Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane

The Red Badge of Courage

Stephen Crane  

Published 1895

American Novel

The Well-Educated Mind Novels

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Set during the Civil War, The Red Badge of Courage is not a history about the Civil War.  It is not about who stared the war or who won.  It is not necessarily about war either, but about man’s personal struggle with conscience, courage, fear, pride, shame, honor, glory, maturity, existence, and death.   It is a story about “coming-of-age.”

The main character, Henry Fleming, is a young soldier with an idealistic view of man and heroes.  Men are born to do “mighty deeds of arms” and live for great battles and be worshiped as godlike heroes.  Henry romanticizes about glory in war.  But when his regiment is faced with its first battle, he reexamines his ideals.

Henry experiences variations of emotions from questioning his own courage to doubting the commanding officers.  He wonders if he will run when the battle begins, and he suspects that those in charge are leading them straight into danger.

After the first battle, Henry’s regiment has the upper hand, and they feel valiant and prideful until the enemy unexpectedly returns; then Henry retreats and runs away.  To justify his actions and to soothe his self-reproach, he states that it is natural to escape danger, and others should have been as wise.  When he is alone within the bounds of the forest, he sees a corpse and questions whether his wisdom is capable of protecting him from death at all.

Once Henry returns to his regiment, after fighting has ceased, he blends in with injured soldiers and escapes questions about his missing “battle wound.”  His secret is a burden on his heart.  When he witnesses a friend and another soldier succumb to their injuries, he experiences shame for not having earned “his red badge of courage.”  He is deeply conflicted between acting bravely and feeling a natural desire to survive.  

Shortly after another skirmish breaks out, Henry witnesses his comrades retreating, and he grabs a soldier to ask questions.  The frantic soldier slams his rifle upon Henry’s head, bloodying him.  This injury serves as a cover up for his guilt, and he will not have to reveal his “crime,” but he is privately ashamed since he did not earn his injury for courage.  After a friend treats his head wound and he rests for a night, he goes through a period of pride and vanity because he has thus survived, and he is fraudulently arrogant toward other soldiers who have run from this latest clash.  

Henry develops a deep vengeance toward the enemy, and in the next battle, he is blinded with such wrath that his lieutenant is enthusiastically enthralled.  Again, Henry is swollen with juvenile pride and arrogance.  

Yet, there is a change in Henry now. 

“It was revealed to him that he had been a barbarian, a beast.  He had fought like a pagan who defends his religion…He had been a tremendous figure, no doubt.  But this struggle he had overcome obstacles which he had admitted to be mountains.  They had fallen like paper peaks, and he was now what he called a hero.  And he had not been aware of the process.  He had slept and, awakening, found himself a knight.”

Soon after, Henry and his comrade, Wilson, overhear two officers talking: one, they will charge the enemy; and, two, they insult and mock Henry’s regiment, expecting that most will be lost in the next conflict.  Henry and Wilson prepare the soldiers, but they do not share the other information.  Henry acquires a sense of clarity and determination.  

In battle, he and Wilson are fierce and valorous.  They recover the flag from a fallen color bearer, and Henry guards it protectively as it has become a symbol: “…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 voice of his hopes.  Because no harm could come to it he endowed it with power.”  

They urge their comrades on, and the enemy retreats; Henry and Wilson learn that the colonel is greatly impressed by their actions, which provides them much confidence going into the next battle.  

And after the final battle before the end of the story, Henry and Wilson perform heroically once more and help push the enemy back in another retreat.  It is over.  Contemplating his past errors and admitting that he was wrong, Henry demonstrates maturity and accepts his mistakes as part of the entire process of becoming a man.  

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Little Women

Louisa May Alcott

Published 1868-69

American Novel

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I have been working on this post for a while, and I wonder if it will ever be complete.  This book was a long-anticipated read, and I thoroughly celebrated this beautiful story.  It was an absolute breath of fresh air.  Alcott makes me long for simpler times.  (Well, maybe it wasn't simpler, but it felt that way.)

The plot covered all ranges of emotions: I laughed, cried, shouted in agreement, and joyfully underlined countless memorable, wise quotes.  All of the characters were believable and each portrayed most unique personalities that human beings can possess.  (I easily identified with Jo. Oh, yeah! That's me!)

I loved Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress theme woven throughout the story.  I also enjoyed the Pickwick Club newspaper and post office. (Mental note: What an excellent idea for a future home school year!)

Most of all, I was surprised by the presence of traditional roles of wives and mothers in such an exemplary light because I have not read much literature that esteems accustomed roles of women like Little Women does (or like The Little House series).  I had to ask a friend of mine if Alcott was mocking such traditions.  I will need to do some research to understand better what her intentions were.

There is a chapter where Mrs. March instructs her newly married daughter Meg how to fix her marital situation because Meg had neglected her husband and domestic duties.  My modernized worldview caused me to laugh and react: "Whoa! Feminist alert!

...that a woman's happiest kingdom is home, her highest honor - the art of ruling - is not as a queen, but a wise wife and mother.

But let us say Alcott was not mocking wives and mothers, then I believe that the author was effective in honoring the work of women in a gracious light, which is really pleasant because most literature I have read focuses on the helplessness of women, especially in these very roles.  And that is unfortunate because I do believe a woman's work as wife and mother is the most important matter in her life, in my radical opinion.  (This is coming from someone who hardly esteemed marriage or motherhood in her earlier years and still struggles in these roles today.  I don't even care for domestic work.  Blah!)

Anyway, after reading Little Women, I regretfully admit that I am dreadfully deficient as a wife and mother, especially in light of Mrs. March.  What a gracious, patient, self-composed woman!  What a teacher she is for her girls!  She is correct in her estimation of a woman's highest honor.  It is not lowly work.

Personally, these are the most challenging jobs I have ever had.  Sometimes I think a labor job or demanding career would have been better suited for me than to manage a home, raise up children, and be my husband's helpmate. My independent rebelliousness and introverted personality often get in the way, too.  If only I can be more like Mrs. March...or Caroline Ingalls (Laura Ingalls' mother). Women, such as these, put me to shame.  I could gain from their examples.

I think I need to reread Little Women in the future, and maybe do a lesson on being a wise wife and mother.  Of course, the Bible is always the best manual on how to do anything, so it is no wonder that Mrs. March is a perfect, genuine, and fulfilling example of a Christian wife and mother.