"The Red Convertible" tells the story of two brothers, Lyman and Henry Junior, who buy a red convertible together while still in their teens. The plot centres around the two brothers' relationship. Their connection goes from the fun times the two brothers spend driving about in the convertible (all the way to Alaska) to a more somber friendship after Henry Junior returns from the Vietnam War, where he was a prisoner of war after being caught in combat.
"The Red Convertible's" central topic is brotherhood. The relationship of the two brothers defines the story, and it sets the stage for the development of other themes. The two are depicted as being very close at the beginning of the story with the purchase of the convertible being a spontaneous decision funded by Lyman’s insurance money and Henry Junior’s pay- off for retrenchment. Their strong relationship is illustrated vividly as they drive around in their red convertible. Henry Junior’s enlistment gradually changes the relationship after he returns home a broken man after spending time as a prisoner of war. This inspires another central theme; mental illness. Henry’s experiences in the Vietnam War break him, and he presumably has Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). He is withdrawn, edgy, and mean. This changes his relationship with everyone, including Lyman with whom he shared such a strong relationship before. Lyman’s astonishment when Henry strings out more than six words at one is an illustration of how psychologically damaged Henry was.
Read the first paragraph carefully and identify all the information Erdrich provides for you in this paragraph. Have fun! It is a short yet dense paragraph.
The first paragraph of “The Red Convertible” is narrated by Lyman. He asserts that he was the first to drive a convertible in the reservation. This is a depiction of the character of Lyman and the nature of the reservation. A convertible is a flashy car, and its open top symbolizes freedom. This is the perfect description of Lyman in a pretty conservative Native American community. Lyman also explains that he owns the convertible with his brother Henry Junior. This is an indication of a good relationship between the two. The co- ownership, as explained, persists until Henry Junior bought out Lyman’s share after “his boots filled with water.” This gives an insight into the changing dynamics of the brothers’ relationship which culminated in the demise of both Henry Junior and the red Olds. Lyman is now all alone having lost a brother he loved and the red Olds which symbolized their union. The switch from Lyman narrating using the first person to narrating using the third person is evident in the last sentence of the paragraph. The disconnect tells us how things have changed in Lyman’s life since the loss of his brother. A man who was once defined by his relationship with his brother is now lonely and has lost the only thing that brought them together in the end.
What are some key literary devices that stood out for you? What are the characters like? What are some central images, and what do they mean?
The use of symbolism is prominent in the story. The red Olds symbolizes the strength of the relationship between Lyman and his brother, Henry Junior. It represents their youth and freedom, and the optimism that came with its purchase. When Lyman releases the car into the river, it symbolizes lost chances and the end of his relationship with his brother. The color of the convertible is a symbol in itself. As a color, red expresses love, passion, freedom, energy, and aggression. These all express the dynamics of the relationship between Lyman and Henry Junior. Water is a central image in the story. It plays a major role since it marks the demise of Henry Junior and “The Red Convertible.” Culturally, water is associated with life. It can give and take life in equal measure. The imagery, in this case, is used to end the character of Henry Junior.
What happens at the end? Does Henry commit suicide, or is his death an accident? Why does Lyman drive the car into the river?
The red Olds brings the two brothers close again as Henry commits to repairing the car after Layman intentionally destroyed it. This further illustrates the use of the convertible as a symbol of the dynamics of the brothers’ relationship. Henry commits suicide by jumping into a swelling river. He used the excuse of cooling off, but the river was high and full of winter trash, so he was aware of the risk that came with jumping into the river. Lyman drives the car into the river with its lights on in a bid to locate Henry in the dark river. His attempt is unsuccessful since the car’s wiring shorts out. This represents a sacrifice. He sacrifices the convertible which no longer serves any further purpose in his life.
What is the role of the Vietnam War in this story?
The Vietnam War is used to illustrate the adverse effects of war, especially on relationships. Wars destroy homes, friendships, makes orphans, and causes psychological disturbances in the affected. The story is set in 1974 when the Vietnam War was coming to an end after two decades. The author uses the story to illustrate the state of affairs among the veterans. Henry, a veteran, is psychologically disturbed from his experience in Vietnam. There doesn’t seem to be any intervention from the government to help individuals like Henry. The use of the Vietnam War in the story mirrors the state of affairs in the United States at the time.
This story involves two Native American brothers, probably Chippewa since Erdrich herself is Chippewa and German American. There are certain cultural clues that give us insight into Chippewa culture. Explore the following to see what they tell us about the Native American experience: hair, the river and other references to natural elements, fancy dancing, and a distrust of White doctors.
The story is a representation of the marriage of Native American culture and White culture which had been introduced to the Chippewa people. The first aspect of this is in Lyman describing his nature in the story. Lyman is an entrepreneurial individual with a knack for getting money always. He owns a restaurant as a teenager and contributes to the purchase of “The Red Convertible.” The fact that he stood out and everyone recognized it shows the nature of the Chippewa is quite the opposite. The free spirit of the two brothers is an illustration of the Chippewa way of life, with them traveling to Alaska with their new car. When Henry sees Susy’s long hair, it reminds him of his cultural background. Long hair which flows freely like Susy’s signifies the free flow of life among the Chippewa. As such, it reminded Henry of the beauty of life and the importance of freedom. The river and the natural elements are essential to Chippewa culture since they symbolize the phases of life. Water symbolizes renewal, healing, and cleansing in Native American culture. By the author killing off the character of Henry in the river, it marks cleansing and the start of a new life. Henry performs a hybrid dance during his final moments. This shows that he maintains his culture despite his exposure to the rest of the world. The mistrust of white doctors is also illustrative of the true essence of nativism among the Chippewa. Despite the foreign influences, the Chippewa have still managed to retain their true native spirit.
