I wasn't excited about reading The Red Badge of Courage, but only because I just assumed it was a book about war and I didn't think that it would hold my attention. I love to read, but I love to read things that I find interesting. Needless to say, I was quite surprised when I realized that even though it was a story about war, it wasn't really "about" war. I know....makes not sense so I'm gonna try to explain. First of all, there isn't any emphasis placed on what war it is or what battle Henry is engaged in. We basically are given a approximate time frame so we draw our own conclusions. This doesn't seem to be the a major point of focus, instead we are thrust inside Henry's mind. It is an impressionistic approach which emphasizes the drama of thought more so than action.
Crane uses visual imagery, especially colors, and symbols to draw us into Henry's world. Henry is the only character that we get to know from the inside and his perceptions are colored by emotions. There are times that his descriptions are distorted, but portray an elaborate picture of his personal reality and the psychological effects of war. Crane also uses irony regarding Henry's views about courage and his perceptions of himself. I think so many people of that era tended to romanicize war as a stage for glorious acts of heroism. When Henry was retreating and became convinced that they were being led into slaughter, it made me think of "The Charge of the Light Brigade" by Lord Alfred Tennyson (not an American, I know). It just happens to be the first thing that came to mind when I was reading Red Badge and I couldn't quite shake the thoughts.....
......"Forward, the Light Brigade!"
Was there a man dismay'd?
Not tho' the soldier knew
Someone had blunder'd:
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred........
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