The Red Convertible Short Story Analysis Essay - 774 Words

Chase Brown Oliva 9/22/12 English 102 Short Story Analysis: The Red Convertible â€Å"The Red Convertible† by Louise Erdrich is a short story about two Native American brothers, Lyman and Henry, and their growing bond as brothers. Symbolism is used rather heavily in this story. One of the main symbols of the story, as noted in the title, is the red convertible. The red convertible symbolizes the relationship status of the two brothers, and the struggles they face as Henry is drafted into the Vietnam War as well as when he returns home. In the beginning of the story, Lyman and Henry go in together and purchase a red Oldsmobile convertible. In the beginning the condition of the convertible was fantastic. Although the story never†¦show more content†¦Lyman soon realized he was wrong. The war had torn Henry to the point that he would stare lifelessly at a television screen for hours on end. He had not said more than a few words to Lyman for some time. Angered, Lyman purposefully damages the red convertible to get the attention of his brother. The damaging of the car represents the anger felt by Lyman that the relationship with his brother had been destroyed by the war. By destroying the car, Lyman is metaphorically changing the condition of the red convertible to match that of their brotherly bond. â€Å"Now I don’t even know if I can get it to start again, let alone get it anywhere near its old condition.† (Erdrich 328) Henry states about the car, symbolizing his feelings towards their relationship. In the final portion of the story, Henry finally fixes the car back into decent condition after Lyman damages it. At this point in the story, the audience is thinking that the relationship is mended as the brothers take the newly restored red convertible for a leisure ride to the river. As Lyman and Henry load the trunk with a full cooler, Lyman gets the same feeling. Henry is joking and laughing, and it seems as if the bond between the brothers is restored until they reach th e river. At the river they get into a scuffle over who will keep the car. The fight is soon brushed off as the brothers laugh and drink their troubles away by the river. â€Å"Got toShow MoreRelatedThe Red Convertible By Louise Erdrich931 Words   |  4 Pagesthe short story â€Å"The Red Convertible,† by Louise Erdrich, there are multiple literary devices used throughout. However, Erdrich most commonly utilizes theme and symbolism. She uses certain themes throughout most of her work, as noted by Keri L. Overall in a literary analysis. â€Å"Indeed, the themes of Erdrich’s stories range from the effects of war on families and personal identity to loss of heritage and family and personal relationships.† Erdrich also employs the use of symbolism in this story, toRead MoreThe Red Convertible1584 Words   |  7 Pagesculture, the red is the color of faith, and represents communication. The short story The Red Convertible by Louise Erdrich is more than an emotiona l story about the lives of two Chippewa brothers who grew up together on an Indian reservation in North Dakota. Erdrich uses metaphor, symbol, vivid imagery and a simple writing style to allow the reader to understand the text while also providing the opportunity to read a lot into the story. Written in the first person by Lyman Larmartine, The Red ConvertibleRead MoreAn Analysis Of The Red Convertible By Louise Erdrich1018 Words   |  5 PagesThe Red Convertible The short story â€Å"The Red Convertible† by Louise Erdrich is a story the author uses to shed light on the effects of mental illness on Vietnam era returning combat veterans. The story includes the effects not just on the veterans, also on their family and community. 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