Illustration of Henry Fleming in a soldier's uniform in front of a confederate flag and an American flag

The Red Badge of Courage

by Stephen Crane

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Discussion Topic

The significance of the title "The Red Badge of Courage."

Summary:

The title "The Red Badge of Courage" signifies the wounds that soldiers receive in battle, symbolizing bravery and heroism. For the protagonist, Henry Fleming, it represents his longing for a tangible proof of courage to overcome his fear and insecurity.

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What is the significance of chapter 5 in The Red Badge of Courage?

I think it is a very important chapter.  In fact, I feel it is a pivotal moment in the narration about Henry, his attitude, and ability to fight.  In the chapters previous to chapter 5, the reader has been with Henry during his flight from a previous battle.  The reader is also walked through Henry's odd logic about how he is the smart and brave one for running away, while all of his squad mates are ignorant.  Those previous chapters show Henry as a character that is entirely focused on himself.

Chapter 5, however, shows a complete turn around in attitude for Henry.  A new battle begins, and unlike the first time, Henry stands and fights.  He finally sees that he exists as a part of the army machine.  He sees himself as something greater than an individual.  He is now an important part of a well oiled machine.  He...

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fires and reloads like a madman, and is proud of his selfless efforts in the battle. 

He suddenly lost concern for himself, and forgot to look at a menacing fate. He became not a man but a member. He felt that something of which he was a part—a regiment, an army, a cause, or a country—was in a crisis. He was welded into a common personality which was dominated by a single desire.

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What does the title "The Red Badge of Courage" signify?

In traditional literary works, courage was defined as a soldier who rushed head long into battle, showing no fear.  War was idealized and the men who fought in it were hereos - consider Odysseus as a prominent example.  However, soldiers understand that war is not so clear-cut as this, and neither is courage.  Sometimes courage does mean having the courage to run away, to hide, to protect yourself when all else seems to be failing.  Courage is also about living up to your duties and responsibilities.  Because each individual has his own duties, no one can call another "courageous".  It must be a personal "badge".

His self-pride was now entirely restored. In the shade of its flourishing growth he stood with braced and self-confident legs, and since nothing could now be discovered he did not shrink from an encounter with the eyes of judges, and allowed no thoughts of his own to keep him from an attitude of manfulness.

This badge of courage is "red" because red is the color of passion and of blood.  The red represents the struggle of war and the struggle to do what is brave.

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In The Red Badge of Courage, what does the title symbolize?

The "red badge of courage" to which author Stephen Crane refers in the title of his classic Civil War novel is simply a battle wound that a soldier receives during combat. It is something that young Henry both fears and desires. Henry worries most about whether he will "skedaddle"--run away--when the action gets too hot, and sure enough, he does just that after his regiment absorbs a second Confederate attack. But when Henry encounters a group of wounded men heading to the rear, he prefers to be in their place.

     At times he regarded the wounded soldiers in an envious way. He conceived persons with torn bodies to be peculiarly happy. He wished that he, too, had a wound, a red badge of courage.  (Chapter IX)

Henry eventually gets his wish. He, too, receives "a little red badge," but it comes in a most ironic manner: He is assaulted by a fellow Union soldier after the massive Confederate attack has driven the Union troops in disorder. When Henry tries to gain information from the soldier, he is clubbed with the man's weapon.

The red badge—a soldier's wound—is the most obvious symbol in the book and the source of its greatest irony. While it is meant to be a sign of honor and courage, gamed from true action in war, Henry's red badge was given to him by accident by one of his own army and clearly not from brave battle. Henry lies about this and creates a pretense to his men that is accepted.

Henry's "red badge" allows him to cover up his cowardly "skedaddle," and it creates a change, both in him internally and in the perception that his comrades have of him. 

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What is the significance of the title in The Red Badge of Courage?

Stephen Crane's novel, The Red Badge of Courage, tells the story of a young Union Civil War soldier confronting the courage needed to take part in his first battle action. The title is Crane's way of describing a battle wound; the red badge, or bloody wound, is a symbol of bravery in the face of the enemy. It is considered an honor by many of the soldiers to be wounded under fire. The color red symbolizes blood (or in some cases, anger). The word badge is used to describe a wound one receives, often in the upper body where a real badge might be worn. Henry's own red badge is ironic because he does not receive it under fire; he is attacked by one of his own fellow Union soldiers while on the run after "skedaddling" under heavy fire. When Henry returns to his unit, he tells them that he must have been grazed by a bullet, and his story is believed. In the end, Henry redeems himself by heroic action as his regiment holds off a desperate Confederate attack.

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