The Red Badge of Courage

what perception of time and place does the youth experience following the battle and return to camp? what does this tell you of war

chapter 21

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Upon returning, the new men of the regiment realize that other's perceptions of their actions are quite different from their own. The veterans mock them. The generals do not see their actions as successful at all. In fact, they are so minor that their charge was not even a successful diversion, let alone a successful charge. THis tells us that war can be a very surreal environment. Although they are a regiment, they are also very much alone on the battlefield. Perceptions are skewed depending on what is happening to an individual in the chaos of dust, smoke and carnage. Sometimes, for example, things seem in slow motion and other times they seem sped up.