Starts series - an easy way to read a shortened/retold version of the original classic story. This one was not one of our favorites, but I am glad that we are both familiar with this story now.
A "red badge of courage" refers to a wound received in battle
The story is told from the point of view of a young man named, Henry Fleming, who joined the Civil War drawn to the glory of the idea of battle. The whole story is mainly focused on Henry's thoughts and feelings after being in a real battle. At first, he runs away from the battle and later feels like such a coward for running and feeling so terrified, and he feels ashamed and confused. While he's on the run, he sees many wounded men and many dead bodies and is shaken by what he sees.
He runs into a wounded man in the forest and the wounded man shames Henry for running and for not getting wounded in the battle. Henry can't take his words and so he leaves him to die in the forest. He eventually runs and ends up seeing another part of the battle. He sees other men fleeing the battle in fear, just like he did. While he's watching that, a running man hits him the head with his weapon and Henry gets a gash on his head = his red badge of courage.
Then as Henry wanders around, he eventually runs into men his knows and they think he's been hurt in the battle, so they care for him and his wound. Henry then uses his rage and fear of what he's seen on the battlefield and he goes in with courage and passion. The leaders see that in him and praise how he fought. He becomes an example for the other men and he proudly carries the flag into battle. He sees a lot and learns a lot about battles, war, himself and others in just a short time. The book moves through his progression of feelings. He moves from feeling weak and unsure of himself to feeling strong and confident.
Takeaway - sometimes we think we are the only ones who are afraid, weak and unprepared for something - but if Henry could have read the minds of the other soldiers in the battle with him, he would have learned that they felt just like he did. That is common in many life situations we will face.
A "red badge of courage" refers to a wound received in battle
The story is told from the point of view of a young man named, Henry Fleming, who joined the Civil War drawn to the glory of the idea of battle. The whole story is mainly focused on Henry's thoughts and feelings after being in a real battle. At first, he runs away from the battle and later feels like such a coward for running and feeling so terrified, and he feels ashamed and confused. While he's on the run, he sees many wounded men and many dead bodies and is shaken by what he sees.
He runs into a wounded man in the forest and the wounded man shames Henry for running and for not getting wounded in the battle. Henry can't take his words and so he leaves him to die in the forest. He eventually runs and ends up seeing another part of the battle. He sees other men fleeing the battle in fear, just like he did. While he's watching that, a running man hits him the head with his weapon and Henry gets a gash on his head = his red badge of courage.
Then as Henry wanders around, he eventually runs into men his knows and they think he's been hurt in the battle, so they care for him and his wound. Henry then uses his rage and fear of what he's seen on the battlefield and he goes in with courage and passion. The leaders see that in him and praise how he fought. He becomes an example for the other men and he proudly carries the flag into battle. He sees a lot and learns a lot about battles, war, himself and others in just a short time. The book moves through his progression of feelings. He moves from feeling weak and unsure of himself to feeling strong and confident.
Takeaway - sometimes we think we are the only ones who are afraid, weak and unprepared for something - but if Henry could have read the minds of the other soldiers in the battle with him, he would have learned that they felt just like he did. That is common in many life situations we will face.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2020
Read this book aloud to Daniel (6th grade) We have read several books in the Classic Starts series - an easy way to read a shortened/retold version of the original classic story. This one was not one of our favorites, but I am glad that we are both familiar with this story now.
A "red badge of courage" refers to a wound received in battle
The story is told from the point of view of a young man named, Henry Fleming, who joined the Civil War drawn to the glory of the idea of battle. The whole story is mainly focused on Henry's thoughts and feelings after being in a real battle. At first, he runs away from the battle and later feels like such a coward for running and feeling so terrified, and he feels ashamed and confused. While he's on the run, he sees many wounded men and many dead bodies and is shaken by what he sees.
He runs into a wounded man in the forest and the wounded man shames Henry for running and for not getting wounded in the battle. Henry can't take his words and so he leaves him to die in the forest. He eventually runs and ends up seeing another part of the battle. He sees other men fleeing the battle in fear, just like he did. While he's watching that, a running man hits him the head with his weapon and Henry gets a gash on his head = his red badge of courage.
