The Red Badge of Courage begins with the Youth (Henry) preparing to leave to war. He has fabulous ideas concocted in his mind about victory and heroism. The Youth soon finds that victory and heroism are a small part in the splendor of war. The Youth's mind soon becomes burdened with thoughts of death and running away from battle. Sure enough, in the midst of battle, the Youth flees the battlefield. The Youth must learn …showed first 75 words of 470 total…

…showed last 75 words of 470 total…the end of the book, Henry learns how important life truly is and why. He learned that war deals with death shame, and sorrow, not just victory and freedom. On page 266, Henry becomes a man. "He had been to touch the great death, and found, after all, it was but the great death." Henry looked death in the eyes and fulfilled his dream of becoming a hero. He had earned the Red Badge of Courage.