The Effects of War free essay sample

These two boys end up leaving their northern village home to fight in the deadly trenches of World War I. The story tells of Xavier’s struggles with his new morphine addiction (from a war injury) as well as his recovery. In The Red Badge of Courage written by Stephen Crane the story of a boy by the name of Henry Fleming who joins the American Civil War to help him on his way to manhood. The effects of war on Henry Fleming are reflected in great detail, describing the physical and psychological impacts of war on the Henry and the other soldiers. The effects of war have not changed a lot throughout history as reflected in both of these novels which span two different historic wars. While the effects of war are endless. Many people think that war is typically just physical injuries (ie. Getting shot) however that is not accurate. We will write a custom essay sample on The Effects of War or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In the beginning of the novel Three Day Road, Xavier had gotten off a train after his time fighting in World War I, while he is healing from his injury. War has made him addicted to Morphine. This ruins him, as Morphine is an extremely addictive drug and it becomes very hard for Xavier to function without his Morphine injections. Morphine was given to Xavier for the fact that his leg was blown off during his time in battle. Physical injuries are usually a result of war, and were extremely more common in World War I. This was something that was inevitable if you were a soldier in WWI. Besides medical and physical effects on soldiers, psychological effects on a soldier are a lot more common than previously imagined during WWI. The Red Badge of Courage is said to be one of the most realistic portrayals of the psychological effects that are a result of warfare. However, the effects of war are not always negative; there are certain people who have grown up because of war. The main character in the story, Henry Fleming did not enjoy his boring life on his farm. Being in search of glory and popularity, he decides to enlist in the Union army against his mother’s wishes. The most profound change for Henry in the story was his transformation from a child to a man. His naive attitude was replaced with experience and logical thinking. Another very common result of war is gaining the sense of courage. Many of the soldiers joined to gain a sense of independence and to prove to themselves that they are tough enough to survive war. In Henry’s case he had gained the sense of courage throughout the book but it is most heavily shown at the end of the story when Henry learns what the true meaning of courage. Courage is not just a personality trait; it can be learned if put in certain situations and if somebody has the proper motivations. As a young soldier during the Civil War, he is around other men who are tougher and more experienced than him. One of his main concerns is the way he appears to other soldiers and his superiors on and off the battlefield. As Henry progresses through the book he gains more and more knowledge and realizes that the opinions of other people can drive people to do things we would otherwise not be able to complete by ourselves. Another common issue in both of these novels is the evolution and development of the main characters. In the novel Three Day Road we see the transformation of the native culture, into the modern world and war. In The Red Badge of Courage it is shown in his transformation from being a naive child to an experienced war veteran as a direct result of joining the Union army. â€Å"He went slowly to his tent and stretched himself on a blanket by the side of the snoring tall soldier. In the darkness he saw visions of a thousand-tongued fear that would babble at his back and cause him to flee, while others were going coolly about their countrys business. He admitted that he would not be able to cope with this monster. He felt that every nerve in his body would be an ear to hear the voices, while other men would remain stolid and deaf. (124) Duty is another underlying common theme between the two books. Henry Fleming is in a constant debate with himself as he tries to overcome the struggles of his duty in the war. As a young soldier serving in the Civil War, he struggles between the duty to himself and his duty as a soldier. â€Å"He suddenly lost concern for himself, and forgot to look at a mena cing fate. He became not a man but a member. He felt that something of which he was a parta regiment, an army, a cause, or a countrywas in crisis. He was welded into a common personality which was dominated by a single desire. For some moments he could not flee no more than a little finger can commit a revolution from a hand. † (202) By comparison Three Day Road, reflects duty also as an important theme that was positioned in the book for a reason. Xavier and Elijah both joined the fight in WWI and were based with the Canadians. Elijah had urged Xavier to enter the war with him as they were best friends in their hometown of Moose Factory. Xavier and Elijah being from the native Cree tribe, going into the horrors of WWI would be like going from one world to another. They were used to being silent hunters, with bows and arrows, striking quickly and silently. These aspects of their hunting skills were their strength in the war. Every soldier had the duty to act in the trench, to defend if attacked and to attack when told to. Their loyalty not only was for the war but deep in their hearts the duty to protect Moose Factory which contained the ones they loved and is where the two boys had grown up. The common themes in both books of transformation and duty finally lead up to the very common theme of man versus the natural world. In The Red Badge of Courage the author argues that man is alone in a vast world. This could either be nerve wracking to a young soldier during the Civil War, or it could be comforting, providing him with a sense of responsibility. Through the novel there are many examples of what is natural and what is not. (ie. Warfare and fleeing from battle) â€Å"The shells, which had ceased to trouble the regiment for a time, came swirling again, and exploded in the grass or among the leaves of the trees. They looked to be strange war flowers bursting into fierce bloom. (105) Three Day Road is a more obvious example asthey are native Cree men that joined the battles of WWI. This can be seen as a clear interpretation of â€Å"man† as the more advanced world and the â€Å"natural world† as a part of reality with the Cree tribe. Their version of the natural world differs from the natural world of the non-aboriginal people. The old reality and traditions of the Cree tribe have been ov ercome by â€Å"man† which is in a constant battle over the Cree version of the natural world with their traditions and culture. A powerful statement to how war changes and alters lives from all different walks of life. In conclusion, wars have been around for as long as mankind has walked the earth. The everlasting effects of war can be positive or negative and can affect us through physical, emotional, medical, and psychological issues. A human’s experience with war is as unique as the war itself. Powerful images of change and evolution are found in both of these novels. Each reflects a different journey, a different experience yet both reflected the terror, pain and feeling that war brings regardless of time or place.