The Red Badge of Courage: Ch. 8-10

These chapters focus on an encounter with a group of severely wounded men affects Henry both emotionally and physically. After realizing his "mistake" in running away from teh front line, Henry is frightened by wounded soldier who asks him where he is wounded himself. Because he was not injured, Henry is scared because he believes that revealing that he was uninjured would reveal was he percieves as cowardice for running away. Therefore he tries to avoid the wounded man. Wounds, as Henry sees them, are "red badges of courage" because they are material proofs of courage and valor. Henry wishes that he did not run and instead was wounded so he too could have one.

Jim Cronklin's death, similar to Yossarian's experiences whe he lost friends while flying bombing missions, greatly troubles Henry. It will also be interesting to see if this death has the effect on Henry as Snowden's death had on Yossarian. Henry goes back in line, but at this point, his fear is slightly tempered by his anger that his friend was killed. Accompanying Henry is another heavily injured man, who Henry abandons out of impulse. Once again, Henry feels insecure because he knows that the man will likely die if he is left alone without help. The man seems delusional and irrational. In these few chapters, Henry is futher confronted with the realities of war. This is also the first instance in which the reader is introduced to the concept of a "red badge of courage." Greatly perturbing his emotions, the sight of the wounded men and especially the death of his friend cause Henry to be insecure about his motivations and unable to muster up the courage that he so values.