Stephen Crane's The Red Badge of Courage as a Work of Late Nineteenth-Century American Naturalism - Essay Example

Realism Realism Realism refers to faithful representation of reality, a technique employed in many schools of writing (Cart, . Realism denotes a given subject matter especially that focuses on the middle class life. Factors such as interest in the scientific method, reaction against romanticism, and influence of rational philosophy affect realism (Cart, 2010). Critics argue that there is no distinction between naturalism and realism (Pizer, 1995). The critics suggest that the slight difference between realism and naturalism is evident in the focus of classes. Lee (2009) argues that critics of realism point out that naturalism consider the lower class of life. In literature, realism covers the period from the civil war the start of 20th century. In this period, many writers wrote fictions that painted an accurate picture of the lives of American people in disparate contexts (Pizer, 1995). This paper analyses realism in the novel, The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane. The novel by Crane is an illustrious novel that presents real life in America in the 19th century. The novel revolves around Henry Fleming, the protagonist in the story (Crane, 2009). Crane examines the Henry’s attitude and mannerisms before he enters into a war. The author gives a vivid description of Civil War in America by use of a young soldier, Henry Fleming. Bendixen (2012) points out that Crane reflects a classic hero of realism in Henry, who is an ordinary man placed in extraordinary situations. Henry, the main character in the story, enlists in a battle, but psychological fear forces him to flee from the battle (Crane, 2009). The flight from the battle puts Henry in a mental dilemma. The author mirrors real psychological experiences of soldiers through Henry, the protagonist in the novel (Allermann, 2007). Crane presents realistic sequences of a battle by using imagery and ironic tones. Henry Fleming’s emotions depict a situation in a war. D’Ammassa (2009) asserts that the protagonist exhibits wild notions about a battle. Crane describes the Fleming’s atmosphere of the war as sweaty and full of sensation (Crane 2009). The description paints a real picture of fear during wartime. Crane chooses Henry Fleming who is inarticulate and unsophisticated farm boy. The title, The Red Badge of Courage, opens with lines that depict complicating ironies. Although Henry Fleming delights in engaging in war while dreaming, the character dreads joining a battle. However, the protagonist changes his mind to enlist in the army all over a sudden when he decides to join the military (Crane, 2009). It is ironical for the tall soldier, Jim Conklin, to develop virtues to wash his shirts. Conklin hears an incorrect rumor, which compels him to share with his fellow soldiers. However, in the camp, one of the listeners identifies accuracy in the Conklin (Johnson, 2002). Stephen Crane paints an external reality that confronts the simple-minded conception of heroism, brought by inexperienced Henry Fleming (Bloom, 2002). The simple conception of heroism is evident when Bill Smithers, a member of Henry’s regiments staggers and goes down as he leans one of his friends. Crane later reveals that the accident crushes Smithers’s three fingers, which the doctor plans to amputate them. The fellow soldiers in the regiments laugh at the Smithers because he is the first to get an injury. Crane portrays cheerful soldiers when they meet their first opponent, a resolute young girl. The girl fights for the right of ownership of her horse. The soldiers support the attempt of the young girl to possess her horse (Crane, 2009). Lentz (2006) suggests that Crane uses Conklin as a reference for readers to evaluate Henry’s search for bold manhood. Henry moves to the army tent and stretches leaning to Conklin (Crane, 2009). Crane intends to depict Conklin as a moral figure and somebody immune to doubts that overwhelm Henry. Crane paints limitations of courage in Fleming. Blight (2001) asserts that the first incident in the novel mocks moral notions and contextual badge. The soldiers encounter with a farm girl is ludicrous. Crane employs imagery in these incidences, which prefigures the future development of Fleming that should be preceded by maturing of his inexperienced impracticality. Henry Fleming acts as a central point within which most of the novel resonates. The untried young Henry represents a certain class of people that embraces irrational courage (Kohlmeier, 2009). Fleming fearfully dissolves his humanity and stands firm with his fellow soldiers against the first encounter with the enemy. However, the next battle exposes the lack of skills in Henry Fleming. The protagonist deserts the battle when cowardice overcomes him. Crane portrays the behavior of some soldiers in battlefield who surrender their humanity to the way of cowardice rather than simplistic courage (Lathbury, 2009). Henry’s desertion from the battle proofs inadequacies inherent in conventional conceptions of courage. Crane mocks the conventional notions of courage, which the Henry depicts when he enlists in the army (Owens, 2001). Stephen Crane reveals that Henry acquires a special wound after running away from his regiment. The wound denotes a complete complexity of the trouble of human courage (Shmoop, 2010). Layman & Bruccoli (2002) indicate that by using the special wound, Crane exposes double perils of moral death and actual death that wait upon the delivery of Fleming in the war. In addition, Stephen