An Analysis of The Red Convertible

Kelly Taucher
ENG 102

The Color Red
In the short story “The Red Convertible,” Louise Erdrich depicts the relationship of two brothers, Lyman and Henry, who experience first-hand the reality of a soldier coming home from war. Erdrich uses the condition of the convertible the brother’s purchase together to reflect the status of their relationship. The red Olds represents their initial relationship, the togetherness they create from having it and eventually the disconnection of their bond after Henry returns from war. By using symbolism, Erdrich is able to reveal the effects war can have on a strong relationship.
In the beginning of the story, we see that the brothers form a new relationship by buying the red Olds together. Despite their physical differences and contrasting personalities, they create a sense of brotherhood through the purchase, restoration and travels made in the car. These actions all represent the brothers’ normal relationship before Henry leaves. Erdrich describes the car as being in good condition, similar to the brothers’ wonderful summer together, traveling carefree across the country. Lyman shows just how carefree their time together is when he says, “we didn’t let them [details] bother us and just lived our everyday lives here to there” (394). They spent the summer in good company, not having to worry about anything but their freedom. Throughout the trip, their relationship is effortless and the red Olds runs efficiently, needing little maintenance at all. Lyman says, “We made the trip, that summer, without putting up the car hood at all. We got back just in time” (395). In this passage, he is referring to the end of the summer when they return home and Henry receives his letter from the Marines calling him to duty. Henry expresses his love and trust for his brother just before leaving by throwing him the keys saying, “Now it’s yours” (396). Unfortunately, this is the turning point in the brothers’ relationship because just as Henry has to leave for service, it becomes clear to Lyman that the car is in need of service as well.
During the time Henry is away, Lyman makes it a personal goal to work on the car. He says, “In those years I’d put his car into almost perfect shape” (396). Lyman sees the car as Henry’s still and does everything he can to keep it in perfect condition, just as he hopes their relationship will stay. The brothers exchange a few letters, but it is clear that communication between the two is breaking. Similarly, Lyman describes the car during this time as being “up on the blocks in the yard or half taken apart” (396). Lyman hopes that by presenting the car to Henry when he returns, their relationship will go back to the way it was. The war however changes Henry in a way no one anticipated. The brother Lyman once knew is now silent, irritable and mean. Concerned for his brother and their relationship, Lyman thinks “the car might bring the old Henry back somehow” (397). Since Henry had not looked at the car since he got back, Lyman decides to ruin the car in hopes that Henry will notice and find motivation to fix it up. When he finally notices the condition of the car, Henry immediately gets to work. Lyman’s plan seems to be bringing the old Henry back little by little. By fixing up the car, Henry begins to heal himself and his relationship with Lyman. Lyman is still feeling depressed about his relationship with Henry, so he is thrilled when Henry invites him to take the new and improved car for a drive. Henry says, “Let’s take that old shit-box for spin” (397) and with that invitation, Lyman can tell that Henry is coming around. With the car in its original condition and the brothers back together, they take off to the Red River to see the high water.
On the drive over to the river, Lyman notices, “he’d really put it back in shape, even the tape on the seats was very carefully put down and glued back in layers” (398), referring to the car. He even begins to see a change in Henrys personality when he says, “It’s not that he smiled again or even joked, but his face looked to me as if it was clear, more peaceful” (398). The car continues to reflect the relationship of the brothers. At this point in the story Henry has worked hard to make the car look as close to the original condition as possible, similar to Lyman’s work on fixing their broken bond. Lyman wants nothing more than to help he brother heal, but he can see when they arrive at the river that even though the convertible is no longer damaged, Henry’s “damage” is likely irreversible. After Lyman tries to pull his brother back into reality, Henry explains to him, “I know it. I can’t help it. It’s no use” (399), in regards to fixing his PTSD. When Henry gives the car to Lyman, after telling him he knew about Lyman’s plan all along, we begin to see the final disconnect of their relationship. It becomes clear that they no longer share the car or the connection it once represented. Henry knows upon arriving at the river that the car has driven the brothers to their final goodbyes. He sees the love Lyman has for him through the car and all the work he has put into it. Unfortunately, just as the convertible has changed throughout their journey, so has their relationship. In the end we see that Henry’s damage was in fact irreversible when he jumps into the raging river. He is not fazed at all when his boots begin to fill with water and in a matter of moments, “he’s gone” (400). The current of the raging river engulfs Henry, just as the memories of war have engulfed the Henry his family once knew. Lyman, realizing that Henry is gone, “turn[s] on the high beams” (400) and rolls the red convertible into the river for Henry to always have. For Lyman, the car symbolized Henry and without Henry, owning the convertible would just seem wrong. Lyman is able to give his brother the only thing that truly bonded them because he knows the Olds will never hold the same meaning without his “crazy Lamartine” (399) brother riding along side of him.
The red convertible symbolizes many things throughout the story, from the brothers’ relationship, to the individual emotions of both Henry and Lyman. But perhaps one of the most powerful and affective symbols in the story is the color of the car its self. There are many different interpretations of the color red around the world. In some cultures red can have a positive association including passion, strength, courage and love. These are all concepts seen throughout the story, especially when referring to Lyman. The negative associations with red like violence, war and anger associate more with Henry. In Native American culture however, red is a symbol of faith and communication. Henry and Lyman, both Chippewa Indians, use the red Olds as a way to communicate and understand each other and toward the end of the story the car seems to be the only faith holding them together. The metaphorical use of the red convertible reflects the difficulties in the brothers’ relationship. It also shows that the struggles of war do not always end when a solider comes home, especially for Henry. In the end, Lyman realizes that by letting go of the convertible, he is able to let his brother and all of his struggles go as well.