Analysis of Henry Fleming’s Character in The Red Badge of Courage

In 1895, author Stephen Crane wrote a novel centered around the American Civil War, titled The Red Badge of Courage. The story’s protagonist is Henry Fleming, or “young soldier”, who fights on the Union side of the army. He seems to only want to fight for the honor of being a war hero, rather than wanting to fight to defend his beliefs. In the first battle, Henry is curious as to what is going on and remains brave from start to finish in his fight against the Confederate army. However, shortly after the first battle, the Confederate army attacks again, causing Henry to flee.

In the opening chapters, the soldiers see no action in battle, they just continue marching. By chapter three, the first battle begins. The tall soldier wakes Henry one morning and they set off to march into battle. Along the way, Henry has second thoughts and considers maybe fleeing. Henry would have fled in this battle if at all possible. During this battle, his first battle, Henry realizes that “he had never wished to come to the war” (Crane 32). However, Henry is unable to flee when he “[sees] that it would be impossible for him to escape from the regiment. It enclosed him” (32). Henry clearly wants to flee in this scene, however he just couldn’t make it out.

In the first battle, Henry fights through it, despite his internal struggle to flee. This first battle teaches Henry of the horrors of war and reveals truths about his will to fight. By the second battle, Henry does not waste time to flee. He watches the enemy army approach, causing him to panic. He starts to “exaggerate the endurance, the skill, and the valor of those who were coming” (54). As his panic worsens, he is flooded with thoughts of fleeing. When the feeling of fear finally overcomes his feelings of pride, Henry “[runs] like a blind man” (55). Henry waits in hiding until his general proclaims that the battle has died down. They hide until the worst of the battle seems to be over.

Henry seems conflicted by fighting in the first battle, but then fleeing in the second. The struggle he faces is no longer an internal conflict of his will to fight. The struggle he faces is the opportunity to flee. Henry only stayed and fought in the first battle because it appeared to him that he had no other choice. It’s in the first battle where Henry realizes he didn’t want to fight in a war. The enemy attacks again and with some slight consideration, Henry flees almost immediately. Henry knows war is not something he wants to be involved in, but he seems too proud to cower away. By the second battle, because the general has fled as well, Henry finds less shame in fleeing and so he commits to it. Because he sees others doing it, Henry doesn’t feel as bad about it. He is able to flee and he doesn’t think he’s incredibly weak for doing so because other members of his regimen fled as well.

This struggle seems to be one Henry will encounter throughout the rest of the novel. He seems to always want to flee, but only does it when the situation allows him to. The young soldier isn’t as brave as he thought he was and the opening chapters of the novel reveal that to the reader.