The Red Convertible
In the short story “ The Red Convertible," Louise Erdrich illustrates how brotherly love is transformed by the effects of war. The changes in Henry affect Henry’s characteristics, Lyman’s character and, Henry 's relationship with Lyman. Erdrich achieves this through the use of imagery, diction, and symbolism. Henry used to be childlike, caring, and spontaneous. This changes after he comes back a different person molded by the effects of war .“ Hop on in, says Henry. So she climbs in between us. We’ll take you home, I says… Okay, says Henry, and we drive.” Henry picks up a total stranger from the road and gives her ride in the convertible. He even agrees to take her to Alaska without hesitating. He didn 't think twice …show more content…
“We had always been together before. Henry and Lyman. But he was such a loner now that I didn 't know how to take it”. The brother relationship Lyman and Henry once shared is broken by the changes in Henry. They don 't spend time and bond with each other like they used to, because Henry becomes a loner. “He rushed from his chair and shoved me out of the way, against the wall. I told myself he didn 't know what he was doing”. Henry becomes violent and assaults his brother. Lyman tried to convince himself that Henry didn 't know what he was doing. Henry and Lyman used to be close brothers, never attacked each other, lived in the moment, and shared a strong bond. Their relationship transitions into something they never thought possible. “ The car reposed, calm, and gleaming”. When the convertible is first bought the relationship between the brothers’ is easy going, live in the moment, with a strong bond. The red convertible itself undergoes through similar stages as Lyman and Henry’s relationship. It symbolizes their relationship from the beginning to end. When the convertible is not functional it symbolizes the brothers relationship after the war.“I took myself a hammer. I went out to that car and I did number on its underside. Whacked it up. Bent the tail pipe double… I made it look as bad as I could”. Lyman attempts to bring the old Henry back through the car. This symbolizes Lyman trying to save their relationship. Henry’s traumatic military experience transformed his characteristics and molded him into a different person. The effects of war not only impacted Henry, they also affected his brother Lyman, and their brotherly
In the short story “ The Red Convertible," Louise Erdrich illustrates how brotherly love is transformed by the effects of war. The changes in Henry affect Henry’s characteristics, Lyman’s character and, Henry 's relationship with Lyman. Erdrich achieves this through the use of imagery, diction, and symbolism. Henry used to be childlike, caring, and spontaneous. This changes after he comes back a different person molded by the effects of war .“ Hop on in, says Henry. So she climbs in between us. We’ll take you home, I says… Okay, says Henry, and we drive.” Henry picks up a total stranger from the road and gives her ride in the convertible. He even agrees to take her to Alaska without hesitating. He didn 't think twice …show more content…
“We had always been together before. Henry and Lyman. But he was such a loner now that I didn 't know how to take it”. The brother relationship Lyman and Henry once shared is broken by the changes in Henry. They don 't spend time and bond with each other like they used to, because Henry becomes a loner. “He rushed from his chair and shoved me out of the way, against the wall. I told myself he didn 't know what he was doing”. Henry becomes violent and assaults his brother. Lyman tried to convince himself that Henry didn 't know what he was doing. Henry and Lyman used to be close brothers, never attacked each other, lived in the moment, and shared a strong bond. Their relationship transitions into something they never thought possible. “ The car reposed, calm, and gleaming”. When the convertible is first bought the relationship between the brothers’ is easy going, live in the moment, with a strong bond. The red convertible itself undergoes through similar stages as Lyman and Henry’s relationship. It symbolizes their relationship from the beginning to end. When the convertible is not functional it symbolizes the brothers relationship after the war.“I took myself a hammer. I went out to that car and I did number on its underside. Whacked it up. Bent the tail pipe double… I made it look as bad as I could”. Lyman attempts to bring the old Henry back through the car. This symbolizes Lyman trying to save their relationship. Henry’s traumatic military experience transformed his characteristics and molded him into a different person. The effects of war not only impacted Henry, they also affected his brother Lyman, and their brotherly