Some of the best stories are written in a truly heartbreaking way, using the deepest themes. Louise Erdrich took her time with “The Red Convertible” first published in 1984. The story takes place in 1974 on a Chippewa Native American reservation in North Dakota. It follows the story of two brothers, Stephan and Marty, as they face hardships and change. The characters and plot brings discomfort and sadness, it’s written in a way that the reader sympathizes and shares emotions with the main character. Readers follow along the story of two brothers with a deep, meaningful relationship. Stephan and Marty do everything together. They bought a classic red convertible together, saw it for sale, and they knew they had to have it. So with all the cash Marty had, and two checks Stephan had, they brought
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It was their most prized possession and they lived to take adventures together. They went on a long trip where they explored across states, borders, seeing the highs and lows. Upon arriving back home, the Army was waiting for Stephan, having plans to send him off to the Marines, where he would spend at least two years before coming home. Marty had missed him, “I kept him informed all about the car.” (Marty, p3). Marty took his time on that car, fixing it up for Stephan. It’s not stated what happened to Stephan during those two years he spent in Khe Sanh, but there was a clear change in Stephan when he went home. In his retelling of his story Marty tells the reader, “When he came home, though, Stephan was very different, and I’ll say this, the change was no good.” (Marty, p3). He was less lively, kept to himself. Their bond was diminishing slowly, the candle that is their relationship, flickering. Stephan had gotten more violent, empty. He was a danger to himself and others. Marty couldn’t bear it anymore, he needed the reminder that his brother was still there, somewhere inside him. He took a hammer at the beloved red
It was their most prized possession and they lived to take adventures together. They went on a long trip where they explored across states, borders, seeing the highs and lows. Upon arriving back home, the Army was waiting for Stephan, having plans to send him off to the Marines, where he would spend at least two years before coming home. Marty had missed him, “I kept him informed all about the car.” (Marty, p3). Marty took his time on that car, fixing it up for Stephan. It’s not stated what happened to Stephan during those two years he spent in Khe Sanh, but there was a clear change in Stephan when he went home. In his retelling of his story Marty tells the reader, “When he came home, though, Stephan was very different, and I’ll say this, the change was no good.” (Marty, p3). He was less lively, kept to himself. Their bond was diminishing slowly, the candle that is their relationship, flickering. Stephan had gotten more violent, empty. He was a danger to himself and others. Marty couldn’t bear it anymore, he needed the reminder that his brother was still there, somewhere inside him. He took a hammer at the beloved red