Then as Henry wanders around, he eventually runs into men his knows and they think he's been hurt in the battle, so they care for him and his wound. Henry then uses his rage and fear of what he's seen on the battlefield and he goes in with courage and passion. The leaders see that in him and praise how he fought. He becomes an example for the other men and he proudly carries the flag into battle. He sees a lot and learns a lot about battles, war, himself and others in just a short time. The book moves through his progression of feelings. He moves from feeling weak and unsure of himself to feeling strong and confident.
Takeaway - sometimes we think we are the only ones who are afraid, weak and unprepared for something - but if Henry could have read the minds of the other soldiers in the battle with him, he would have learned that they felt just like he did. That is common in many life situations we will face.
A "red badge of courage" refers to a wound received in battle
The story is told from the point of view of a young man named, Henry Fleming, who joined the Civil War drawn to the glory of the idea of battle. The whole story is mainly focused on Henry's thoughts and feelings after being in a real battle. At first, he runs away from the battle and later feels like such a coward for running and feeling so terrified, and he feels ashamed and confused. While he's on the run, he sees many wounded men and many dead bodies and is shaken by what he sees.
He runs into a wounded man in the forest and the wounded man shames Henry for running and for not getting wounded in the battle. Henry can't take his words and so he leaves him to die in the forest. He eventually runs and ends up seeing another part of the battle. He sees other men fleeing the battle in fear, just like he did. While he's watching that, a running man hits him the head with his weapon and Henry gets a gash on his head = his red badge of courage.
Then as Henry wanders around, he eventually runs into men his knows and they think he's been hurt in the battle, so they care for him and his wound. Henry then uses his rage and fear of what he's seen on the battlefield and he goes in with courage and passion. The leaders see that in him and praise how he fought. He becomes an example for the other men and he proudly carries the flag into battle. He sees a lot and learns a lot about battles, war, himself and others in just a short time. The book moves through his progression of feelings. He moves from feeling weak and unsure of himself to feeling strong and confident.
Takeaway - sometimes we think we are the only ones who are afraid, weak and unprepared for something - but if Henry could have read the minds of the other soldiers in the battle with him, he would have learned that they felt just like he did. That is common in many life situations we will face.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2012
This is another book I had to read in high school. I really didn't get much out of it at that time, and should read it again to see what I missed. I had come back to school, after being sick for a month, when the other students had being reading The Red Badge of Courage.
This wasn't an enjoyable read. The book is a classic. The young solider has played war as a youth, and thought of being a hero. He runs away during his first battle, and feels great guilt. He faces his fears, and redeems himself. He is afraid that his fellow soldiers will somehow find out that he had run away from battle. As an old veteran he tells the town folks of his time in the war. He tells them that he ran away from his first battle. His grandson is shocked by this admission. The old man later runs into a burning barn to save the animals, while other men stand helplessly near by.
I'm glad I finally finished reading this book.
This wasn't an enjoyable read. The book is a classic. The young solider has played war as a youth, and thought of being a hero. He runs away during his first battle, and feels great guilt. He faces his fears, and redeems himself. He is afraid that his fellow soldiers will somehow find out that he had run away from battle. As an old veteran he tells the town folks of his time in the war. He tells them that he ran away from his first battle. His grandson is shocked by this admission. The old man later runs into a burning barn to save the animals, while other men stand helplessly near by.
I'm glad I finally finished reading this book.
December 25, 2012
Non capisco se l'ho trovato noioso perché non mi piacciono i libri di guerra (bello scemo che mi sono scelto proprio questo libro) o perché mi ha dato problemi l'inglese.
Non capisco se sono io che non l'ho letto con la giusta attenzione o se davvero tutte le battaglie sono viste dall'alto, riassumibili in vaghi spari, vaghe urla, vaga rabbia e vaghe corse.
E non capisco la necessità di chiamare il protagonista «the youth», quasi mai per nome, e di scrivere i dialoghi il più realisticamente e quindi incomprensibilmente possibile.
Ma poco importa, è tutto finito: Henry è diventato un buon soldato e io spero di aver imparato la lezione.
Non capisco se sono io che non l'ho letto con la giusta attenzione o se davvero tutte le battaglie sono viste dall'alto, riassumibili in vaghi spari, vaghe urla, vaga rabbia e vaghe corse.
