"The Red Badge of Courage" by Stephen Crane is a seminal work exploring the tumult of war and the inner conflict of Henry Fleming, a young soldier facing the horrors of the American Civil War. Yearning for heroism but gripped by fear, Henry flees his first encounter with battle. Ashamed, he longs for a wound—a "red badge of courage"—to validate his suffering and prove his bravery. Crane's vivid narrative delves into the psyche of a soldier, portraying war's brutal reality and the complex journey towards self-understanding and redemption amidst chaos.