The politics of Irony in Stephen Crane’s The Red Badge of Courage

Abstract

The Red Badge of Courage is an anti-war novel by American author Stephen Crane (1871-1900). Taking place during the American Civil War, the story is about young private of the Union Army, Henry Fleming, who had great eager to enlist the Union Army and thought to fight bravely in the battle but just opposite of his thinking he flees from the field of battle. Overcome with shame, he longs for a wound-a “red badge of courage”-to counteract his cowardice. When his regiment once again faces the enemy, Henry acts as standard-bearer. Through The Red Badge of Courage Stephen Crane tries to satirize the political leaders and try to give voice to the marginalized people in the society by using the radical irony. In The Red Badge of Courage, in the name of race and patriotism the stake holders have taken benefits by evoking the lower class people to involve in the bloody war like Civil war. The Red Badge of Courage stands strongly against any kinds of war and satire the war .