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The Red Convertible Summary

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The Red Convertible Summary
Among the issues raised in Louise Erdrich’s short story “The Red Convertible” is that of the fading relationship due to war trauma. There are more significant topics in this story, but it is one that gains attention when the story is analyzed through historical context- Our current understanding of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in contrast to the characters in the story. Understood in this context, the story is not just about Henry’s transformation, but of the effects of the war on the soldier’s close relationships. An important theme of “The Red Convertible” is that war causes significant change in the mental state of the soldiers and can also lead the soldiers towards the path of self-destruction.
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