The Red Badge of Courage

What has Henry learned through his experiences in war?

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Henry's musings, thoughts, and responses to war change as the book progresses. He finds courage in his more grounded phelosophy about the nature of victory and valor. At times Henry is arrogant, prideful, cowardly, courageous, and obsessive. By the end of the book Henry sees the bigger picture of war. Crane may be trying to suggest with his conflicted protagonist that courage in warfare needs to be redefined - it is not the classic ideal of the heroes of story and song, but of doing the best one can to survive and make headway amidst the turmoil and terror of battle. This complicated view of the fine line between courage and cowardice is a far more realistic depiction of what real soldiers face. The "red badge of courage" can kill.