Red Badge Of Courage 4
The Red Badge of Courage depicts the evolution of the childish, Henry Fleming, into a grown hero. Like Simba in The Lion King, Henry must conquer a psychological obstacle. Simba had to retrieve his kingdom from his corrupt uncle who convinced him that Simba was responsible for his father's death and forced Simba to abandon the Pride Lands. Simba ran from the shame and repentance of his self-made situation. Similarly, Henry's fate was self-made. Henry, too, had to confront cowardliness: would he run? Henry Fleming began his journey into adulthood, as a youthful coward, who, through many trials, matured into a hero.
Henry's youthful cowardliness began when "he burned … to ...
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than anything, Henry relied on his imagination to define war and its glorious battles, as Greek epics did. He often compared the enemy to beasts and dragons; he felt if he could conquer those savages of the South, he too could be a hero.
The hero within Henry began as a desperate attempt for the approval of his comrades. Throughout the novel, Henry illustrates this desire, determining to save himself from mockery. "Henry does not want his fellows to regard him scornfully"(Gibson 46). Trying to obtain some sense of relief, he asked the others if they would run. Eventually, Henry ran "like a proverbial chicken"(Babusci 599). Over time, Henry tormented himself with the fear of rejection, so he exaggerated the blow to his head by a rifle to a gunshot wound as a disguise to fleeing. Therefore, Henry sensed the immense burden of resentment rise from his shoulders because he had fooled the entire regiment. However, Henry soon felt his conscience surfacing and his guilt burdening ...
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his imagination. Universally, Henry intimidated himself with "a little panic-fear"(Babusci 581); he began to ponder the possibilities of running. Running caused Henry to become even more fearful; he was more afraid of death coming from behind him than from in front (Babusci 599). Henry's imagination confined him to remain in the regiment's rear as part of the "blue demonstration." Henry alluded the enemy as advancing "dragons" and slow crawling "serpents," another aspect of his victimizing imagination. Although Henry must overpower his imagination that is, perhaps, his greatest obstacle, Henry captures the treacherous effects of war. Before he enlisted, Henry had no suspicions that ...
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"Red Badge Of Courage 4." Essayworld.com. November 5, 2008. Accessed December 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Red-Badge-Of-Courage-4/92595.
"Red Badge Of Courage 4." Essayworld.com. November 5, 2008. Accessed December 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Red-Badge-Of-Courage-4/92595.
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