Brotherhood in The Red Convertible Essay

The love between brothers runs deep like a river. It is a bond that can not be explained. For brothers who have this kind of connection it is wonderful and powerful. However, to lose this connection is devastated. It hurts and it is a painful. The emotions we have are overwhelming, moreover, they are haunting. In Louise Erdrichs short story The Red Convertible, Lymans Life experience will give readers the understanding that time, war, and death will change people, but the bonds of brotherhood can-not be broken, or save the life of your brother.

Lyman seemed to have it easier then the rest of the native boys on his reservation. Lyman was different and everyone noticed it. Lyman was smart and when he saw an opportunity he took it. He was the only native boy that was allowed in the American Legion Hall to shine shoes. Lyman had a talent for making money; he owned his talent. At Christmas time he was allowed to sell spiritual bouquets, and the nuns let him keep a percentage. Once he started making money it seemed to come easy. He worked in the Joliet caf, as a dish washer. Before long he was managing, and then he own the caf until it was destroyed by a tornado. For which he had received a nice insurance settlement. However, he was still lucky. During the Vietnam War Lymans draft number was never called. He did not even worry about it. Although, lucky with his finances, Lyman had changed, when Henry, his brother died. Lyman decided that he would no longer drive a car, he would walk around town. He was deeply saddened by Henry death. He missed the good times he shared with his brother. The trips they would take and lying in the green pastures with no cares in the world, just day dreaming!

Although for Henry, luck was not on his side. Unlike his brother, money was always an issue. Henry had held many jobs, and had been laid off a few times. He defiantly had to work very hard for what he had. Henrys life seemed very hapless; when he was drafted into the Vietnam War. He was in combat for three years and when he returned, the war was still well-preserved in his mind. Moreover, the war had left a permanent mark on Henry; he was not the same man that left. The care free days were over for Henry. He was no longer comfortable in his own skin. Henry was a mean and very jumpy. The only time Henry was still, was when he would watch the color television. Which Lyman hated. Lyman tried to turn off the T.V. and Henry went into a rage. Henrys relationship with his brother was detached.

The only thing that could bring the brothers close again was that red convertible. When the two boys spotted that red car, they put their money together and bought it. Henry and Lyman loved this car. The brothers enjoyed riding with the wind in their hair. Lyman and Henry took many trips, they went to Montana, and then spent the summer in Alaska. When Henry was drafted into the war he gave Lyman the keys; he thought that he might not return, so he wanted Lyman to have the car. Lyman worked on the car, he wanted it to be in tip top shape for Henry. When Henry did return from the war, he was very different, distraught, disconnected from Lyman and the car that he once loved. Lyman wanted his brother back, so he deiced to destroy the car. He wanted to fix Henry. Henry eventually noticed that the car was not in good shape, and started to fix it. Lyman noticed that Henry was not as jumpy, he seemed alright. Although Henry seemed better, he was not; you can fix a car but, Lyman could not fix Henry.

Eventually Henry got the car running so Lyman and Henry took the red convertible for a road trip. The boys had taken a picture on the day they left. It felt was like the good old days, before the war. The brothers went to Red River, to just have a good time. Lyman began to feel guilty about messing up the car so he confessed to Henry. Henry knew, and he had only fixed the car to give it back to his brother. Lyman could see the Henrys mood change. He really wanted the old Henry back, but he did not know what to do. Henry was really warm, so he jumped into the river and his boots filled with water. Lyman called for Henry but only heard the sound of water. Lyman turned on the cars lights and let it go into the river. He wanted Henry to have the car.

Time, war, and death had left its mark on Lyman. He was certainly not the care-free spirit he once was. In spite of every thing he had done to save Henry, he couldnt. He deeply missed his Henry and the time they had spent together driving that red convertible. The picture that Lyman and Henry had taken together that faithful day haunted him. He was consumed by guilt. His life had forever changed.