The Red Convertible By Louise Erdrich Analysis
Fighting a war is pretty traumatizing experiences that can ever happened to everyone, it does not only destroy a lot of things, but also affects the people who take part in it. It is said that when a man returns home from war he is forever changed. The short story 'The Red Convertible' by Louise Erdrich depicts the story of two Native American brothers, Lyman and his older brother Henry narrated by Lyman, it starts with Lyman has received a large insurance check after a tornado destroyed his restaurant, two brother used that money to purchase an old convertible car tougher and decide to have a road trip crossing all around the country. They spend really good time during the summer, soon enough when they roll back to their reservation it turns
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Henry could not face who he had become so he had to find a way to fix the problem. Furthermore, Lyman trashed the red convertible on purpose so that Henry could repair it to forget about the war. However, Henry knew what Lyman did to the car and still insist on fixed the car only for Lyman to drive it. After Lyman and Henry had a fight, they laughed together for the first time since Henry returned. Nevertheless, when it seems like Henry was happy again, he choose to “cool him off” then jumped into the river and vanished forever. It could been seen as stated by Lyman, “I look around, it’s getting dark. I see he's halfway across the water already, and I know he didn't swim there but the current took him. It's far. I hear his voice, though, very clearly across it. 'my boots are filling,' he says this in a normal voice, like he just noticed and he doesn't know what to think of it” (186). This quote shows that Henry ended his own life, because he knows he could never repair himself like the car and so he wouldn’t become a burden for his family. Furthermore, the red convertible is a significant symbol of the brotherhood between Henry and Lyman. After Henry vanishes in the water, Lyman let the car row to the river either, because about the car they have too many happy memories, which represents that the red convertible means nothing for Lyman without Henry and he did not have any reason to keep that car anymore because Henry was gone. This could be seen when the Lyman states, “I walk back to the car, turn on the high beams, and drive it up the bank. I put it in first gear and then I take my foot off the clutch. I get out, close the door, and watch it plow softly into the water. The headlights reach in as they go down, searching, still lighted even after the water swirls over
Henry could not face who he had become so he had to find a way to fix the problem. Furthermore, Lyman trashed the red convertible on purpose so that Henry could repair it to forget about the war. However, Henry knew what Lyman did to the car and still insist on fixed the car only for Lyman to drive it. After Lyman and Henry had a fight, they laughed together for the first time since Henry returned. Nevertheless, when it seems like Henry was happy again, he choose to “cool him off” then jumped into the river and vanished forever. It could been seen as stated by Lyman, “I look around, it’s getting dark. I see he's halfway across the water already, and I know he didn't swim there but the current took him. It's far. I hear his voice, though, very clearly across it. 'my boots are filling,' he says this in a normal voice, like he just noticed and he doesn't know what to think of it” (186). This quote shows that Henry ended his own life, because he knows he could never repair himself like the car and so he wouldn’t become a burden for his family. Furthermore, the red convertible is a significant symbol of the brotherhood between Henry and Lyman. After Henry vanishes in the water, Lyman let the car row to the river either, because about the car they have too many happy memories, which represents that the red convertible means nothing for Lyman without Henry and he did not have any reason to keep that car anymore because Henry was gone. This could be seen when the Lyman states, “I walk back to the car, turn on the high beams, and drive it up the bank. I put it in first gear and then I take my foot off the clutch. I get out, close the door, and watch it plow softly into the water. The headlights reach in as they go down, searching, still lighted even after the water swirls over