Lyman Lamartine's The Red Convertible

Understanding the Meaning of the Red Convertible Although the Vietnam War concluded with the return of most American troops, for those who served, the memories of the events that transgressed during those years did not stay in the combat grounds of Vietnam. The psychological scars left in the minds and hearts of American soldiers was something that continued to haunt no only those who experienced the fighting in the flesh but the families and loved ones who welcomed them upon their return. In “The Red Convertible,” Lyman Lamartine describes how his relationship with his brother Henry changed after Henry returned from the Vietnam War. More specifically, we see the profound effect the experiences lived during combat had on Henry and the extent to which those experiences changed Henry’s personality and with it, the bond
The brother he cherished and missed during those years appears to be miles away even though he is standing right in front of him. Studies have shown that “antisocial behavior is another important factor associated with exposure to war zone combat and PTSD symptoms in national samples of Vietnam veterans” (Dillard 2). Lyman realizes that his brother’s spirit is broken and with it the bond the used to share. It is during this realization that he thinks of the car, and what it represents to both himself and his brother. He sees in the car a means to bring Henry back. So, he grabs a hammer and destroys all the work he’d done on the convertible while his brother was gone. Now, the car is nothing more than a barely drivable pile of junk, much like the relationship between Lyman and Henry. However, the act had the effect Lyman was hoping for. As Henry begins to spend time fixing the vehicle, we see through Lyman’s eyes how his brother becomes slightly more personable and the image of his old self slowly begins to reappear just as the condition of the convertible also