In the novel The Red Badge of Courage, by Stephan Crane, the author uses symbolism to illustrate the actions of the main character and the setting's setting. Henry Fleming, the protagonist of the novel, cannot decide whether he can be a hero or whether he will become a coward. The symbolism used in The Red Badge of Courage represents Henry's decision to fight proudly and how common objects mean more than what meets the eye. Stephan Crane was born in 1871 in New Jersey. At the age of twenty-two, he published his first novel, Maggie: A Girl of the Streets. Crane later wrote sketches and short stories for New York newspapers. It was not until the publication of his second novel, The Red Badge of Courage, in 1895 that he became a well-known author. He died at the age of twenty-eight in 1900. He is one of the best-known American authors on naturalism. (Hafer) Stephan Crane's novel, The Red Badge of Courage, is about a huge decision that the main character must face. Henry Fleming is a young man, nicknamed "Youth" or "Flem", who has just enlisted in the Union Army. The novel begins as Henry's regiment rests by a river. Rumors are circulating around the campsite that they will soon go into battle. Once this is done, the regiment begins to hear the distant sounds of the battle front. It's Henry's first fight and he's terrified. He asked his friend Jim Conklin if he would run away from the fight. Jim tells Henry that if the regiment runs away then he will run but if they stay then he will stay and fight alongside them. The regiment finally arrives at the battle and begins to fight. Afterwards, Henry is proud and can't believe he survived his first encounter. After a short nap, Henry wakes up...... middle of paper ......ng of courage (Ford 168-169) (Hoffman 129-131). Works Cited Conrad, Joseph. “His war book: Stephan Crane”, Latest essays: 1926. Rpt in TCLC. Detroit: Gale, 1989. Crane, Stephan. The red badge of courage. New York: Tom Doherty, 1987. Ford, Madox. “Stephan Crane: Symbolism”, The American Mercury: 1936. Rpt in TCLC. Detroit: Gale, 1989. Hafer, Carol B. “The Red Badge of Absurdity: Irony in 'The Red Badge of Courage',” Bloom's Major Novelists: Stephen Crane: 2002. Infobase Publishing. Hoffman, Michael J. “From Realism to Naturalism,” The Subversive Vision: American Romanticism in Literature: 1972. Detroit: Gale, 1989. Pizer, Donald. “‘The Red Badge of Courage’: Text, Theme, and Form,” South Atlantic Quarterly: 1985. Detroit: Gale, 1989.