Discussion of the inner struggle Henry Fleming faces - the difficulty faced during the progression into manhood.

The Red Badge of Courage
By
Stephen Crane
Bravery, valor, boldness, intrepidity are all synonyms of the word courage. For a man, courage is more apprehensive timidity than glorious expectance. Something as simple schoolyard brawl can define courage as lucidly as a war of attrition. Henry Fleming is racing towards the clarification of his own inner spirit in the throws of the American Civil War. Fighting against the "rebels," Henry has tremendous ambiguity over his moral fiber. From a war that gave us the term "bite the bullet," referring to the use of a bullet in the mouth of a wou…