suggests that the special wounds such as Henry’s can lead to death although they are invisible. Henry contends that engaging in a battle is prudent, but he doubts his capability to be bold. Fleming discovers that continuing with the war will rob him his survival instinct. Tracey (2002) points out that the fear in Fleming is a portrayal of one of the things that guides survival instincts. Some of the factors that trump the instinct of survival include love, morality, and religious beliefs. Crane alludes that individuals are products of multiple factors including loss of selfishness. Crane reminds human race that compromise of individuals’ characters is extremely crucial for progress of any endeavor (Welock, 2009). The novel The Red Badge of Courage portrays the character of people who seek glory through all means although they have inadequate preparation. Fleming enlists in the army against the wishes of his mother. Although he is not a veteran of war, Henry agrees to join the battle in an ill-prepared state. It is evident that Henry does not have skills and prowess to face enemies in a battle. Inexperience of Henry in fighting forces him to flee from the heart of the battle. The attempt of the protagonist to desert the war represents a real situation where people look of alternative methods of survival. Thrailkill (2007) asserts that Crane examines the psychology of soldiers. The soldiers are not aware what will happen in the battle. This is an aspect well portrayed by the inexperience of the Henry Fleming. Henry is very nervous to join the war because he does not have a slight idea and skills of fighting. This real psychological dilemma faces the army engaging in a battle. It is unlike the romantic wars in which soldiers enter into a battle when they have adequate preparations (Sorrentino, 2006). Henry realizes whatever it takes in a war when encounters the first battle. Naively, Henry does not know how to react to shots. Thus, Crane’s realistic portrayal of the lives of soldiers in battle paints a practical war novel. The killing of the captain, the leader of youth’s company, creates a clear scenario of shooting in real battle. Crane does not consecrate death and readers openly observe soldiers succumbing to death. However, the author paints a non-heroic picture of death when Jim Conklin expresses fears of dying (Owens, 2001). In conclusion, The Red Badge of Courage vividly by Stephen Crane portrays realism. The setting of the novel resonates around war. By the use of inexperienced farm boy, Henry Fleming, Crane brings about realism. The author presents a sequence of events that ensue before soldiers join the battle. Crane portrays the fear overwhelms the army before they engage in a battle. However, some of the soldiers such as Conklin become a moral reference point. The author depicts a strong connection between Henry Fleming and Conklin. Henry gets moral support and courage to fight the first battle. Conversely, fear overcomes Henry’s courage and he flees for safety. This is a real picture of the situation in a war where the inexperienced soldiers surrender and after facing the reality. Thus, The Red Badge of Courage is well depiction realism. References Allermann, J. (2007). Stephen Cranes "The Red Badge of Courage" as a work of late nineteenth-century American naturalism. Munich: GRIN Verlag. The scholarly paper gives a critical analysis of the Crane’s novel, The Red Badge of the Courage. Allermann appreciate the fictional works of Crane and terms it as a real representation of a war. This is despite the fact that American Civil War happened before the birth of Crane Stephen. The scholarly paper asserts that Crane’s imaginative picture of war is compatible with a real battle. Bendixen, A. (2012). A Companion to the American Novel. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. The book is a detailed collection of analysis of American novel. Bendixen has analyzed many literary works including that of Crane Stephen in the novel, The Red Badge of Courage. The author appreciates the literary skills in Crane to feature a real situation of war through a careful and tailored choice of characters. Blight, D. (2001). Race and Reunion: The Civil War in American Memory. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. Blight consolidates authors who have focused their fictional works on civil war in United States. The author of the book points out authors such as Stephen Crane has dedicated their work on covering civil war in United States. Blight is convinced that Crane’s novel is a true reflection of civil war in United States. Bloom, H. (2002). Stephen Crane. New York: Infobase Publishing. Bloom looks at the works and historical background of Stephen Crane. The author contends that Stephen deserves credit for painting a reality of historical events such as civil war in United States. Cart, M. (2010). Young Adult Literature: From Romance to Realism. New York: ALA Editions Cart highlights how American literature has captured realism in the literary works. The author perceives that realism is an important style in literature that emerged in 19th century. Cart points out that realism as a stylistic device has flavored American literature. Crane, S. (2009). The Red Badge of Courage. New Jersey: MobileReference. The book is about civil war in America. Crane has vividly described sequences and actions that occur in battlefields. By depicting Henry Fleming’s flight from the battle, Crane paints a real picture of the nasty experiences of soldiers, which force them to surrender. Crane has brought the real picture of war in the