Blog Ten

The Red Badge of Courage is about a battle during the civil war. Henry Fleming, the main character, won an unlikely victory. After defeating his enemy, he reflects over everything that has happened and decides that he was a man of courage. He is then able to feel at peace and is no longer bothered by the opposing side (Crane). Before he felt accomplished he did feel some disappointment of himself for being such a horrible person and leaving a man behind. He wanted to prove a point and did not really have a good reason for fighting.

Telling his story from the point of view of an ordinary soldier, his text was believable to the members of his town. Henry Fleming dreamed of gore and the battles of war his whole life (Personen). Fighting in war himself, he relates to Emerson and Thoreau.

In a literary criticism, " As to other points, against the opinion of the gallant veteran who criticizes the book might be put the opinions of other veterans who have found only words of praise" (D. Appleton & Company). This literary criticism discussed how this story was told and if it was true. People in the town wanted to know where this story was coming from. Some did not believe that he could write this without any experience so they wanted to know where his sources came from (D. Appleton & Company).

Emerson and Thoreau both had their own experiences with war themselves. Emerson fought in war and wanted to end with slavery. Thoreau also did not like the idea of slavery. Thoreau and Emerson were both for the war for their own reasons. Stephen Crane also sided with the Civil War. He fought in it himself. He did not like that the opposing side mocked him. I think that one of the main reasons for fighting in the war was petty, such as because he was being mocked. Emerson and Thoreau seemed to have a big reason to fight that would benefit the whole country. Stephen Crane seemed to want to fight just because he wanted to prove a point.

Crane, Stephen. "Untitled Document." The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane. Web. 21 Feb. 2012. .

Personen, Ari. "Stephen Crane." Www.kirjasto.sci.fi. Web. 21 Feb. 2012. .

D. Appleton & Company. "The Red Badge of Courage: A Correction." Dial (May 1, 1896): 263. Quoted as "The Red Badge of Courage:A Correction" in Bloom, Harold, ed. Stephen Crane, Bloom's Classic Critical Views. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 2009. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= CCVSC055&SingleRecord=True (accessed February 21, 2012).