E non capisco la necessità di chiamare il protagonista «the youth», quasi mai per nome, e di scrivere i dialoghi il più realisticamente e quindi incomprensibilmente possibile.
Ma poco importa, è tutto finito: Henry è diventato un buon soldato e io spero di aver imparato la lezione.
February 11, 2011
It was OK, but I wasn't thrilled with it. I remember having to read this for middle school and I pretty much felt the same way then. Decades have only changed my point of view of Henry as "my peer" when I originally read this, to one where he is now "the youth". The descriptive fighting scenes were more than adequate and actually made the story bearable. The dialogue was challenging, but realistic nevertheless. A good ole coming of age war story set smack in the middle of the Civil War.
March 31, 2017
This is more at the grunt level than a normal history book. People who believe soldiers just heroically charge into battle with no thought to life or mutilation are wrong. The characters are real, the emotions are real, and the responses, especially at that time, are real. We see to many John Wayne soldiers in their 30's and 40's charging an outpost when the truth is these people were in their late teens and early 20's. This is a fantastic read, one that everyone should take a good look at.
February 9, 2019
I go back and read this book every few years. It's a really quick read but so packed. Having had a lot of discussions with my students recently about "defining manhood," patriotism, empathy, the complexity of reasoning, this feels like a reminder that these conversations have been going on for much longer and there are always look-back references like this that give me some new perspective for introspection.
May 20, 2012
This was an okay book for me. A young man joins the army and goes off to war. He feels confident until the first battle when he turns tail and runs for it. He eventually gets back with his regiment and gets back into battle.
It was a strange read since names aren't used very much at all. It was an unusual style. I was glad I read it, but wouldn't have been disappointed if I hadn't.
It was a strange read since names aren't used very much at all. It was an unusual style. I was glad I read it, but wouldn't have been disappointed if I hadn't.
February 16, 2020
This is not the edition I read but is the closest to it I could find. I read the Dover unabridged edition at 100 pages.
This is really a short story that describes a young man's first days of battle, in pretty descriptive language. It describes his fears, anger, shame, guilt, errors, and passion, but most of all how unprepared he was for what was before him.
This is really a short story that describes a young man's first days of battle, in pretty descriptive language. It describes his fears, anger, shame, guilt, errors, and passion, but most of all how unprepared he was for what was before him.
June 4, 2013
Pretty good. Nothing earth shattering for me. One thing though, if Stephen Crane had never seen battle before, where was he getting his "inspiration?" Was he taking it from newspapers, or is the idea of him never having seen a battle a myth? I personally think it is a myth, but who knows.
January 10, 2014
The making of a man.
An engrossing account of a youngster growing to manhood in the throes of battle. The struggle between cowardice and sense of duty is exposed brilliantly by Crane. Recommended for anyone striving to discover their true, inner self.
An engrossing account of a youngster growing to manhood in the throes of battle. The struggle between cowardice and sense of duty is exposed brilliantly by Crane. Recommended for anyone striving to discover their true, inner self.
October 14, 2015
I read this in high school--required. It was certainly different when I decided to re-read it! Similar to "All Quiet On The Western Front," the classic WW I novel, it explores the same issues set during the Civil War Interesting, informative, moving and memorable.
December 3, 2017
Big story, short book
Stephen Crane's classic is superb. Well-written, the words put you right there -- both into the action .... and in the soldier's head. It explores themes that are rarely discussed these days: courage, loyalty, compassion, perception, honesty ...
Stephen Crane's classic is superb. Well-written, the words put you right there -- both into the action .... and in the soldier's head. It explores themes that are rarely discussed these days: courage, loyalty, compassion, perception, honesty ...
July 25, 2018
The Youth's fear and sense of shame are the most significant obstacles to the Youth's gaining a secure sense of selfhood as a man. The battlefront itself becomes Henry's teacher. Every time the Youth goes out to fight, he finds out something more about himself.
April 9, 2021
An old-fashioned novel
There is a lot of action in this Civil War story. Much of the story is presented as the protagonists internal dialog. I was glad to be reading on my Kindle since there were several words that I didn't know.
There is a lot of action in this Civil War story. Much of the story is presented as the protagonists internal dialog. I was glad to be reading on my Kindle since there were several words that I didn't know.
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