The Red Badge of Courage The Red Badge of Courage is about a naïve young man, named Henry Fleming, who enlists in the Union Army. Henry’s experiences in the army influence him to give up his idealistic dreams, learn what courage really is, and overcome his fears. Furthermore, causing him to mature into a courageous and honorable man. Henry gives up his idealistic dreams when he experiences the environment of war, firsthand. As a naïve young man, Henry Fleming’s display of war was derived from newspapers, gossip, and early readings. From this early propaganda, he created his own idealistic illusions about h