The Red Convertible Symbolism
O’Brien stated, “To carry something was to hump it”. In “The Red Convertible” and ‘The Things They Carried’ these characters carried baggage that could not only been seen, but they also carried baggage that was internal. In these stories the author uses setting and symbolize to portray the growth of these characters throughout their journey in war, and also tells the story of the mental strain war can cause someone. In “The Red Convertible” the characters Lyman and Henry have a bond that could not be broken by any circumstance. The bond is symbolized through a car that the brothers stumbled upon. Lyman states that, “There it was, parked, large as life. Really as if it was alive” (Erdrich 178). The car for them is a symbol of their youth and
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The death of Lavender has caused Lieutenant Cross to resent ever dreaming about Martha. For example, O’Brien notes that, “He felt shame. He hated himself. He had loved Martha more than his men, and as a consequence Lavender was now dead, and this was something he would have to carry like a stone in his stomach for the rest of the war” (1256). Because of his lack of attentiveness Lieutenant Cross has to carry Lavenders murder with him forever. Cross now realizes how much of a distraction Martha and her letters are, and how he is not a part of her world. He realizes he must rid himself of all distraction to prevent anything like Lavenders death from happening again. To rid himself of Martha, he decides to burn his pictures of her and her letters. O’Brien notes that, “On the morning after Ted Lavender died, First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross crouched at the bottom of his foxhole and burned Martha's letters. Then he burned the two photographs…He realized it was only a gesture…Besides, the letters were in his head” (1259). Lieutenant Cross has to rid himself of Martha so that he and his men can survive. Any distractions, even for a single moment in time can be harmful. Lieutenant cross now knows he was using Martha as a scape goat and it is now time for him to live in his reality and take his job
The death of Lavender has caused Lieutenant Cross to resent ever dreaming about Martha. For example, O’Brien notes that, “He felt shame. He hated himself. He had loved Martha more than his men, and as a consequence Lavender was now dead, and this was something he would have to carry like a stone in his stomach for the rest of the war” (1256). Because of his lack of attentiveness Lieutenant Cross has to carry Lavenders murder with him forever. Cross now realizes how much of a distraction Martha and her letters are, and how he is not a part of her world. He realizes he must rid himself of all distraction to prevent anything like Lavenders death from happening again. To rid himself of Martha, he decides to burn his pictures of her and her letters. O’Brien notes that, “On the morning after Ted Lavender died, First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross crouched at the bottom of his foxhole and burned Martha's letters. Then he burned the two photographs…He realized it was only a gesture…Besides, the letters were in his head” (1259). Lieutenant Cross has to rid himself of Martha so that he and his men can survive. Any distractions, even for a single moment in time can be harmful. Lieutenant cross now knows he was using Martha as a scape goat and it is now time for him to live in his reality and take his job