The Red Badge of Courage

Why do you think Stephen Crane referred to Henry as "the young soldier" when most of the other soldiers were very near his age?

Why do you think Stephen Crane referred to Henry as "the young soldier" when most of the other soldiers were very near his age?
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The "young" soldier represented more than just age. It represented a sense of boyhood ending: of innocence cut short. Many of these boys were virgins with rifles who had not yet seen death or experienced hardship in the way they are about to. Many of these soldiers shared these traits.

Henry has not been tested when the novel begins. In fact, initially he thinks of war as being all glory and heroism. Therefore his youth refers to his emotional immaturity, not necessarily his age.