Red Badge Of Courage :: Essays Papers

Red Badge Of CourageThroughout the story many settings appear, the near important one is the battlefield. The time is 1862, which is the period of the Civil War. The story begins at dawn on a cold morning when the army rests by campfires on some hills. As a tall soldier, who later becomes known as Jim Conklin, washes his shirt at the river, he hears a rumor. He rushes to tell his comrades that the regiment leave behind move the following day. When the loud soldier, Wilson, hears this rumor, he argues with Jim that it is a lie. While this argument is taking place, the youthful soldier and main oddball in the story, Henry Fleming, is auditory sense attentively. He then thinks what his reaction to fighting in battle will be. A flashback to when he first enlisted against his mothers wishes occurs. He remembers fantasies of glorious and cover wars of times past. Henry thinks that war is a courageous adventure. This transports us to a different setting at his farmhouse. During this time, the people live a simple disembodied spirit mostly based on agriculture. The youth also recalls his mothers lecture before departing. She could . . . give him many hundreds of reasons why he was vastly to a greater extent important on the farm than on the field of battle (p. 4). His mother warns him about taking care of himself and staying away from bad companions.His mothers character symbolizes many different concepts. Because of the era in which the story takes place, one can imagine that this woman is uneducated. Her farming lifestyle implies that she is a hard-worker, especially since no father surrogate is present in the household. This image also sets an earthy, or realistic, tone contrasting with Henrys fantasizing. Her simple actions, such as knitting him socks, and farewell speech communication show her motherly love, which represents motherhood.In this mental setting, one learns of Henrys emotions about his mother and his views about war. He struggles with the id ea of what his reaction will be to a real battle. The notion that he might run penetrates his thoughts. Running would prove that he is not courageous or heroic and that his fantasies of triumph in war are just fantasies. The more he imagines himself fighting, the more he . . . failed in an effort to see himself standing stoutly in the midst of them, them universe the threats of the future attacks (p.