Henry's Changes Throughout The Red Badge of Courage
A character's change of opinions is one way people can connect with a character. Without a sense of connectedness to one of the story's main characters it would be hard to stay interested throughout a story. One of the ways Stephen Crane's The Red Badge of Courage uses a character's change of opinions was through Henry. Henry goes through a few changes through the novel, and among these are his understanding of courage and manhood. Courage is what Henry strived for throughout the book. Henry's thoughts of courage near the beginning of the book were those of ancient Greek legends. "Still, she had disappointed him by saying nothing whatever ab
out returning with his shield or on it. " (151) Henry's opinions changed and these two quotes show it by contradicting each other. " (14) Later in the novel, Henry finally understands that courage and honor should be given to the men who believe in themselves. His thoughts on many aspects of life must have changed through the war, but his lessons on courage and manhood made him a better man in the end. " (12) After Wilson gave Henry a letter to his family in the case that he did not survive, Henry had to overcome his foolish confidence. The other great lesson he learned was you can only have so much self-assurance in something before it turns into foolish confidence. Henry's new understandings of what courage and manhood are changed him greatly. The new brighter light Henry saw himself in was that of an adult. In the end Henry finally reached the courage he strived for throughout the book. "It was difficult to think of reputation when others were thinking of skins. He had long despaired of witnessing a Greeklike struggle. " (118) By looking at Wilson's own growing up Henry could see himself in a new light. Growing up is also one of Henry's great changes. He had privately primed himself for a beautiful scene.
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