By the end of the novel, what has Henry learned about his life?

Henry can be said to be a pretty dynamic character. He really comes into this story a boy who doesn't know what to expect. Upon his first battle Henry is torn between fighting like a man and running like a coward to save his life. Henry maintains this internal struggle throughout the book,

"At times he regarded the wounded soldiers in an envious way. He conceived persons with torn bodies to be peculiarly happy. He wished that he, too, had a wound, a red badge of courage."

Henry will get his badge of courage but not before much soul searching and baptisms of fire on the battlefield. It really isn't until the end when Henry is able to put his fear and courage into a more realistic context. Henry learns that there are no heroes in war. Henry understands that soldiers on both sides merely try to survive the hell they have been put in.

beautiful, thank you!

Henry can be said to be a pretty dynamic character. He really comes into this story a boy who doesn't know what to expect. Upon his first battle Henry is torn between fighting like a man and running like a coward to save his life. Henry maintains this internal struggle throughout the book,

"At times he regarded the wounded soldiers in an envious way. He conceived persons with torn bodies to be peculiarly happy. He wished that he, too, had a wound, a red badge of courage."

Henry will get his badge of courage but not before much soul searching and baptisms of fire on the battlefield. It really isn't until the end when Henry is able to put his fear and courage into a more realistic context. Henry learns that there are no heroes in war. Henry understands that soldiers on both sides merely try to survive the hell they have been put in.

How's that Lyddie?

Wait, Henry ran for his life as a coward? Ha!