The Red Convertible

“The Red Convertible”

Every youth endures emotional, physical, and/or spiritual journeys throughout their life that affects their perspectives about living. In Louise Erdrich’s “The Red Convertible” two brothers, Lyman and Henry, undergo obstacles that create a significant impact on their lives. The major situation that changes these boys’ lives forever is Henry going to war. Through the use of symbolism and imagery, the author depicts each character’s inner journey before and after Henry’s participation in Vietnam.

Lyman and Henry were your typical teenagers. They were spontaneous, immature, and always looking for an adventure. Lyman was a materialistic hardworking boy. He was always trying to make money; “My own talent was I could always make money.”(Erdrich 503) Louise Erdrich uses Lyman’s job as owner of the Joliet Cafй to imply Lyman’s naпve belief in the American Dream. Erdrich demonstrates how materialistic things gave Lyman a sense of pride; “I was the first one to drive a convertible on my reservation.”(Erdrich 503) The brother’s purchased a red convertible together which ironically becomes the main symbol in the story. The car represented freedom and adventure for the boys before Henry went to war; “We went places in that car, me and Henry. We took off driving all one whole summer.”(Erdrich 504) The author uses the red convertible to embody brotherhood and the freedom of the brothers. Erdrich also uses a girl to portray the brothers’ innocence and their brotherly bond. The brothers gave Susy, the girl, a ride in their car to where she needed to go. They spent some time with her but neither of the boys were influenced or affected by Susy; “The season was changing…I told her it was time for us to go.”(Erdrich 505) The author uses Susy to show Lyman and Henry’s innocence. Prior to the war, Louise Erdrich uses the boys’ adventures in their car to portray them as carefree, immature and impulsive; “Some people hang on details when they travel, but we didn’t let them bother us and just lived our everyday lives here and there.”(Erdrich 504) The symbolism of the car in the beginning of the story helps the writer paint a clear picture of the innocence and brotherhood of Lyman and Henry preceding Henry’s entry into Vietnam.

The brothers go through dramatic changes following Vietnam resulting in the death of Henry. Louise Erdrich shows how Lyman immediately notices a change in Henry when he returns; “When he came home, though, Henry was very different, and I’ll say this: the change was no good.”(Erdrich 506) The author utilizes examples and descriptions to expose the change in Henry. Erdrich explains how Henry can not sit still and never laughs anymore opposed to the old Henry who could be seated all day and always had a joke. It was obvious that Henry had lost his innocence and youth in war. Erdrich now uses the car to develop a new image of symbolism. Henry had no interest in the car when he came home and