The Red Badge of Courage Summary

During the American Civil War, a Union regiment, including a new recruit named Henry Fleming, has been stationed along a river for weeks, waiting for orders. Henry is anxious about his own bravery and is worried he might flee when faced with battle. A rumor spreads that they will soon march, and eventually, they do, ending up near a battlefield. The enemy launches an attack, and surrounded by his fellow soldiers, Henry finds himself unable to escape even if he wanted to. He participates in the fight, his actions automatic as he becomes part of the war machine, and they successfully repel the enemy.

However, his calm doesn't last. When the enemy makes another charge, fear grips Henry and he flees across the battleground, convincing himself he made the right choice. As he roams, he hears that his regiment held their ground successfully, which fills him with shame. He then encounters injured soldiers and envies them, believing that their wounds are a symbol of their bravery. He runs into a man, Jim Conklin, whom he recognizes despite his serious injuries. He promises to support Jim, but when Jim runs off to die, Henry can only watch helplessly. He also abandons another soldier after being unable to handle his questions about Henry's own injuries.

Henry eventually reunites with his regiment after being mistaken for wounded when he gets hit on the head with a rifle by a fleeing soldier. The next day, they return to the battlefield, where Henry fights fiercely, driven by his memory of Jim. Despite some insults from an officer, Henry and his friend Wilson gain recognition as the regiment's best fighters after a successful charge where Henry carries the flag. They engage in more brutal battles, with Henry continuing to hold the flag high. Although he is proud of his bravery, he feels guilty about his earlier cowardice and abandonment of the injured soldier. However, he comes to accept his experiences as part of his transformation. As he anticipates peace, he feels a confident sense of maturity within himself.