Adolescence in Red Badge of Co

Adolescence As one grows older and has new experiences, change and wisdom are often garnished. In the novel Red Badge of Courage, by Stephen Crane, Henry is a young man who lives with his mother during the time of the civil war. Henry enters the war enthusiastic and confident that his typical romantic view of battle will hold true. This view is soon shattered as Henry gets his first glimpses of battle, and he sees …

…to the only realization possible in his situation, kill or be killed. Henry proved to himself that he could stand proud and fight, therefore releasing him of his prior guilt and shame caused by his hastened fleeing of his second battle, and lying about being hit over the head. In this novel crane illustrated that all who participate in was are affected mentally because of the situations they are in and the risks they take.