The Narrator in The Red Convertible Essay

The Red Convertible

The first thing we have to consider is the fact that Lyman is the narrator of the story, and he can be either a reliable or unreliable narrator. The unreliable narrator is the character who tells a story only to reveal at the end that he's been misleading us all along. Is Lyman telling the truth? We have no way of knowing for sure, because there is no objective witness to Henry's death; we have only Lyman's word for what happened. Fraternal bonds, freedom, innocence, control, and wisdom all of these themes are carried by one red convertible. The most important symbol is the title car, the significance of which changes as the story unfolds. Erdrichs use of symbolism in this way gives her story depth and complexity and enables her to communicate ideas and character developments without lengthy explanations.

To begin with, the convertible symbolizes the carefree, innocent life that proceeds Henrys three years in Vietnam. Lyman and Henry traveled without care or worry, enjoying whatever experiences came their way. When Henry prepared to leave for Vietnam, he gave Lyman his key to the car. Henry likely realized that by going to Vietnam, he was sacrificing his innocence. Lyman, however, could still enjoy being carefree, so, by giving Lyman his key, Henry was encouraging him to embrace his last innocent years. At the end of the story, Henry dies in the river, and Lyman runs the car in after him. This is a highly symbolic moment because it represents the end of Lymans innocence as well as the end of the brothers relationship. The car had no meaning for him after his brother was gone, and he had learned too much about the world to feel carefree again.

The changing physical condition of the car is also symbolic of the relationship of the brothers because it reflects the status of their brotherly closeness. Lymans decision to damage the convertible was important because he saw the car as his brothers only chance of regaining his sense of self. When Lyman damaged the car, cosmetically and mechanically, he demonstrated his willingness to risk not only a prized possession but also his relationship with his brother (symbolized by the car) for his brothers happiness. Besides symbolizing the complex relationship between Lyman and Henry, the convertible represents other aspects of the characters inner worlds. During the summer road trip, it represented freedom. At the time, Lyman was only sixteen, an age at which most young people long to explore the world and to make their own decisions. Together, Lyman and Henry used the car to leave the reservation where they lived and to see what was beyond its borders.

The car represents as well a much-needed outlet for Henry after the war. When he came home, he was unable to function as he had in the past. After Lyman damaged the car, Henry had the opportunity to work toward a goal, instead of watching television all day. In this way, the car symbolizes Henrys need for a sense of purpose and mastery. He did not know how to be a member of his family or community, but he did know how to fix the car. Fixing the car seems to have lifted his spirits because it was familiar and something that allowed him to feel useful and competent for a while.

The Red Convertible is a seemingly simple story, but the changing symbolism of the car gives it richness and depth. In describing metaphors, scholars often use the terms vehicle and tenor. The vehicle is the image used to communicate meaning (the tenor) to the reader. Applying this terminology to the convertible in Erdrichs story, the reader finds numerous tenors revealed through one literal vehicle. Fraternal bonds, freedom, innocence, control, and wisdom all of these themes are carried by one red convertible.