Read the excerpt from Chapter 7 of The Red Badge of Courage

Last updated: 4/24/2023

Read the excerpt from Chapter 7 of The Red Badge of Courage Thoughts of his comrades came to him The brittle blue line had withstood the blows and won He grew bitter over it It seemed that the blind ignorance and stupidity of those little pieces had betrayed him He had been overturned and crushed by their lack of sense in holding the position when intelligent deliberation would have convinced them that it was impossible He the enlightened man who looks afar in the dark had fled because of his superior perceptions and knowledge He felt a great anger against his comrades He knew it could be proved that they had been fools He wondered what they would remark when later he appeared in camp His mind heard howls of derision Their density would not enable them to understand his sharper point of view Which key idea is developed in this excerpt O Henry is thrilled that his regiment resists the enemy and congratulates himself for doing his part Henry is concerned for the safety of his fellow O soldiers and worries they will judge him once he returns Henry feels his decision to run showed great O foresight and he resents his regiment for staying to fight O Henry blames other soldiers lack of courage on the battlefield for making it necessary for him to run