"The Red Convertible" by Louise Erdrich

"The Red Convertible" by Louise Erdrich In "The Red Convertible," by Louise Erdrich, the red convertible symbolizes the brothers relationship at different stages through the story. In the story Erdrich uses specific actions of the brothers to show change in their relationship, which corresponds with the red convertible. Erdrich uses scenes involving the red convertible to show different stages of the brothers relationships. The story begins with a road trip representing the boys closeness, then precedes onto Lyman beating up the red convertible symbolizing the brothers separation. Erdrich then continues the story with Henry giving the red convertible to Lyman representing their reunion. The story finishes when Lyman runs the red convertible into the lake, which parallels with the end of the brothers relationship. All of the scenes that are significant in this story involve the red convertible, which is the center of the brothers relationship. The story begins with a road trip that the brothers take in the red convertible to Canada. In this scene the red convertible is symbolizing Henry and Lyman's close relationship to one another. Lyman and his older brother Henry decides at random, with no plans, at spur of the moment to just start driving. The red convertible represents their free spirited connection to one another showing the brothers happier side of their relationship in the story. Throughout their trip Lyman describes it as being "comfortable" and "quiet," just like their relationship(365). Henry and Lyman enjoy being together, and we get to see their relationship through this simple scene that Lyman describes. In this first major scene of the story Louise Erdrich manages to convey many personality traits among the brothers that all revolve around the red convertible. The next scene that portrays the brothers' relationship through the symbolism of the red convertible is when Lyman fixes the car up for when Henry comes home from war. When