Red Badge Of Hope: A Comparative Analysis
Comparative Analyses of Movies (Glory (GL); Gone With the Wind (GW); Birth of a Nation (BN)) and Books on the Civil War (Woe to Live On (WL); Red Badge of Courage (RB))
Introduction
The movies GL, GW, BN and novels WL, RB (the works) portray men motivated to fight the Civil War by a complex mixture of ideology and patriotism, seeking glory, courage, honor , and comradery as well as vengeance, often holding naive expectations of an easy, quick victory, with varying emphases. In GL, Shaw’s quest for glory dominates as he volunteers his African American regiment for a suicidal mission to prove their valor, as well as to fight for freedom for slaves, the only work emphasizing emancipation, particularly as a reason for …show more content…
Believing in their sure victory, the characters are excited about the prospect of war and seek adventure through service in the military, as well as glory. The clearest example of this appears in RB. The novel begins with a Northern youth, Henry, who romanticizes the idea of war, thinking of it in terms of Greek poems and ancient history, daydreaming of battles between heroes in Greek tales he read in school. At first disappointed in his belief that the wars of old, such as ancient Greek struggles, can no longer be found, his enthusiasm for the Civil War begins after hearing news of Northern victories. Motivated to enlist by news of victory along with romantic notions of war, he seeks to emulate the Greek heroes that he admires. Leaving home, he’s disappointed when his mother gives him practical advice rather than a poetic speech, having expected her to demand he return “with his shield or on it” in Spartan fashion. The Civil War is but a game for him to live his boyish fantasies when he first …show more content…
Military morale was bolstered by community support. In RB Henry meets old schoolmates who show him “wonder and admiration” and is treated as a hero traveling to Washington. In GW funds for soldiers are raised at charity balls, and they’re nursed in converted hospitals. In WLO, bushwhackers are nurtured, nursed and nourished by many community members, braving great danger for a mother’s hug(.64-65). Harsh training prepared the soldiers for battle and kept them from running. In GL, the regiment’s harsh training serves them well as seen in battles where they reload quickly and mechanically, remaining in formation until allowed to break and shoot at will, as well as in their charge on the fort following their compassionate leader, roaring his name, storming the fort enraged at his death. After monotonous months of training, RB’s Henry, is prevented from fleeing when boxed in by fellow soldiers, fires his gun mechanically, and in other fights he and his comrades are scolded, beaten and shepherded into submission by leaders. Men were punished for failing to fight as portrayed in GL, where Trip was publicly whipped when suspected of deserting camp, and in RB’s discussions of punishment meted out when soldiers attempting to flee battles. Ambition for promotion motivates a gratified
Introduction
The movies GL, GW, BN and novels WL, RB (the works) portray men motivated to fight the Civil War by a complex mixture of ideology and patriotism, seeking glory, courage, honor , and comradery as well as vengeance, often holding naive expectations of an easy, quick victory, with varying emphases. In GL, Shaw’s quest for glory dominates as he volunteers his African American regiment for a suicidal mission to prove their valor, as well as to fight for freedom for slaves, the only work emphasizing emancipation, particularly as a reason for …show more content…
Believing in their sure victory, the characters are excited about the prospect of war and seek adventure through service in the military, as well as glory. The clearest example of this appears in RB. The novel begins with a Northern youth, Henry, who romanticizes the idea of war, thinking of it in terms of Greek poems and ancient history, daydreaming of battles between heroes in Greek tales he read in school. At first disappointed in his belief that the wars of old, such as ancient Greek struggles, can no longer be found, his enthusiasm for the Civil War begins after hearing news of Northern victories. Motivated to enlist by news of victory along with romantic notions of war, he seeks to emulate the Greek heroes that he admires. Leaving home, he’s disappointed when his mother gives him practical advice rather than a poetic speech, having expected her to demand he return “with his shield or on it” in Spartan fashion. The Civil War is but a game for him to live his boyish fantasies when he first …show more content…
Military morale was bolstered by community support. In RB Henry meets old schoolmates who show him “wonder and admiration” and is treated as a hero traveling to Washington. In GW funds for soldiers are raised at charity balls, and they’re nursed in converted hospitals. In WLO, bushwhackers are nurtured, nursed and nourished by many community members, braving great danger for a mother’s hug(.64-65). Harsh training prepared the soldiers for battle and kept them from running. In GL, the regiment’s harsh training serves them well as seen in battles where they reload quickly and mechanically, remaining in formation until allowed to break and shoot at will, as well as in their charge on the fort following their compassionate leader, roaring his name, storming the fort enraged at his death. After monotonous months of training, RB’s Henry, is prevented from fleeing when boxed in by fellow soldiers, fires his gun mechanically, and in other fights he and his comrades are scolded, beaten and shepherded into submission by leaders. Men were punished for failing to fight as portrayed in GL, where Trip was publicly whipped when suspected of deserting camp, and in RB’s discussions of punishment meted out when soldiers attempting to flee battles. Ambition for promotion motivates a gratified