The Red Badge of Courage · Character
Bill Smithers
A soldier who is wounded and carried to the rear during battle.
minor
Also known as Bill
First appearance: IV
Bill Smithers's tie to Henry Fleming is one of the pressures that moves The Red Badge of Courage—worth meeting in the text, not only on a cast list.
Mentioned in a rumor as having his hand crushed and refusing amputation.
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With Henry Fleming (social): Bill Smithers is a minor acquaintance in Henry's regiment, mentioned in passing without significant emotional weight. In IV: Mentioned in a rumor as having his hand crushed and refusing…
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The fuller portrait of Bill Smithers sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.
See Bill Smithers in IVCharacter Web
2 connectionsA slice of how Bill Smithers sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Social
- Other
Character groups
- Soldiers and Casualties
- Protagonist
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Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
The emotional/psychological peak occurs when the youth and his friend feel a "deadened form of distress" at th…
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Follow the arc while readingRelationships
- Henry Fleming
social · ambivalent
Bill Smithers is a minor acquaintance in Henry's regiment, mentioned in passing without… How this plays out →
Relationship notes
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See Bill Smithers in IVIn the story
Bill Smithers appears across 3 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
Chapter companion notes
Spoil-light check-ins for Bill Smithers unlock in the free preview.
See Bill Smithers in IV