In the novel, The Red Badge of Courage, Stephan Crane develops the theme “that maturity is reached by experience” through the character of Henry Fleming. Throughout the novel, we are witnesses to Henry’s growth from a naïve, foolish, and fantasizing young boy to a man. In the first couple of chapters, Crane sets the stage, the mood, and introduces the main characters, where he intentionally begins to unravel the theme that maturity is reached by experiences. At the beginning of the novel, Henry whole heartily believed that he was “made to shine in war.” Henry a naïve young boy, “burned” to enlist with “excitement and expectancy” that he would make a difference, be a hero and carry “the badge of courage” and honor. Nonetheless, once on the …show more content…
One of those events, which I feel contributed to his growth, was the experience of his first battle and fleeing from it. That particular experience allowed Henry with the opportunity to reflect and reconsider his initial thought about war. He came to the realization that indeed he was “a weak mortal” and although “in the mist of confusion” and fearing for his life, he had fled “his heart grew more stronger and stout.” Another event that clearly shaped the character of Henry was the second battle. In the second battle, Henry has the opportunity to arm himself with valor, and takes charge of his fears by picking up the flag from the fallen soldier. That battle enabled Henry to think of himself not and an individual but as member of a body. He no longer fought in the battlefield, represented his own personal ambitions and the desire to glorify himself in the battlefield, instead he represented his comrades. “He became not a man but a member. He was welded into a common personality which was dominated by a single desire.” Thus, empowered by a common cause for battle, Henry had slept and “awakening, found himself a “knight” capable of defeating his