novel. D’Ammassa, D. (2009).Encyclopedia of Adventure Fiction: The Essential Reference to the Great Words and Writers of Adventure Fiction. New York: Infobase Publishing. This is a resource book for fictional works. Among the featured work, include the literary works of Crane Stephen. D’Ammassa has compiled the encyclopedia for reference purposes. The encyclopedia explicitly analyses realism in Crane’s novel. Johnson, C. (2002). Understanding the Red Badge of Courage: A student casebook to issues, sources, and historical documents. Westport: Greenwood Press. The book helps students to understand the real issues reflected in The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane. Johnson has collected all the historical documents including fictional works to act as a reference point for students exploring realism in literatures. Kohlmeier, C. (2009). A "Highly Idiosyncratic Vision": War Depiction in Stephen Cranes "The Red Badge of Courage. Munich: GRIN Verlag. The book is a portrayal of war by Stephen Crane. Kohlmeier believes that by using Henry Fleming, the protagonist, Crane work depicted a real picture of war. The author appreciates the Cranes literary prowess in bringing out realism in the novel. Lathbury, R. (2009). Realism and Regionalism, 1860 – 1910. New York: Infobase Publishing. The book reflects a collection of series of literary works that have centered on realities. Lathbury has incorporated fictional works such as the Washington Irving’s, The Scarlet Letter, and The Red Badge of Courage. The author feels that the works in the collection are pertinent for student to learn because the works have focused on realism. Layman, R. & Bruccoli, M. (2002). Realism, naturalism, and local color, 1865-1917. London: Gale Research Co. Layman and Bruccoli have focused on the novels that realism has been a central theme. The book identifies Stephen Crane has one the authors who have devoted their efforts to putting a real picture of historical realities in war. The authors point out that Crane deserves credit for the realistic novel. Lee, R. (2009). Gothic to Multicultural: Idioms of Imagining in American Literary Fiction. New Jersey: Rodopi. This book is a collection of many fictions work that reflect on realism. It contains the literary works of Charles Brocken, Henry James, Cornell Woolrich, and Stephene Crane. Lee recognizes that all the authors in the collection have tried to paint a real picture of realism. Lentz, P. (2006). Private Fleming at Chancellorsville: The Red Badge of Courage and the Civil War. Columbia: University of Missouri Press. The author of this book agrees that historical realities have shaped and influenced the work of Crane Stephen. Lentz contends that Crane’s novel is a real refection of the Civil War in United States. Owens, L. (2001). Mixedblood Messages Literature, Film, Family, Place. Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press. The author examines real issues in the novel of Steve Crane. Although the author, Louis Owens concentrates on the Indian identity and relationship with environment, he compares the story of Steve Crane to depict a reality of war. Pizer, D. (1995). The Cambridge Companion to American Realism and Naturalism: From Howells to London. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. This guide by Prizer that asserts many American authors have captured realism in their fictional work. Stephen Crane is in the top list of the authors, which Pizer has given a lot of credit in this guide. Pizer asserts that Crane’s novel is a vivid description of real picture of war. Shmoop (2010). The Red Badge of Courage: Shmoop Literature Guide. Los Altos: Shmoop University Inc. This literature guide describes the literary styles used by the Crane to reflect realism in his novel. The book gives an explicit description of characters, quotes, and themes focused in the Crane’s novel, The Red Badge of Courage. In addition, the book illustrates how the careful choice of the author’s characters helps to bring out realism in the novel. Sorrentino, P. (2006). Student Companion to Stephen Crane. Westport: Greenwood Publishing Group. This is a guide to the Stephen Crane’s work. Sorrentino points out how the author of The Red Badge of Courage dramatizes war by using Henry Fleming, who has little experience. Serrentino asserts that Crane deserves credit for painting a real encounter of soldiers in a war. Thrailkill, J. (2007). Affecting Fictions: Mind, Body, and Emotion in American Literary Realism. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. The author describes a new understanding of literary works that portrays realism. Thrailkill contends that Crane has painted a real picture of Civil War in United States. According to this book, the sequences of events that ensue before soldiers engage in war in Crane’s novel are real. The praises Crane for trying to bring out the real picture of war in a novel. Tracey, G. (2002). Filmography of American History. Westport: Greenwood pushing Group. The book is a collection of American films and fictional works including that of Stephen Crane. Tracey, the author of the book, has kept a great collection of novels that reflect realism. Welock, A. (2009). Companion to Literature: Facts on File Companion to the American Short Story. New York: Ifobase Publishing. The book gives a critical and a comprehensive analysis of different works of literature such as short stories and novel. Welock explicitly analyses The Red Badge of Courage by Crane. The author of this book asserts that Crane deserves credit for the portrayal of American Civil War in a book. Read More