Louise Erdrich's Short Story 'The Red Convertible'

Landon Mahan

English 1B

9/23/08

Brotherhood and “The Red Convertible”

Family is an essential part to the development of every human life. They are there for guidance, support, and most importantly love. The bond between brothers is a bond that cannot be forged. There are many types of relationships: Husband and wife; Father and son; Mother and daughter; but the bond between brothers is one like no other. In Louise Erdrich’s short story “The Red Convertible,” Lyman and Henry’s relationship will give readers the understanding that time, war, and death will change people, but the bonds of brotherhood cannot be broken.

At the center of “The Red Convertible” is the relationship between two brothers Lyman and Henry. Lyman is the narrator and the story is told from his point of view. Lyman is the younger of the two brothers and like all younger siblings, seemed to have it easier than the rest of the native boys on his reservation. Lyman was different and everyone knew it. Lyman was very 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; and at Christmas time he was allowed to sell spiritual bouquets, and the nuns would let him keep a percentage of his earnings. Lyman had a talent for making money; once he started making money it seemed to come easy. He worked in the Joliet café, as a dish washer. Not too long after, he was managing and “before long the whole thing was mine” (Erdhich, 812). He own the café until it was destroyed by a tornado, for which he had received a nice insurance settlement. However, his luck didn’t run out there. During the Vietnam War Lyman’s draft number was never called. He didn’t even worry about it.

Henry on the other hand was not so lucky. Unlike his brother, money was always an issue. Henry had held many jobs, and had been laid off a few times, but he definitely had to work very hard for what he had. Henry’s life seemed very hapless; and then to make it even worse, he was drafted into the Vietnam War. He was in combat for three years and when he returned home, the war was still fresh 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 always grouchy and the only time Henry was still, was when he would watch the color television, which Lyman hated. Anytime Lyman tried to turn off the T.V., Henry went into a rage. His words and actions toward Lyman, however, indicate that he loved him very much and he valued their relationship, but their relationship was becoming increasingly detached.

The only thing that could bring the brothers close again was that red convertible. When the two boys spotted that red car, they pooled their money and bought it. Henry and Lyman loved that car. The brothers enjoyed riding around with the wind in their hair and they even took a trip to Montana, and then spent the summer in Alaska. As a parting gift before he left to serve in the Vietnam War, Henry wanted to give his younger brother the car that had brought them so much joy. Obviously, he didn’t know whether he would survive, and he wanted his brother to become more independent.

Lyman worked on the car diligently, he wanted it to be in tip top shape for Henry when he got back. When Henry finally returned from the war, he was very different, distraught, and disconnected from Lyman and the car that he once loved. Lyman wanted his old brother back so he intentionally damaged and dismantled the car so that Henry would have to fix it, Henry understood what Lyman was trying to do for him and rather than respond with rage or resentment, he proceeded to fix the car so that Lyman could have it. Fixing up the car was appeared therapeutic for Henry. Lyman noticed that Henry was not as jumpy, and that he seemed to be getting better. Although Henry seemed better, he was not; the car was fixable, Henry, on the other hand, was not.

After some time, Henry eventually got the car running again and he and Lyman took the red convertible for a road trip.
It felt was like the good old days, before the war. The brothers went to Red River, to have a good time. Lyman began to feel guilty about messing up the car so he confessed to Henry. Henry knew, and he told Lyman that he had only fixed the car to give it back to his brother. Lyman refused saying “take that car” (Erdich, 817). Lyman could see Henry’s mood change. He really wanted the old Henry back, but he didn’t know what to do or what to say. Henry was hot, “got to cool me off” (Erdich, 817) Henry decided to jump into the river and his boots filled with water. Lyman called for Henry but only heard the sound of the rushing water beneath him. Lyman turned on the cars headlights and let it go gently into the river. This was his way of giving the car to
Henry.

Time, war, and death had left its mark on Lyman. He was certainly not the care-free spirit he once was. In spite of everything he had done to save Henry, he couldn’t. The fact that Henry apparently committed suicide when he was alone with Lyman suggests that Lyman was the only person Henry truly trusted and the only person with whom he was willing to share this tragic moment with. He deeply missed 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 when Henry died. Lyman decided that he would no longer drive a car; he would walk from place to place. He was deeply saddened by Henry’s 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!