Over time peoples feelings about themselves and others change. They may feel strong and
indestructible one minute than something could change the way they feel. A certain event could
change ones self confidence. People become different when they are exposed to a certain
situation. They can also take a 180 degree turnaround and become a totally new person. In
Stephen Cranes The Red Badge of Courage the main character changes from a coward in the
beginning to a stronger courageous character at the end of the novel.
Henry Fleming is a young naive boy. He is not sure what to expect when he goes to war.
He has a conversation with the other soldiers in his regiment. They think that some of the soldiers
will run during a battle. Henry has a strange feeling that he may be the one to run when the time
comes. He decides to bring up the topic during a conversation with another soldier by saying
"Think any of the boys will run?". Another soldier responds "Oh there may be a few of'em, but
there's them kind in every regiment, specially when they first goes under fire"(17). Henry is
afraid now after hearing what the soldier had to say. Henry is confused about war. One critic
notes about Henry's feelings: "Henry felt proud and daring when he left home to go to war, but
now he wonders how he will do when confronted with the reality of battle" (Napierkowski 255).
Henrys feelings about war are false. He has never been exposed to war before but now he will
and is not really sure what to expect.
When Henry first goes to battle he is relieved when the rebels retreat. But when they turn
back and start firing Henry loses his cool. He panics. "He yelled with fright and swung about...he
was like a proverbial chicken. He lost the direction of safety"(52). Henry has lost all sense of
direction and is very scared. He has no idea of where to ru...