Conscience

What is conscience? According to the Merriam Webster, the definition for conscience is “the sense of moral goodness or blameworthiness of one’s own conduct, intentions, or character together with a felling of obligation to do right or be good.” Basically, it means that conscience is a sense of right or wrong. When one does something that is against their conscience of moral rightness, one feels guilty. Often time your conscience may disobey and interfere with your daily life. For example, if you find a poor, hungry, cute little stray dog on the street. In your conscience, it is right for you to take this poor animal home and take cares of it. However, in your current economic condition, you have no ability in having a pet that you barely have enough money to feed yourself and pay for your rent. You will face a hard decision on whether to go with your conscience or reality. Usually a person may just walk away, however feeling guilty of not being to help that poor soul. This is the same for Henry Fleming is the Red Badge of Courage. In his conscience, he knows that it’s wrong to flee from battle that he is a coward. However, afraid of dying, Henry is unwilling to test his courage. He felt extremely guilty for his uselessness and this emotion overwhelms him when he witnesses his friend’s death, which his friend has fought courageously.