The Red Convertible The story “The Red Convertible” was written By Louise Erdrich in 1987, and is about two bothers named Lyman and Henry from the Chippewa who live on a reservation with their family. Lyman tells the story about how he and his bother buy a red convertible and go on this trip one summer before Henry has to leave to Vietnam. When Henry returns he’s not the same; he comes back distant, quiet, cold, and emotionally separated from every thing, eventually becoming suicidal. This story show how sometimes once something good is gone it’s gone for good, no matter how hard a person wants to or tries to get back to normal. Erdrich shows this through the use of the red convertible as a symbol of the brothers’ relationship, Henry and Lyman being dynamic character change, and Lyman as a dynamic character. Through the whole story the red convertible symbolizes the bothers relationship. ”Perhaps the convertible’s greatest contribution to the story is a symbol of the relationship between Lyman and Henry. It represents their close companionship” (Bussey1). A good example of this is when the bothers are together and the car is in superb condition, but when Henry is away the car fall apart and breaks down just like their relationship. According to Bussey, both of the bothers buying the red convertible together represents both of their willingness to share a great amount of responsibility (Bussey1). Both Lyman and Henry have mutual love and respect for each other, and is that represented when they both combine their hard earned money to buy the car. By Henry giving the Lyman the keys represents how Henry want Lyman grow up, because somehow he knows things aren’t going to be the same. The convertible also represents Lyman growing up. When Henry tries to give Lyman full ownership of the car, he laughs and thanks him for the extra key. “. . . ‘Now it’s yours,’ and