Classics Illustrated The Red Badge of Courage

This is the story of a guy that ends up joining the Union Army during the Civil War. He is scared that he will run when he finally gets into an actual battle and that is exactly what he does. In order to compensate for his doing that, he acts ultra-macho in the next battle and ends up carrying the flag himself.

The book includes a text section examining the story and Stephen Crane, along with study questions and some information about movies made about the Civil War.

The story is one of those what glorifies the ultra-he-man type of 'manly man.' The testosterone hangs heavy in the air as Henry basically over-compensates for his initial weakness and becomes an uber-soldier. Brings up some of the worst stereotypes of male behavior. An interesting book, still, though.

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