The changing role of the hero in The Red Badge of Courage With Stephen Crane's The Red Badge of Courage, the concept of the heroic figure begins to move further and further away from clearly defined characteristics. The idea of ​​a single individual rising up to conquer heroically in any situation lost favor with the changing views of the nineteenth century which led Crane to address as his theme "the dilemma of heroism in an unheroic age" (Beaver 67) creating in Henry Fleming a figure both heroic and non-heroic. His exploration of the concepts of courage and cowardice shows that they are opposite sides of the same coin, as evidenced in the heroic figure. Through the progression of Henry's thoughts, Crane explores this changing vision of the hero. At the beginning of the book, “young [Henry] had thought he was supposed to be a hero” (Crane 50), when he introduced himself as a newly enlisted man. While awaiting the call of his first battle, Henry reflected that "[at] times he was inclined to believe them all heroes" (Crane 75) simply based on their role as soldiers. However, faced with the reality of battle, Henry soon noticed that "[t]here was a singular absence of heroic posturing" (Crane 86). Trying to cope with his own inadequacy, Henry always finds himself lacking in comparison to those around him. As they marched he thought that the heroes “might make excuses… They might retreat with perfect self-respect and make excuses to the stars” (Crane 123). Marching among those heroes wounded in battle, “made it almost impossible for him to see himself in a heroic light” (Crane 125). Henry began to despair "of ever being a hero" (Crane 126). However, through a new confrontation in battle, Henry found himself functioning...... middle of paper......a of his "red badge" of cowardice known only to him, he earned his "red badge of courage" ." However, the need for a twist in the character to create the final hero is still evident. Showing the close relationship between the negative and positive aspects of a single characteristic - in this case facing the battle with courage or cowardice - Crane opens the door to an infinite understanding of what makes a hero, demonstrating that perfection is not a necessary thing.Works CitedBeaver, Harold. “Stephen Crane: The Hero as Victim.” Modern Critical Interpretations: The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane. NY: Chelsea House Publishers, 1985.Credy, Edwin H. Stephen Crane. Rev. Ed. Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1980.