Thesis: Louise Erdrich’s compelling short story, “The Red Convertible”, thoroughly portrays the symbolic meaning of the relationship between two Native American brothers through their joint ownership of the Red Convertible.
The trust between the two brothers conveys the significance of the their relationship .
The two brothers had joint ownership of the Red Convertible in which they share many beloved memories together. The Red Convertible is the most essential evidence of the symbolic meaning behind Lyman and Henry's relationship.
“In those years I’d put his car into almost perfect shape. I always thought of it as his car while he was gone, even though when he left he said, “Now it’s yours” (Erdrich 327)
Nevertheless, the quote demonstrates how the two brothers relationship is very close towards the beginning of the passage. …show more content…
Furthermore, when Lyman returns home from war he seems to be evolved into a totally different person than before he departed for war.
The substantial change Henry has gone through is leaving younger brother, Lyman particularly fraught.
In order to somehow seize attention and try to somehow regain the old Henry, Lyman takes a hammer to the car.
“I thought the car might bring the old Henry back somehow. So I bided my time and waited for my chance to interest him in the vehicle” (327). “I took myself a hammer… Whacked it up… By the time I was done with the car it looked worse than any typical Indian car...” (327). “Then I sat back and waited for Henry to find it” (327). “ Henry seemed friendly. It’s not that he smiled or anything. He just said, “ Let’s take that old shit-box for a spin.” Just the way he said it made me think he could be coming around” (328). a) The quote indicates how the car has much significance to their relationship. Lyman demonstrates how the vehicle could possibly return his long lost brother into his old self. The connection the two brothers have with car is quite apparent through Lyman’s