Red Badg Of Courage Essay Essay, Research Paper

Henry Fleming was just a child when he entered the army. Even though his journey into manhood took a while, he finally got where he was headed . This journey included many people and things, that help Henry along the way.

At first Henry’s mother gave him some advice. She told him that there are many men in the army who are bad and that he should stay away from them. She also told him that he should remember his father. “He never drunk a drop of “licker” in his life, and seldom swore a cross oath.” This was said in the beginning of the book. It may have not sunk in at first, but he would remember bits and pieces of what she said to help him along the way.

Wilson, the loud soldier, helped Henry also. One way that he helped him was by showing him that he was trusted. When Wilson gave Henry the yellow envelope, it showed Henry that he was trusted enough and was thought highly enough of for Wilson to trust Henry with something he valued. Together, they mourn a little for their lost comrade, Jim Conklin. Jim, too, helped Henry along on his journey into manhood. When Jim suffered in his long, agonizing death, it brought a lot of courage into the Young soldier’s eyes. Did Henry really want to fight in a battle? Was Henry really brave enough to fight in a battle?

The most important influence on Henry’s journey into manhood was himself. All of the things that were said to him though out the book would not have sunk into Henry’s brain if he wasn’t trying to think. The way he argued with himself, during the course of the book, was the main way that he grew into a man. He began to question everything he had believed in. In a way, Henry did most of the work to help himself along his journey into manhood.