Brotherhood in The Red Convertible Essay

The Red Convertible: A Brother in Arms

Louise Endrichs short story The Red Convertible is about how even the bonds of family and friends may not be enough to subdue the trauma caused by war. The story begins in 1974 as our narrator, Lyman, a Native American, retells the story about his brother Henry and the red convertible they both owned. After buying it impulsively, both of the brothers spend the summer driving around the Dakotas, Montana, and taking a hitchhiker back to Alaska. When they return home, Henry is sent to Vietnam and does not return for three years. When he returns home, Lyman notices that his once carefree brother is now jumpy and mean. Its obvious that the war has changed and traumatized Henry, most likely because he was a prisoner of war. Lyman and his mother consider taking Henry to go see a doctor, but figure that it would only do more harm than good. Lyman then gets the idea of banging of the red convertible (which he had kept in perfect condition while Henry was at war) to give Henry a goal and something to look forward to. Henry fixes up the car close to perfection and the two brothers go out for a drive like the summer many years before. At a creek bed, Henry admits that he knew what Lyman did to the car, they fight, and eventually Henry jumps into the water and the stream carries him away. Lyman jumps in to save him, but its too late. The story ends with Lyman putting the car in first gear and watching as the red convertible they both share sinks into the river. In The Red Convertible, Endrich shows that some trauma is too great and nothing can fix it. This is illustrated by believable characters and leaving just enough unexplained that we can make our own interpretations of what Henry went through and what he is thinking and feeling.

Despite being our narrator and protagonist, Lyman is a static character, with the exception of one crucial scene towards the end. Lyman is a very likeable, clever and loving person. His diction is very simple but expressive, like an average Joe just telling a story. When he and Henry first see the car, he exclaims The first time we saw it, showing he uses lots of emotion and draws you into his story. Even when his brother returns from the war, he describes Henry as differentand the change was not good, and goes onto say (but) you could hardly expect him to change for the better, I know. Whether he realizes it or not, he just used an emotional buffer, a way to make sure the audience doesnt take this very serious matter very seriously. This is also a reflection of himself, and how he tries to hide his negative emotions and fears. He continues this trait until he cant bear to see the photograph and hides it in his closet, acknowledging to himself sadness over the loss of his brother.

On the flip side of the coin, Henry is most defiantly a dynamic character who changes drastically after his experience in Vietnam. Before he ships out, he is a carefree, fun-loving guy, but returns jumpy and mean. The only explanation we get is that the enemy caught him and he spent time in a POW camp. Lyman loves his brother and tries to help him get better by getting him to fix the red convertible, but its still very clear hes not well at the end. He jumps into the river and as he begins to sink his reaction is like he just noticed and he doesnt know what to think of it. He may not have wanted to kill himself, but perhaps he was ready to die anyway.

Between the two brothers, its very clear that the external conflict is Lyman trying to get Henry better after the trauma he saw during the war. Lyman and his mother consider taking him to a doctor, but they figure that they dont fix them in those placestheyd just give (him) drugs. It isnt until later in the story that Lyman realizes that giving Henry a goal or something to do might distract him from what hes thinking, so thats why he messes up the red convertible.

Internally, Lyman is trying to think of ways how he can help his brother and Henry is trying to work out how he can deal with the trauma he encountered in Vietnam. Lyman loves his brother and wants nothing more than to help him get better, but Henry suspects that this might never happen. Henry is afraid and cant escape the images that haunt his mind. Lyman is sorry he ever boughta color TV set because the images seem so real to Henry he sat in his chair gripping the armrests with all his might. This haunts him all the time and there is no escape. Even when Lyman tricks Henry into fixing the car, Henry reveals that he knew what (Lyman) had done to the car, showing he him have fixed it just to comfort Lyman and make him feel better about hes brothers condition.

The story is set in the early seventies, which was a crucial time for human rights and America going to war. People were going to the street defending their ideas and freedoms and America doomed itself into the trap of Vietnam. This makes the choice to make the two main characters Native Americans all the more fascinating. It suggests that in addition to the experience in Vietnam, Henry might have even experienced prejudice before or during the war, only adding to his trauma and internal conflict.

The reason this issue may not be more focused upon is because for the most part, the story is limited just within Lymans perspective. The majority of the story is set on the road in the Red Convertible and on the Indian reservation. The only other mention of a non-Indian character is of a white doctor they dont trust. This could imply that Henry has been exposed to the real, harsh world while Lyman is almost sheltered from it.

The perspective used to tell the story is first person limited from Lyman. We know his thoughts and feelings, but the mystery of the story comes from our lack of knowledge of what Henry is feeling. This also illustrates how much concern and care Lyman feels for his brother and how badly he wishes him to get better.

The author uses a very personal use of diction for Lyman because he wants you to imagine this as just another person telling a story, and through his story telling, we learn more about him. He likes to relish and savor telling us about the beautiful Alaskan summer yet so little about the horrors Henry encountered when the enemy caught him. Lyman doesnt like to think about the tragedies of life unless he truly has to (like at the end when he puts the picture in the closet). The author also makes Lyman very relatable because it helps the reader think of other people like Lyman, and if they know people whove seen similar horrors. By showing one example of trauma, the author tries to get us to think of everyone who has suffered a similar nightmare.

Another huge symbol we have to consider is the use of the red convertible and how it represents the relationship between Lyman and Henry. When the two brothers begin to roam the countryside and enjoy all of lifes precious gifts, the car is new, perfect and without its problems. When Henry goes to war, Lyman continues to repair the car into tip top shape, almost as though he thinks that he and his brother will be just as close when he returns, but like the car, it will never be the same. Henry returns and Lyman smashes the car, the relationship is heavily damaged by the trauma Henry has gone through. Time passes and Henry fixes the car, showing a closeness because Lyman wants Henry to get better. Finally, when Henry disappears into the river, Lyman makes sure that the red convertible goes with him, a symbol to the end of their relationship.

Despite Lymans efforts and the love he has for his brother, Henry is stuck the way he is and Lyman cant change that. Lymans tone through the story is hopeful, trying to think of the better times with his brother and trying to push aside the truth, until it smacks him the face with the loss of his brother and how he feels about the picture on wall. We can identify with this idea because it is very close to real life. We may want something or want something for someone else, but sometimes, nothing can change whats already written in stone.