In the story “The Red Convertible” by Louise Erdrich we come across the question of why Lyman pushed this beloved car into the river. Lyman appears to have pushed the car because of the memories he recalled every time he looked at it. The memories of all the good times he had with Henry but also those of the bad, and of his last night with his brother.
When Lyman and Henry first bought the car together they took a road trip that forged new memories full of laughs and happy times. One of the first things Lyman mentions was a place with willows where they laid down and slept while watching and listen to a nearby powwow (1074). At this point in the story the brothers are so happy and peaceful that they look at the world and what 's going on …show more content…
Once the car was fixed they take a picture where Henry finally smiled and took a trip to the river; the first one in years. On this trip Lyman finally starts to get his brother back but it was all an illusion and in the end Henry waded into the river and was never to be seen again. As a result of this tragedy Lyman pushes the car into the water with the engine running and the headlights on. At first it appears he does this in hope of seeing Henry somewhere in the murky water and the crashing current but soon realizes that every time he would look at that car he would remember the night he both gained and lost his older brother. Although it also appears Lyman lost a part of himself among the murky waters of the river on that horrible night. Lyman not only lost his brother but he seemed to have lost his hope. He realized that in his struggle to get the old Henry back he ignored the consequences the outcome could have. Lyman felt guilty for pushing his brother to be something he could never again be leading to his death in the river. Because of this blind hope he lost the thing he loved the most.
In conclusion, memories are powerful and influence our everyday lives in some way. Lyman experienced both the good and the bad in the car with Henry. Although sometime the bad outweighs the good in a decision causing Lyman to push the car into the river. To Lyman that car was a time bomb of memories
When Lyman and Henry first bought the car together they took a road trip that forged new memories full of laughs and happy times. One of the first things Lyman mentions was a place with willows where they laid down and slept while watching and listen to a nearby powwow (1074). At this point in the story the brothers are so happy and peaceful that they look at the world and what 's going on …show more content…
Once the car was fixed they take a picture where Henry finally smiled and took a trip to the river; the first one in years. On this trip Lyman finally starts to get his brother back but it was all an illusion and in the end Henry waded into the river and was never to be seen again. As a result of this tragedy Lyman pushes the car into the water with the engine running and the headlights on. At first it appears he does this in hope of seeing Henry somewhere in the murky water and the crashing current but soon realizes that every time he would look at that car he would remember the night he both gained and lost his older brother. Although it also appears Lyman lost a part of himself among the murky waters of the river on that horrible night. Lyman not only lost his brother but he seemed to have lost his hope. He realized that in his struggle to get the old Henry back he ignored the consequences the outcome could have. Lyman felt guilty for pushing his brother to be something he could never again be leading to his death in the river. Because of this blind hope he lost the thing he loved the most.
In conclusion, memories are powerful and influence our everyday lives in some way. Lyman experienced both the good and the bad in the car with Henry. Although sometime the bad outweighs the good in a decision causing Lyman to push the car into the river. To Lyman that car was a time bomb of memories