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What Does The Flags Symbolize In The Red Badge Of Courage

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A symbol is something that stands for something else, such as a concept or belief. Stephen Crane’s The Red Badge of Courage is full of various symbols that convey different ideas as it follows the journey of a young man named Henry Fleming who joins the army to fight during war. The title, the red badge of courage, is an obvious symbol; however, other symbols also are important in relating the story. Crane uses several symbols in his novel including flags, corpses, and the red badge of courage to tell the story and create meaning. In Crane’s novel, flags not only symbolize different armies, but they also represent faith and sacrifice. Flags are most often associated with the representation of a country or state. Similarly, Crane uses flags to stand for each the armies that fight during the war in the novel. However, Crane’s flags also represent abstract concepts. The flag carried at the front of the regiment represents the faith soldiers have in their army. If they lose their flag and the enemy takes possession of it, this is seen as defeat. Thus, once a regiment is defeated, the victors proudly take their enemies’ flag, much like Henry’s friend “sprang at the [enemies’] flag as a panther at prey” and wrenched it free of the dying flag bearer (146). Additionally, soldiers believe they “declare, by an offer to …show more content…

Henry initially believed that fighting in the army would bring him courage and glory and give him the chance to sacrifice himself for a bigger cause. He believed death in battle would make him famous and make sure his death would not be insignificant. However, seeing corpses makes him realize that even if he was to die gloriously and deserving of an honor posthumously, he would not receive any. Anything he did while alive in battle would no longer matter when he died. Despite what honorable deeds he was to accomplish during his time in the army, his death would not be glorious, as the corpses

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