Why does henry leave the tattered soldier

In a key passage in this chapter, Crane tells the reader that Henry "could hear the tattered man bleating plaintively. Ironically, Henry doesn't recognize that he has been the one doing the greatest bleating if only internally. When he sees that same behavior in another person, he treats that behavior with disdain — unable or unwilling to show compassion or to see that same behavior in himself. Henry has sunk into a state of total self-absorption, the antithesis of the compassion required to be the courageous and honorable man he thinks he wants to be.

Jim's death is of great significance to Henry primarily because Jim was invincible in Henry's eyes. To see Jim mortally wounded brings Henry face-to-face with his own mortality.

As for Jim, his actions appear to be totally consistent with his statements. He stated early on that he would be a team player — that if everybody ran, he would run, and if everybody stood and fought, he would fight.

This is what he did, and, in so doing, he has been mortally wounded. As a result, he must find a place to die, so he leaves the road, moves into the field, and dies. This act is the act of a soldier who knows that his time is over, so he must move out of the way. Even though his time as a soldier has ended, the war has not ended, so he moves out of the way to allow the battles to continue. Because Henry has not been a leader, he has relied on his comrades to be his leaders. When Jim, a true leader for Henry, is wounded and dies, Henry turns inward, a behavior which he has followed throughout the work.

Henry does this in an attempt to protect himself psychologically. Jim Conklin! Jim adds that he is afraid of falling down and being run over by the artillery wagons. Henry promises to take care of him.

Jim seems reassured, but soon orders Henry to leave him alone and not touch him. Baffled, Henry tries to lead Jim into the fields, where the artillery wagons will not frighten him, but Jim musters the strength to run away toward a small clump of bushes.

Henry and the tattered man follow after him, watching in horror as Jim convulses, collapses, and dies. The tattered man marvels at the strength that Jim mustered before death, wondering how he managed to run when his injury should have rendered him unable to walk. Henry and the tattered man move away from the corpse. Chapter The tattered man is awed by Jim's strength and by his strange death. He then admits to Henry The tattered man tells Henry how he got shot in the head without even knowing it.

He then Henry resolves to leave the tattered man and tells him goodbye, even though he knows the tattered man will probably die without Henry leaves, abandoning the tattered man to wander in the field.

Now Henry envies the corpses of dead soldiers. He wishes Henry then remembers the tattered man and cringes. As the regiment chats about their victory, Henry is sad and silent, worried Cite This Page.

Home About Story Contact Help. Previous Wounds. The Tattered Man Symbol Analysis.