Henry Flemming is the main character of The Red Badge of Courage. He is a young man with big dreams. He wants to join the Union Army in an attempt to become a hero. He sees war in a romantic light and as a chance to become the man that he wants to be. He is worried that when it comes down to it, he will run away instead of staying and fighting. Henry's mother is a hard-working, uneducated farm woman who is reluctant to see her son leave home and go south to do battle against the Confederate Army. She knows that war is not an exciting adventure filled with glory, heroism, and celebration. His two friends Jim Conklin and Tom Wilson, are fellow soldiers with whom he discusses his fears. Tom was very optimistic and encouraged the younger soldiers, however he realizes that he m

Henry starts his journey at his company's campsite. He has spent a few bored months their drilling, training and talking with the other soldiers. This is where Henry contemplates his fears. He wishes for the battles to start soon so that he can prove himself. He finally gets his wish. The opposing armies meet in several skirmishes, and Henry gets a taste of war. Feeling that he is faced with imminent death during the battle, Henry, along with others in his company, throws down his rifle and flees during the second skirmish of the first day's battle. He realizes that he is just what he feared, a coward. He becomes extremely ashamed of himself and run to the back of the battle. While wandering in the rear of the fighting, he witnesses the death of his friend Jim. Scared at what he has witnessed, he deserts Jimmie Rogers another friend who was dying in the bloody grass. He decides that he would rather run again than watch another comrade die an agonizing death. Henry's desire for the fighting to stop is unexpectedly granted when he is struck on the head by a rifle of a panic stricken soldier who was also running from the battle. A soldier from the Union finds Henry, and helps him return to his regiment. There his friend Wilson, who he lies to and says that he was wounded while fighting in the battle, gives him aid and heals him. The next day he

Some common words found in the essay are:
Tom Wilson, Civil War, Union Henry, Jimmie Rogers, Union Army, Badge Courage, , Confederate Army, Henry Flemming, Jim Scared, badge courage, civil war, red badge, red badge courage, war book, fellow soldiers, main character,
Approximate Word count = 917
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)